Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-16
OPPOSED TO A BOOM.
c. p. HuNTlNcToN's VIEWS ON THE
FUTURE OF NEWPORT NEWS.
The Town VIII Grow Steadily and VIII
BE One Of the Most Prosperous
on the Atlantic Coast.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA. February d.
Especial. )-some Of the real estate men ana
rental agents here are inclined to cru
else rather sharply my remarks In last
Sundays issue OF the Dispatch concerning
the tendency toward boomishDess whicn
has manifested itself since the recent re-
vlval at the ship-yard set In. said theh'
ard repeat now, that high rents and the
unreasonable values placed upon town 'o's
have caused the city loss OF thousands
OF dollars and hundreds OF desirable M
habitants. Three years ago. during one y,
Mr.. Huntington's visits to the city, ! hao
the pleasure OF an hours conversation
with him. Our talk-or. rather. MS taih-
was about the future OF Newport News OF
whose coming Industrial and commerciai
greatness he spoke in terms or compiete
confidence. Once I inadvertently used the
word boom, whereupon the great nnahclel
promptly interrupted me. Don Jay
BOOM" said ne. I'VE are not going 10
have boom In Newport News. Inc
town will grow steadily. surely. ana a.
no distant day Will be one or the "ios'
prosperous and important cities on tne
Atlantic coast. But We must not .aih
about booming it," / cannot think that
MI WHOct
Newport News run up Into the Millions
would endorse an attempt to advance
rents and real estate beyond the ngures
which prevail now.
FIXED DESTINY.
The destiny of Newport News as corr
spicuous manufacturing point ana as
seaport from which shall go out the pro-
ducts OF our own great country 20 all the
nations OF the earth Is fixed, anu nature
has had far more to do with establishing
this fact than the artificial means eih-
ployed by men. It's growth may De tenn
porarily retarded now and then by men
whose business prudence has been para
lyzed by an inordinate ambition 10 ac-
quire wealth at lightning-express 'peeu'
but these difficulties will soon be overcome
and then the town win move onward )us'
as Mr.. Huntington Satisfactorily surely
RELIABLE SOURCES.
In my letters to the Dispatch relating
the condition of affairs here nave
endeavored to tell the exact truth. MY IN
formation concerning the number OF men
to be employed at the ship-yard has been
obtained from absolutely reliable sources,
II seemed to me to be extremely unwise-
not to use a much stronger term-to create
the impression through the Dispatch that
on the present scale would be permanent.
Such a statement would have aided In
bringing 10 the city scores OF people to
face painful disappointment. The ship
building plant will go ahead after the
New York and Paris have been locked
and repaired.
THE GUNBOATS.
Work on the gunboats will be COM
menced some time between now and April
list, probably Rot before the latter date.
As have before said. about eco men viii
be employed The yard has two years In
which TO build the three boats but II
could easily turn them out IN twelve
months. 1t is generally believed that ne
gotiatlons are pending for the construc-
ton OF several large ships. vessels as
large as the New York. The closing OF
such contracts would. OF course. cause
large addition TO the permanent working
force.
SUBSTANTIAL ADVANCEMENT
There can be no doubt that 1894 will be
q year OF substantial advancement and
prosperity for Newport News. The town
has left the speculative era far behind, and
it will not be possible to revive 1t. The
schemer has had his day. Henceforward
sound and honorable business-methods will
prevail and fabulous real-estate values
and exorbtant rents will be sent away TO
join disappointed politicians at the head
waters of that historic stream known as
Salt river Mechanics and other classes
of workingmen Will be able TO live in
houses which they are not compelled TO
buy on the instalment plan without the
remotest possibility of ever owning the
property. i write these words with all due
respect to the real-estate men and rental
agents Aside from their disposition to-
ward boomishness they are good fellows.
They know, however, that what l say Is
true; and, moreover. they know that 70
per cent. of the people OF Newport News
will endorse my statements. i should be
very willing TO submit the matter to a