Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-22
SPLENDID FUTURE.
OPINION or A PROMINENT INDUS
TRIAL WRITER ON NEWPORT NEWS.
Remarkable Development and Marvellous
Observation-Disclosures Its Manifest
Destiny.

Mr.. II. II. Edmonds, editor OF the Manu-
facturers Record, OF Baltimore. ana VINO
"a known throughout the country as an
Industrial writer and statisticiah' mas
given especial attention to the conditiohs
existing at Newport News. In letter
on this subject he says:
A discussion of the future or newport
News would require more tlhe t'ah =
can give to the subject today IL "ouiu,
I'm fact, necessltate not simply a briei
outline OF the remarkable progress that
has been made in. the development OF the
foreign commerce Of that port ana the
reasons why natural advantages, supple
mented by what has already been accom-.
pllshed in building up the shipping ana
manufacturing interests, guarantees that
.evnort News will become one of the
/ important seaports OF the country, but
a discussion OF the mighty forces now at
work 70 turn the foreign trade OK the
| United States from northern TO South At
lantlc and Gulf ports. The great gather
| ing at Wichita last week In the interest
OF this movement is but an indication OF
how the West Is getting ready TO ma
southern outlets to foreign markets Tor
it's products. This Is not simply a VISION
arv scheme Of the hour. There Is great
southwarl trend of population. and of
business soon to be followed by capital,
that promises to become one of the great
events OF the worlds history, equalling,
If not SURPRISING, in magnitude and far
reaching results the mighty toe OF popu-
latlon that swept westward for so many
years.
WEST HAS REACHED ITS LIMIT.
The West as whole has reached the
utmost limit OF its possible profitable de-
yelopmept for some years 10 come. The
reflex movement has already commenced
10 turn southwark. Moreover. the vast
surplus capital and energy or the East,
which have heretofore found profitable
employment In the West, must now seek
! the South as the only inviting field In the
world offering opportunities broad enough
| 10 meet the occasion. In making our cal
culations on the future growth OF this
| country we are too apt to forget that
| the population Of the United States Is now
Increasing at the rate Of 100000 10 1900
| 90 every ten years. A decades growth in
! population almost equals the present
I population OF the whole South. Hereto
| fore the West has absorbed this enor-
/ nous increase, but now the West Is over
/ populated until there shall be a broader
and more symmetrical development of the
entire country ONhen the West VIII again
be an inviting field, and the South must
shortly become the centre of activity, as
| far surprising that OF the West of the
| last twenty years, as the natural advan-
tages OF the South exceed those OF the
| former.
\ SOUTHWARK MOVEMENT.
But cannot go into these points. They
| need elaboration. Tney all point
! TO a great southwark movement, and all
| help to create such conditions Of growth
as must exert a far greater influence
| upon the future of Newport News and
| other good southern ports than Is gene
! rally appreciated. AS disastrous as the
/ three years of hard times have proved to
/ many investments. and as heavy as have
! been the losses in railroad and other pro-
/ perties, they will prove a blessing TO
the South, the magnitude OF which we
| cannot dare forecast. The South has
| stood the strain of this depression better
than any other section. This fact has
commanded worldwide attention. and
when activity once more returns. as 1t
| must do, the SOuths progress Will be by
| leaps and bounds that will surprise US all.
LOOK TO NEWPORT NE VS..
Twelve years ago Colonel w. p.
| Craighlll. who has charge OF the harbor
| improvements of Baltimore, in a public
address to the people Of Baltimore, said:
Look out for Newport News" But BaltI-
more people did not then appreciate the
advantages Of that place, and paid little
attention TO the warning. The solid men
| Of this city are now, however realizing
| that Newport News is IL reality. / have
| been struck recently with the faith OF
| many of the most conservative men here
| In the destiny Of Newport News. Only
| few days ago one Of Baltimore's best
| fnanciers told me that he believed that
| now is the time to invest at Newport
| News. Il have been thinking" he said,
cot going there. and just sitting down In
| order 10 pick up bargains Baltimore
has walked up TO realize that we must
meet the nearness OF Newport News TO
the ocean by making a supreme effort
| to build s20.0cO,000 canal across the
peninsula to shorten the distance TO the
| ocean. This is now being vigorously egi-
| tated and a great public meeting Is TO
| be held in the interest OF this enterprise.
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