The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-10
GROWTH OF NORFOLK
A Fofmar Norfolk Coy Gives His Views and
Impressions.
BUT WE NEED MANUFACTURES BADLY.
Sobbing Trade Will Net Support a
City, Ash Depends Too Much Upon
Observation-Disclosures Bring Money
In To Be Distributed az Home
Tho Water supply.

Mr. John r. Bland. Secretary of the
! Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
cation, OF Baltimore, Is in the city on
visit to Mrs. John n. Williams, his
sister. ut No. AZ Butte stree. Mr.. Bland
Is an old Norfolk boy, but has been in
business In Baltimore for twenty years
Yesterday MIR. Bland spsht an hour
with Virginian reporter. giving his
impressions as to the recent and future
development of Norfolk, and making
suggestions OF great value as to meth
DDS which could be advantageously
adopted In making this city 4 manufac-
turing and business centre. Nj. Bland,
however, did give these suggestions I'M
solicited. In fact. he feared that his
views would be looked upon as presump-
tuous upon his part. inasmuch al he
was only d visitor to Norfoiil and rot
In any way identified with her interests,
except through the fact that It was
once his home.
Judging from the general ent -rprise
and movement Of business l see In
Norfolk" said Mr.. Bland, with The
large stores and building up of the
suburban districts; the extension of the
trolley lines: the Improvement and eS-
tension of the wharf property; the new
avenues of transportation and thase
promised, the city has q very bright
prospect.
pend on its jobbng trade. 1t mu It have
commerce and, above all things, manu-
features. Manufactures draw money
from without and distribute it within,
whereas jobbers rely upon each other
Il see no reason why Norfolk can
not be made manufacturing centre
1t Is near the cotton centre, the meet
ing point of the lumber trade; is fl
close proximity to the coal fields of vir-
ginia, and it's population. both white
and colored. present to my mind the
city as possessing unusual advantages
for manufacturing purposes"
In speaking of the water supply, Mr..
Bland said:
Much depends and much will de-
pend in the future OH your water sup
ply. which is essential TO any community
which aspires to It's development as q
manufacturing centre. In Baltimore we
make special rate for water used for
manufacturing purposes of eight cents
per 1000 gallons.
Another thing which should be done
is to exempt manufacturing plants and
tools from taxation. When a man in
vests In plant for manufacturing pur-
poses 1t is like SO much money sunk
Twenty-Five years ago manufacturing
plants were taxed in Baltimore and we
had none. But now ii is different. The
tax has been removed and we have the
factories.
Another great factor in the develop
| ment of cities Is the extension of rapid
| transit. Take Baltimore. for instance.
In the last few years her suburbs have
been built up and street carttravel has
| increased some seven or eight times to
what 1t was under the old system You
will find that with the extension Of your
| trolley lines. there will be an extension
| of your city. 1t will attract people. II
will bring them here to live.
The Improvement in your transporta-
| ton facilities has been marked. re-
member when only two lines of railroad
and only three or four lines of steam
boats came here. Now. however, there
| is n big change.
] The character of the buildings going
up would Impress stranger. / was
particularly impressed with Client and
lis buildings, They are modern. hand
some structures, such as would catcb
the eye of any stranger"
Mr.. Bland will leave for Baltimore tn
night.