The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-01-01


might say. But not until "Grester
Norfolk" has materialized can this
claim be backed by the showing that
is necessary TO establish Norfolk in
the position to which she is entitled.
believe that Norfolk proper has
about 40. 600 inhabitants, Portsmouth
has about $4,000 more, BerkIev
about 5000, and other suburbs
about TO- 600 more, giving Norfolk,
and the municipalities and suburbs
immediately surrounding it, q total
population OF $1,000. On my recent
visit to Norfolk l was astonished at
being told that the population of
Norfolk and surrounding towns WAS
nearly $4,000. knew Norfolk TO
he city Of about 10000, but one
who IL not acquainted with local
conditions and who has not been
there to see for himself that Norfolk
is but part OF the municipal popu.
lation clustered around it, is apt
to underestimate the Importance
OF the combined population and
credit the whole area with but the
strength, the hope and the future of
the part which is most conspicuous.
Hence. without stopping to calcu-
late, or to be informed, and in nine
cases out of ten finding that the
world credits Norfolk simply with
Norfolk's population, it can readily
be understood that the aggregate
interests of the community suffer. or
at least that they do not derive the
benefits aud advantages to which
they are entitled by the population
which backs them. a Bostonian or
Chlcagoan or far Westerner in.
quires the population of Norfolk.
He Is told that it is 10000: "but,"
says his informant, "our surround.
ing towns and suburbs give us near.
ly 10000 mere" Recoguizlng the
fact that every city is liable to lay
undue stress on its suburbs and to
credit them with an overdeveloped
strength entirely unjustitied by
fact, the statement is received with
grain of salt, and probably the
census report is sought. There it is
IN black and white for 1890: Nor.
folk, 34.S7l. and naturally the cen.
sus report does lot stop to give any
information In the same connection
about either Portsmouth, Berkeley,
Atlantic City or anything else but
No1folk proper; and if you wish to
find out about either of these other
places you must turn to the index
and take it up as an independent
proposition.
by oil means your people should
push the question of consolidation.
The difference in the necessity for
consolidation OF interests between
Norfolk, Portsmouth and surround
ing cities and the reasons which
urge consolidation between New
York and Brooklyn. and adjoining
towns. ls merely difference in de.
gree. If it is good for New York
and Brooklyn 1t will be good for
Norfolk and Portsmouth, and the
minute consolidation is accom-
pllshed the prestige OF the commu-
nifty is vastly increased, and it's
strength, while really the same,
numerically speaking, is more
potent and productive of better re-
suits.
The greater Norfolk can only be
question of time. If it does not
materlalize in this day, or in this
generation, it will in the next.
Therefore. since it must come, why
not let the active, moving, enter
prlslng forces now at work for the
development of the city have the
credit of 1t. as we'll as enjoy the
benefits to be derived from it?
In the lmpromptu remarks made
before the Business Mems Associa
ton in Norfolk. | took OCCASION TO
say that if Atlanta had the natural
advantages enjoyed by Norfolk, it
would be a city OF million inhab
itants in ten years. With nine
railroads acting as al enormous
commercial funnel through which
Is poured the products of the
industry of vast section nj
country into Norfolk, for dstribu
ton by water to all parts of the
world, with as fine, if not the finest.
harbor on the East Atlantic coast
on whose broad bosom can be accom-
modated the commerce OF the world
with people rich in resources.
fnll OF energy and determination.
aud realizing TO the fullest extent
the advantage of their location, 1t
does seem TO me that Norfolk has as
bright future us any city of It's size
on the continent, and when | speak
''of its size" | do not mean of Nor
folk proper, but OF Greater Norfolk.
1t enjoys climate equable through.
out the year; it possesses the dual
advantage of water and rail conueo.
ton and, what is more, it has plenty
OF water and plenty of railroads; It
Is never troubled with filling chan
nels and rising bars. The ships
come and the ships go with the Ger
tainty of railroad schedules there
never Is annoyance about getting IN.
and never any trouble about getting