The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-01-01
HARBOR OF NORFOLK
II GAS 10 EQUAL FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
Tho opinion OF Lieut.. IL. Rs Bar-
rObl-lts Advantages aud 'Erib.
utary Water COmmunic-
uiiOns.

geographical position, 10 necessarily
one OF the most important shipping
points on the Atlantic coast. As
regards safety and facility of access,
1t has no superior among the North
ern ports; while those farther south
ward do not in any degree compare
with it in either of the above adyan
tages.
The Gulf Stream, transporting
immense volumes of tropically heated
water, flowing north, is breasted of
to the eastward by Cape aatterus.
Experience shows that the oyclonic
storms, occurring during the months
OF Jul ~, August aud Septem Der. have
a tendency to re-curve TO the east
ward In ATTITUDES varying from 28
degrees to 30 degrees north-Cape
Hatteras being in about 35 degrees
and Cape Henry in about 81 de.
grees, north latitude.
The warm atmosphere resting
above the surface of the Gulf Stream
10 met by the cold air walls, borne
In waves from the Northwest, pro-
ducing gales, squalls or stormy
weather; and Causing the passage of
Cnpe Hatteras to be generally at
tended with more or less difficulty
and danger.
Norfolk furnishes the FIRST secure
harbor to the northward OF this
cape. and also a safe outlet through
which all Of the vast inland com
merce. arriving from below this
point, may seek the ocean.
Water carriage will ever hold the
supremacy over transportation by
any other means. AS regards her
advantages IN this respect, Norfolk
can claim to be one of the most
favored cities in the United States,
The broad entrance to Chesapeake
Bay, body OF water which for
commercial purposes has no equal,
| allows vessels under either steam or
sail to req lily enter Hampton Roads.
where is found the largest and safest
harbor south of New York. The
James and Elizabeth rivers, here
meeting, form triangular estuary
In which large fleets of merchant
shipping may, throughout the most
violent gales, safely ride at anchor.
There is 26-foot channel, we'll
marked with buoys aud lighthouses,
and varying in width from 100 to
| l,0OU yards. which leads from the
entrance of Chesapeake Bay to the
wharves OF Norfolk, and also beyond
to the United States Vanguard. 1t
Ia we'll to particularly notice this,
since, Notwithstanding the dredging
OF this channel at great expense, by
the national government, still for
eign shippers ars not generally
aware of lis existence.
There are thirty two pilots al.
lowed by tho State law, and the
authorized pilotage is smaller than
that of any other port In the United
States. being from $3.50 to $3.50
per foot, according to the vessels
draught.
Two Important water ways-the
Dismal Swamp Canal aud the Able
parle and Chesapeake Canal-con.
meet the North Carolina sounds with
Chesapeake Bay, making a part of
that system of inland NAVIGATION
which extends from Beaufort and
Sewberne, N. O., to Baltimore,
Philadelphia. New York, and if 80
desired, to the great Northern lakes.
Ihese waterways are arteries.
through which flow from the Abe.
marie and Pamllco sounds aud their
tributary streams, the varied com
mercisl products OF Eastern North
| Carolina, and territory even farther
! South and West.
| Until our attention is directed to
this fact, we fail to realize the ex.
tent TO which these inland passages
are used; but glance at the stans
tics of Norfolk's lumber aud slaves
trade will give an idea of their i'm
portance, when we reflect that. sub
stahtially, the entire supply of tim
| Der into the Norfolk market NAV be
shi1 TO arrive through these canals,
Huge RATS. like immense serpents.
wind along, each i'll tow of dimiuu
tive tug, the total expense of which,
| though hight, Is yet sufficient to
allow lar profit to the raftsmen. as
| well as to the lumber dealer, while
the tugs return, having in tow long
ilnes OF schooners loaded with farm
ing machinery aud other manufac
tured articles from the workshops
| OF Norfolk aud cities further North.
The James River and Chesapeake
Bay. naturally deliver their produce
at Norfolk. These, with their ,rib
utary streams, represent O total
length of $500 miles OF tidal coast.
That OF the North Carolina Sounds
further Augments this to about 1870
miles of coast line which, although
inland water, Is yet daily washed
ana purified by the salt waves.
he climate is such an equable
one that the three neIghboring sea
SIDE resorts. Old Poiut Comfort.
virginia Beach and Ocean View.
may well declare themselves to be
either winter or summer resorts.
The thermometer in summer ranges