Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-26
P0RTNEWPORTNEWS
THE GREAT COMMERCIAL imPoR-
LANCE or THIS CITY BY THE SEA.
The Views of Prominent Statesman rs
Expressed In Private
Letter.

The following private letter published
by permission) explains itself and bristles
with interesting facts:
BALTIMORE. Mn, July %. 1892.
L. p. Rolnf, Richmond, Va:
Dear Sir,-Replying to your inquiry
about my views ns TO Newport News ana
Its future, would say:
A careful study for many years OF the
growth of the country at large, and OF the
advantages of various localities. has con-
WINGED me that Newport News Is TO DO one
OF the large commercial cities OF the
country, and that added TO its foreign and
domestic shipping trade will be immense
manufacturing interests. To discuss In
detail the reasons for this would require
the elaboration of many points that you
already fully understand.
When Mr.. G. p. Huntington. after the
most careful investigation. selected New
port News as the best point for the terminus
of the Chesapeake and Ohio with the view
OF building up great coal and foreign trade
and the best point for ship-yard, which
he determined to make the best in Anne
rlca, he gave that place an endorsement
that could hardly be strengthened by any,
thing that or any one else could say.
Suffice IL TO say that 1t has every condition
OF deep water, nearness to the ocean. safe
harbor for any number OF vessels, good
climate, &c. to make its natural advan-
tages unsurpassed, IL equalied, anywhere
else on the entire Atlantic coast.
The growth Of its commercial interests
NAV he appreciated By study of the fol-
lowing figures:
EXPORTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE Both.
1892. 1891.
Charleston, S. C.......sl6,7ls,3s9 s21,94o,ss6
-,
= mouth. ..."........ iaOe5,ss7 1e,475,s5s
hichmond ..:........ 3,12i,O30 $50, I62
Wilmington, n. Co.. 5,321.4l4 BORGESS.
Newport News........ 14,44f,307 10,9bl,7 IA
These figures. which are official, show
that tho foreign exports from Newport
News for the year ended June 30. 1892.
were Sl,400,000 greater than the exports
from Norfolk and Portsmouth combined.
and were greater than the combined eX-
ports from Mobile, Richmond, and Will
mingtOn. At every one of the ports men-
toned above there was large decrease in
exports compared with 1891. except at
Newport News, where there was gain Of
S3, 500 900.
The manager Of the Furness Steamship
Lines is personal friend. As you know,
his company, one of the richest in Eng
land, signed contract last year TO run
four regular EUROPEAN steamer lines from
Newport News for fire years. He has Just
informed me that the results so far have
been so satisfactory that his company IL
now building q number of extra large
steamers 10 add to the feet already run
ming to Newport News, and he looks for q
very large growth of the foreign trade of
the place, and he expects 10 see Newport
News become a very important city. You
will remember that the Furness steamers
formerly ran TO Baltimore. but changed to
Newport News as their American port
neatly year ago.
In addition to its foreign trade. Newport
News has an immense coal-shlpping bus-
ness. reaching now nearly I.0J0,000 tons a
year. This must constantly increase.
When Mr.. Scott, president of the Union
Iron Works of San Francisco, the builder
OF the United States steamer Charleston,
and Mr.. Cramp. of Philadelphia. returned
from an inspection of all European ship
yards about one year ago, Mr. Scott pub
licly stated through New York paper
that he had not seen a ship-yard i'll Eu-
rope equal to the one at Newport News,
built by Mr.. c. =. Huntington" IL Is
doubtless the finest ship yard in the
world. and between S3,000.0 900 and $1,000
600 in cash has been invested in IT. A part
OF IT Is IN operation, giving employment
to about 800 or more hands, but MIR.
huntington IS Stea0llY cAteuuluB IL duu
intends TO employ there 5000 men. Most
of these will be skilled mechanics. earning
large wages. Add to the shIp-yard the
great 1,j00. 900 bushel elevator, the many
other industries in operation. the $780, 900
cOtton-mill company recently chartered
by Mr. Huntington's associates. the l,000-
600 water-works nearly completed. the
:, OOO, 900 or more now being expended 10y
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad in the
enlargement of It's terminal facilities. and
it IL difficult 10 Oyerstate the prospects OF
Newport News.
have always regarded its nearness to
Old Point as another strong feature
With the completion Of Chamberlin's i'm
mense hotel Old Point Will be one of the
greatest health aud pleasure resorts n
America. And it seems to me inevitable
that the entire country from Old Point
through Hampton to Newport News must
become closely built up. The future OF
that entire section looked at in the most
conservative light is as promising as any
one could possibly ask.
am perfectly willing TO risk what repu-
tation may have gained as the editor of
the Manufacturers Record in predicting
that around Hampton Roads will grow up
one of the leading commercial and indus
tria' centres of America, and that this
growth will be very rapid.
Very truly yours.
[Signedl h. II. EDMoNDs.