The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-14
AROUND HAMPTON ROADS.
A Glance ut the Development OF This
Section.
(Nfanlifacturers' Record.)


Section.
Manufacturers Record)
Recent events Indicate that the re-
zion around Hampton Roads, Including
Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News,
Is destined In the near future to attract
the attention OF the business world. u
Ia difficult to imagine n situation more
admirably adapted for rapid sncrease
in trade than that of the cities that
center around Hampton Roads. On this
lpotnt. Commodore Maury, the noted
georErapher of the seas, near,y half a
century ago, said:
Naturally. both in the geographic ana
military point of view, y -rfcl.:, with
Hampton Roads as Its lower harbor, and
San Francisco, inside 0f the Golden
the other on the Atlantic-lre the most
important maritime positions tina: lie
within the domains of the United States
each holds the commanding point OH It's
sea front: each has the finest harbur or
Its coast. and each with the most con-
venient ingress and egress for ships:
each as safe from wind and wave as
shelter can make them: nor IL access 20
either ever interrupted By The frosts
or winter In the harbor of each there
Is room to berth not only ali of the ships
or commerce, but the navies Of the world
also"
The truth of this brief bot brilliant
description Of the advantages IF .iDifolls
and the adjacent towns Is now being
verified in the rapid advancement Of the
industrial, trade and foreign CONNER
cial interests of this section.
Around Hampton Roads is found n
concentration of railroads scarcely
eoualled in some respects in the coun-
system. which reaches Norfolk through
It's Peninsular and ferry line, around
Hampton Roads. We strike the Chesa-
peake and Ohio, leading out !n.o the
coal and timber regions of West Vir-
einia and into the gteat grain districts
of the West and Northwest then the
Norfolk and Western, striking into an
other portion of the same West Virginia
coal and Western grain regions bring
Ing to Norfolk about 2.000.00) tons Of coal
year, and now becoming an important
grain-carrying line; hen the Atlantic
and Danville, road tina. must III the
near future be extended by direct line
or by some new conaa,t!on, into an un-
occupied part OF the IVES; Virginia coal
and timber territory of almos. un-
Around Hampton Roads Is found a
concentration of railroads scarcely
oualled in some respects in the country
Starting with the Pennsylvania system,
which reaches Norfolk through Its Pen
insular and ferry line, around by Hamp-
ton Roads, we strike the Chesapeake and
Ohio leading out into the coal and tim
Der regions of West Virginia and into
the great grain districts of the West
and Northwest; then the Norfolk and
western. striking into another portion
OF the same West Virginia coal and
western grain regions, bringing TO Nor
folk about 100000 tons of coal q year
and now becoming an important grain
carrying line; then the Atlantic and i'un-
Vile. road that must in the near f,,-
ture be extended by direct line, or by
some new connection, into an uDoLcC-
pied part OF the West Virginia coal
and timber territory of almost un-
euualled wealth. which when opened up
VIII pour into Hampton Roads a traffic
as great as the Chesapeake and Ohio or
the Norfolk and Western now handles:
then the Seaboard Air Line with its 900
mile system draining rich territory,
RAPIDLY developing through the active
work of this enterprising company. and
bringing to Norfolk a vast amount of
cotton and other traffic: then the South
ern railway, now building vast terminal
facilities at Norfolk and making IL the
Atlantic seaboard outlet for traffic bust
ness from its own allied lines, amount
ing TO probably 5000 or 10000 miles
then the Atlantic Coast Line and a num-
Der or smaller roads, concentrating at
Norfolk. bring about a railroad influence
ana railroad power for development
that can scarcely be measured. The full
force of this wonderful concentration
mas not yet bsen generally appreciated
With one hand extended to the in
terror. drawing traffic from the cotton re-
G1ons of the South. the coal. iron and
timber districts of the Virginias. the
great grain and provision regions OF he
West and Northwest. Norfolk, Ports
mouth and Newport News stand with
their other hand extended to the OCEAN
as an outlet by sea TO all the vast bust
ness that can be concentrated by their
great railroad systems