The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-05

II am going to turn interviewer. Tell
me how The Virginian happened to get
up that article on our export trader"
The reporter explained.
well, l want to tell you that il was
a great piece of enterprise" resumed
Mr.. Degge, land The Virginian deserves
much credit. 1t was timely, convincing,
deeply interesting and we'll written. 1t
was. in fact, just the character of arti-
Gle the papers should publish oftener.
believe that when we have good
thing we should let the people know it
push 1t along as the phrase goes. The
Nlrginian has done Il great work in
bringing these facts before the public.
AN article of this kind does more to in
Guca immigration from the North and
West and to advance the prosperity of a
city than any other one thing that l
know of. 1t should be sent broadcast
why, do you know" continued Mr..
Degge, "forty-nine out of every fifty Of
our business men did not realize what
the export business of this port was until
they read Thursdays NirEinian, and
though l knew 1T was on the increase,
had no idea it was so large. The fig
ures you quoted were convincing, sur
prising and extremely gratifying, to
many they were startling"
ADMIRAL BROWN TELLS WHY.
Admiral George Brown, commandant
Of the Norfolk Navy-yard, was seen and
expressed his surprise at the showing
Said he: THE port of Norfolk is bound
to be one of the most important in
America. i have long foreseen this out
come, and If the present ratio of in
crease in our foreign trade keeps up
expect to see il Il Metropolis in the near
future. To the concentration of rail
way lines here 1 attribute the growth
of the export trade. When transatlantic
shipping companies know they can Sc
cure large cargoes here they will GER
| tanly come after them. Then the ships
will have TO bring something back again.
| and there the ports importing bust
ness will be built up.
THE rate war. which was ON SO flu
riously some time ago, had it's effect
on the volume of freight brought TO this
port, and 1 consider it permanent in
| crease. for the low rates acting as an
inducement to shippers to send their
goods via Norfolk, they found out what
good point this Is TO ship to- and so
VIII continue to send us their products.
All this means an increase in the water
| transportation business and we may
shortly expect to see even a greater
| increase"
THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE.
"The Nirginian's article on the in
crease in Norfolks export business
| makes remarkable showing and
| should be the cause of general con
graduation" said Mr.. Thomas r. Bal
| lentine, the well-known CAPITALIST and
trucker AS matter of fact, the cause
of 1t all is that Providence has placed
| here the finest harbor on the Atlantic
| coast, and the influx OF business to this
point is merely natural. We are near
the ocean, at the same time splendid
shelter Is afforded, besides deep water,
| ample room for any number of vessels.
IT Is the great natural advantages of
Norfolk's harbor that brings the rail
roads here. That is what caused the
Southern TO abandon its great interests
at West Point and come here. 1t had
10 do 1t TO compete with the roads that
were here already.
Now that we are making such strides
| In our export business / want to see a
lot OF factories established here. This
is what we need. Institutions that will
furnish light work for the sons and
daughters in the families of those that
| labor"
SURPASSED EXPECTATIONS.
MI Dawson Mccormick. the well
known real estate dealer and promoter
SAID that the figures In the Virginian's
article were astonishing. but highly
gratifying. He was greatly plea scd a I
the Increase in the export trade. which
he said, surpa ssed his most sanguine
| expectations.
a GOOD EFFECT.
Mr.. Joseph w. Perry. president of the
j. W. Perry company, and Vice Presi-
dent of the Citizens Bank, said that the
eNhbi: was very fine. and that its
| publication would have n good effect on
the prospects of the port.
GREAT INDUSTRIAL CENTER.
The November Traffic. u. monthly
| paper published in Philadelphia, has
this, in part, to say OF Norfolii's grow
| ing Importance as n seaport:
with its ample and deep water har-
Dor and excellent railroed facilities.
there Is no reason why Norfolk should
not become one of the chief seaports on
the Atlantic coast of the United States,
and that very soon. 1t has natural ad-
vantages not enjoyed by others of
| much greater Importance at the pres
ent time. The same can be said as to
its future as great industrial center"