The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-10-31
THE MARBoRs OF NORFOLK AND.
aPORTEMOUTH.

I.L .L..#..I IU. - f#H. a".. .
For the harbors of Norfolk and Ports
mouth the sending of the battleship
Texas from Hampton Roads to the New
York Navy Yard to De locked for re-
pairs was in all probability u bless
ing In disguise. The prevailing impress
sion. due to malicious II unfoundcd
reports. was that the Navy Depart
ment was influenced to axe this step
for the reason that an insufficient depth
OF water in our hurbor pre-
vented risking the sending OF
the Texas to this yard. The
telegraph reports. published yesterday,
are to the effect that now that the Tex
as is In New York harbor. it will re-
quire Il spring tide to enable her to be
dockcd. The true reason that infu-
enced the Department to send the Tex
as to the New York yard instead of the
yard here was the recognition of the
fact that because of her %broadness OF
keel she could not be docl1ed here, and
to the belief that owing 10
the higher tides Of New York
harbor she could be locked
at that point. The inability To dock
her shows that the fault Is IN the mat
ter OF the respective docks, and not in
the depth OF water of the respective
harbors, ana that when the latter Is
taken into consideration The facts de-
veioped will demonstrate the superior
ity of the Norfolk harbor over that of
New York, and the greater safety IL
affords to ships of heavy draft, because
Oh the softncss of it's bottom as COM
pared with that of the harbor of New
FORK. The demonstration of these facts
leads The virginlan to conclude that
'he sending of the Texas to New York
harbor was. so far as this port is con-
ccrned, Il blessing in disguise.
IN us issue of to-day The Virginian
presents the views of Admiral 3rown
II membcrs of The Pilots Associa-
ton. Admiral Brown makes the en-
phatic declaration tina I'VE have as
m'ich water over the Sill of our dock MS
they have in New York. and the repre-
sentative OF the Virginia Pilots Asso-
cation interviewed asserted tina,
there Gun be brought to the navy
yard twenty-seven and onc-half feet
at high tide, II as the average rise
ana fall Of the tide is only two feet
inches, II can readily be seen
mat this port is availa bic at nearly all
stages Of the tide for the heaviest
draught ships. The difference between
the draught of the Texas md the
depth of the channel is the difference
between her %draught, which is twenty
three feet, and the depth of the q,annel
Vwenty-scvcn feet), and the failure OF
being able TO dock the Texas I'm the
nuvy-yard dry docks was no reason Tor
assailing the depth OF water in the
Elizabeth river"
Vet our harbor has been so assailcd
and IL is incumbent upon all our in
tereSits 10 see hat these malicious
and uncalled for reports are intelli-
gently refuted. The Virginian viii en-
deavor TO do It's duty in this respect,
but the importance OF Tho subject de-
mands that there should be Il united
effort on the part of our business in
terests to nail these lies with sledge-
hammer effect. AS to the Improvement
OF u hnrbor there is an essen
N'i hSNSSSiNS lol uIBunlZtu tIIDTt.
with Il future pregnant with great pos
sibilitles for our commercial growth
and supremacy, we should not be idle
In this most important matter. There
should be Il regularly organized com
mission to have the great interest In
hand. A board organized similar tc
that of the Boar of Harbor Commits
s%ioners. the expenses of the same to
be met by appropriations from Norfolk,
Portsmouth, and Norfolk county,
should have charge OF all matters re-
latinG 10 the promotion OF the improve,
ment of u harhor. through means of
Congressional assistance. Heretofore
there has been no system in our APP
proaches to Congress for %nppropria-
lions, and the work of Temporal ~
committees, appointed at different
times TO visit Washington, have beer
almost fruitless. With Il properly on
stituted organization on the part of
Norfolk. Portsmouth. and Norfolk
county, this serious defect could be
remedied. Let our business %orGanIza-
lions take the matter in hand.