The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-09
MANY EYES UPON HER.
GROWTH or THE SHIPPING TRADE
ArNEWPORT NEWS.
Older Ports are Disturbed about the S'''"''
that the Virginia Town 10 ""H'"s WI"
q. calling Attention to Her Growth
Neunort News, Va. May s, 1894.

They were particularly iheeiS' -
coal piers and the spiehulo arrai'se
for handling shipping.
IL is only by comparison that the re-
narkable position which Newport News
occupies in the commercial world to-day
can be appreciated. The large amount Oh
business being done here. when there j.
such a lack Of II at larger and older
ports. was quite a revelation 10 the bos
tonians ida
They examined the great shipping sheus
of the Chesapeake and ONO COMPANY
with admiration little short OF "OHuei'
and then turned with surprise 10 the
town. which though Of phenomenal eIo" u
Is vet SO small in comparison win the
great enterprises that surround H. "he"
measured by the large cities that nave
grown UP around ports when hau 80
much fewer advantages in the begihni"s'
and even now are being outstrlpped III
the race in which they had so much INC
greater start. 49,. ,..a -
They came to spy out this land OF
,,ro,,iee and found that the half had not
been told.
II is almost entirely northern capltal
which has been invested in the enterprises
at Newport News, and no city IN the
United States is being talked about as
much at the North as this new candidate
for commercial honors.
NORTHERN CAPITAL.
The magic touch of northern capital
built the great ship yard. with the largest
dry dock in the United States. and the
enormous elevator, the great coal piers
and other structures are mainly due 10
the wealth Of the North. which Is now
turning from the West TO the South for
profitable investment.
II is true that Virginia citizens nave IN
vested a good deal Of money here IN the
improvements that have been made, ana
were the first In the field to take adVah-
tage of the increase In values Accrulhs
from the building up OF great CONNER
cial centre. but northern capital is the
greatest factor Of the enterprise
Staenation in the North and West ana
the fear caused in those sections by the
march Of armies Of unrest. while the
South is serene and unstirred by the up
heavals of n foreign element. Which docs
not exist south of Mason and Dixon
line. is more than ever causing northern
capItal 70 look this way for investment
where 1t will be unaffected by causes
which are disastrous in less favored local
tiles.
II is by comparison that this knowledge
is being spread abroad. and the signs OF
the times indicate a degree of prosperity
for Newport News of which the past
growth has been but shadow.
While the coal shipments have been re-
Gently decreased, il Is the result OF dls-
turbances in another State, and not the
effect of local causes.
Although this is the case, ships are
loading and sailing from here almost
daily with grain and cattle for foreign
ports, and returning with valuable carsoes
of merchandise.
Here again northern capital comes II,
and the regular line OF steamers owned
nv Americans have had TO be supplement
ed by extra vessels to take the freight
offered
THE CATTLE TRADF.
The cattle shipping trade has grown 70
large proportions. and one OF the last
ships that sailed carried. besides a large
miscellaneous cargo and 1926 beeves. also
AL head O. Kentucky sheep. valued at
so each
This was the first shipment Of sheep
but. like the cattle trade. it promises
from small beginnings TO grow 10 great
PROPORTIONS, and the Chesapeake and
Ohio company are now having all their
ships fitted with apartments for sheep.
and In future will have large shipments
of these animals.
This II must be remembered, Is nan
pening at Newport News when there Is
hardly any business at other ports, and 1t
takes but simple reasoning TO figure the
results when the general business pros
perity is resumed.
A few years ago Viewpoints News was
a point of land with only a historic name
TO identify Il. To-day Newport News is
dol
phia, and Baltimore for the foreign car
rying trade OF the country.
During the last twelve months, the
dullest in the history Of this country.
the foreign exports here have nearly
doubled, making the largest percentage
Of gain over any port in the United
States
San Francisco. one OF the largest ports
Of the world. shipped during that time
very little more than Newport News. and
Philadelphia not more than twice as
much.
PHILADELPHIA UNEASY.
The Philadelphia papers are writing al
most daily about the loss Of her grain
trade. and IS blaming the most Of 1t on
Newport News, calls attention 10 the
growth Of business at this port in an i'm
pressive way. The Philadelphia Record
recently. in discussing the question. SAID:
we give a list Of the vessels now In
port or chartered to arrive and load
grain at Atlantic ports during the next
thirty TO sixty days. II will be noted that
not a single vessel is credited to Phila-
delphia, but that the bulk of business
has been done at Newport News and Bal
timore The list includes only full-cargo
steamers" This list showed an aggregate
of eleven steamers to load full grain
cargoes at New York. Philadelphia, and
baltimore, with a total capacity or
10000 bushels while Newport News had
under charter sixteen vessels, with an
aggregate capacity Of 2O96.0Oo bushels.
This is a remarkable showing, and
speaks wonderfully TO the unsuspecting
inquirer concerning this place.
The way in which the South has stood
the strain OF the depression is attracting
worldwide attention. and the instructive
fact that Newport News is gaining ground
under such conditions turns the eyes Of
capital in this direction In a way which.
when activity resumes, must result in
achievements that will surpass the ex-
pecta tons of her most ardent friends.
Still on the Wing.
Bridget. how are those clothes getting
along that YOU nut on the roof today -