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

mouth has followed close in her
wake in commercial growth and in
dustrial development.
Directly opposite to Norfolk on
the rivers west side it compactly
covers in its corporate limits about
q mile square With the suburbs, in
clnding West Norfolk and Port
Norfolk. the population can be set
at $4,000 inhabitants, about 1900
urban and 5000 suburban.
NAVY YARD.
1t is hapked on the SOUTH by the
United States Navy Yard, which
imparts vitality to business and en-
ploys about 1900 mechanics aud la
borers. The annual pay roll is close
to ST, 100000.
The vantage of the waters of the
Chesapeake rs rendezvous for the
fleets and squadrons Of tho mother
country was perceived and repair
shops were established here long
before the War of Independence.
This property was wrested from his
Brittanic majesty during the revolu
tion by the patriots OF Virginia, aud
was confscated by the Old Domin
ion and sold by it to the nation in
1900 for Sl2. 200.
III 1888 the valuation placed upon
Che eighty-three acres of ground oc
cupied was 81 600, 900; of the thirty
five buildings on 1t, $4,000 OF the
machinery and equipment, $3.50, :
600, total of $4,000, 900. The land
is more valuable and many additions
have since been made to build and
repair the new steel cruisers, so that
to day 1t stands as one of the finest
navy-yRrds in the United States.
Among the other structures at the
yard are offices and officers quar-.
tiers, boat aud timber sheds, ma
chine shops, storehouses, two dry.
docks. marine railway tramwuy
throughout the whole place, q water
works and electric plant of
sufficient capacity for the en-
tire area. " There are also COOL
ing, repairing and victualing
facilities and anchorage for the
training and receiving ships OF the
station. Much of the history OF
the country is disclosed by the
chronicles of this yard.
Decatur, the Barrons, aud some of
the cleverest American naval com.
manders, have been assigned here
for shore duty. The chesapeake, "
In which Lawrence distinguished
himself was built here. and several
smaller craft during the desnltory
war with France. The man. of-war
"Delaware," in 1899, the John
Adams" in 1880; the sloop York
town. in 1899; the steamers Law.
renee" and Perry" in 1877; the
steam frigate Pow hatan," in 1850:
the Roanoke" and Colorado" IN
1887, we're built here; and the ia
nous 'Guerriere" lying here in
1871 was made school for midship.
men.
In April, 1861, soon after the out.
break OF the war, the Federal com
aldant bred the yard and its con
Ients, aud the war vessels in the
stream. From the hull of the "NIer.
l1mac, which was sound, the Con.
1ederates while in possession in 1861
and 1862 constructed the "Yirginia. >
famous to this date as the first iron
clad ram used in naval warfare and
Tor her combat with the celebrated
Monitor built by Ericsson for
the Federal side. The steel cruiser
"Raleigh" has just been completed
and the new battle-ship "rexas" is
receiving her armor. Secretary Of
Navy Herbert and the heads of the
dlherent naval departments are
loud IN their praises OF the advan-
fages OF this yard and the efficiency
OF the work done here.
Admiral George Brown is now
commandant of the yard, with Con.
structor f. t. Bowles in charge Of
the construction of the new vessels.
ETC., etc.
NAVAL PARK.
Along the river front in the north.
ern portion of the city is the SPA.
cions Naval Hospital grounds which
are used as public park for the
people Of Norfolk, Portsmouth and
vicinity. The Government permits
their tree use for recreation and di.
version and they are much frequent.
ed. There are seventy five acres oil
tnese grounds, nearly the who'll
oloIiied with the primeval pine wbic I
covered much of Norfolk comfy a,
She time the site was selected m
1873. ln that year construction of The
nospitai was begun cot that impos
lug building of freestone and gran.
ate, whose splendid facade of ter
tuscan columns makes up the most
prominent landmark of the river i
Ihe eychitecs OF the buildiDg Voc