The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-01-22
HORF0Lk'S GREAT FUTURE
Some Very Interesting Express
presslons Of Opinion.
HER WONDERFUL RARBOR.
A Future No Other Eastern Seaport
City Has Outside Of New York.
Views of Hon. Charles M.
Blackford. Co-opera-
lion is Promised.
LyNcRnUnG, Va, January 4. le9l.

hFNChBURG, Va, January 4, le9p.
". GIem,un, Esq, Etlttor Of The
iirJinia1
Ny DEAR SIR II have perused
the LIST of January issue of The
FIRGINIAN as carefully rs u busy
mau could do in twenty.four hours.
does everything which tells of the
growth aud prosperity OF Virginia
aud especially of my nntivo Tide
wator Virginia, filled mo with pride
and satisfaction.
Although the original heart of the
Old Dominion, Norfolk hns not
been cherished "a it should have
been by the people or Government
of tho State. Railroads, Rs at first
chartered and constructed, all rau
nthwart the avenues of her com.
merce and left her TO large extent
out III The cold. The last fifteen
years shave seen this condition of
things largely reversed, and now
for the first time treuscontinenial
lines Of railways are yielding to the
law Of nature and the Instincts of
trade and arc seeking deep water
outlets Mt your city; commercial
growth to ituud prosperity to them
are the sure results.
That this is so, rs to your city, is
indisputably proved by the striking
collation. of facts and comparison
Of figures SO clearly set forth il
your Issue OF January lst.
The belief may, to some eX-
tent, be the child of my hopes, but
| can but believe that Norfolk has
now surer future than it has ever
bad before, aud future which no
other eastern seaport city, outside
of New York, can claim with the
same ground for confidence.
Heretofore your town has set by
the sea, but was practically cut OH
from land. Now it has the same
fruitful access TO the ocean, and vet
Is bound Indlssolubly 10 the land
by hooks of steel. Every class Of
product will seek its harbor-the
cotton of the Gulf States, the cereals
of the West and the manufactures
OF the East-Nnd in return Its ports
will be sought by ships laden with
the wealth of the world,
With such advantages Dedicated
10 her use by nature, as we'll as by
the enterprise of man, eau there be
any doubt that there Is in store for
her growth and prosperity hereto.
fore unknown?
1 have eaid nothing of tho i'm
mense development OF the trucking
interest, which has become 80 yalu-
able an element of your trade and
30 fruitful n source of local wealth.
OF 1t and its increase the world was
aware before your statistical sheet
was published, and hence | have
confined my comment only TO the
wonderful facts you have collateu.
which should so gladden. the hearts
of all NlrginiAns, rs they demon.
strate that the time of fruition has
come to the many hopes which for
years have clustered around our
ancient seaport.
In conclusion, let me sny that it
looks 10 me that nothing is now
wanting to secure constant advance
to your city but to remove to its
midst some five or six OF our hills.
You can count on orr co operation
Won furnish tho labor and we the
mnterial-both communities will be
benefited. Hills, we find, develop
muscle and brain; at all events, they
materially improve the quality OF
their occupants by the constant
elimination incident TO the practlca!
application of the doctrine of the
survival of tho Ittcst. | am yours
very truly,
CHARLES NJ. BLACKFoRD.
Letter From the Mayor of Abing-