The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-02-09
Its CONSTRUCTION Means More to Portsmouth
Than Her People Fully Realize.
THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE Upon her
The building Of the Line Is Assured
and Work VIII Probably Begin In
a Few Days-Something OF the oh.
Jecfs Of It's Construction and
OF Its Results.

thteys atO COLHeCIlnS ali rail- ana
steamship lines centering In this harbor,
are practically completed, the right Of
way secured, and the work Of building
VIII commence In the near future.
me f1rst work in this direction was
the purchase by the New York, Phila-
( delphia and Norfolk railroad OF about
eight acres Of land elnbra cling twelve
hundred feet of water front from the
portsmouth Water Front company, for
$4,000. This land Is just north Of the
latest purchase Of the Southern railway
at Primers Point. They next purchased
thlrty-fourt acres from the Port Norfolk
tand company, embracing 1000 feet of
water front at Port Norfolk, in front of
Inc ,Hotel Vernon. and extending; back
to the Norfolk and Carolina railroad at
a cost OF $4,000 Here will he located
the northern terminus OF the belt line,
and this property will be covered with
tracks for handling all carload ship
ments or freights moving north and
lines. = - -
GIGANTIC PLANS.
Several piers and warehouses will be
erected on the most improved and mod
ern plans, and the cost Of handling
Ireights will be reduced to the lowest
possible minimum. The New York,
philadelphia, and Norfoll, railroad will
have It's own locomotives and train ser.
wee, and at this point will be located
the round house. electric light plant and
az necessary adjuncts for the terminus
OF q 1irst class RAILROAD. The main OBJ
Ject OF TINS belt line will be to concen-
trate at this point transfer direct
or All loaded cars to Cape Charles. At
present 1T Is necessary for the New
York, Philadelphia and Norfolk railroad
20 send Its, tugs and barges to a half
dozen or more transfer floats TO gather
cars for Its line and much time and mon
ey VIII be saved In having this direct
Terry between Portsmouth and Cane
CHARLES. The, belt line will extend due
south from the Port Norfolk terminus
just east or Virginia avenue until II
reaches the Old Key road, when it will
turn southeast through the Ivy. Emer-
son and Old properties until It reaches
the property OF the Portsmouth com
pans, when 1t will cross the Southern
'branch,-jus -south-ef- Back 4,ar.-at.tl
Sklrtlng on the north the property Of
nottingham & Wrenn The bridge To
De constructe across the Southern
Sranch VIII be OF the most moern and
elaborate type, and the draw will be
such as 10 avoid all possible obstruction
70 navigation. Crossing the Southern
Branch the road will pass the works Of
the Columbia Guano company and cot
ton FACTORY, and terminate at the juno
s!on VI the Norfolk and Western and
MOTOR and Southern roads Thus Is
VIII make a complete circuit, connecting
with the Southern railway, the Norfolk
, ana Carolina railroad. the Seaboard Air
Itlhe, the !Atlantic ana Danville railroad
the Norfolk and Western railroad aud
the norfolk and Southern railroad.
WILL CHANGE THINGS
rhat this belt line will change the rail-
road situation in the twin cities bv Ihc
sea Is All assured fact, and that II viii
Iacllltate the trade Of this port and re-
duce to the lowest possible cost the
transportation OF freight is no longer n
problem agitating the minds Of railroad
,.ihtasnates. put an enterprise backed by
the influence of the best and largest
Tauroad system In this country, as evil
denced by the fact that the surveyinr
purchasing the right Of way and prelinli
nary work connected with this has been
conuucted py the Pennsylvania railroad.
:, what effect will this belt line have on
the business interests Of this port. on
the commercial Importance Of Ports
mouth Norfolk and Berkeley, is the tonic
OF the greatest interest to our business
men. ears ago Portsmouth business
men rushed to the Legislature to Oppose
the charterlng Of a belt line, fearful thai
II meant the diversion OF railroad bn.j
ness passing through this city to Nor
IoiK. NOW all this Is changed and the
people or portsmouth with the vast and
extending system of the Seaboord fla
Atlantic Coast Line through the Norfoll,
and Carolina. and the extensive South-
ern railway system, which includ tho
Shree greatest railway systems In the
oc'H' "1luIl leT doors, feels safe IN
welcoming the building Of this belt line
az 1t concentrates on her harbor Limits
the entire heavy traffic system Of This
narbor. 1t is not beyond the possibilJ-
ties that a large portion OF the traffic
OF the Norfolk and Southern railroad (
consisting as that traffic oes Of Iumher.
shipments to Eastern cities and nsh
shipments requiring rapid transit NAV
pass over our wharveS. nor is It beyond
the probabilities that the great Norfolk
end Western railway with its new syn-
dlcate OF railroads, extending to The
sraln ports OF the lakes may find 1t ra TIL
er nconVenlent to go nine miles further
20 reach deep water there can be OBJ
canned by It's competitors to reach deep
TIE GREATEST BENDFrT.
Inc greatest benefit, however tn those
1 IAN with the purposes Of this road
s VIII ne the development Of the manufac-
'vn ,!is interests Of this port
Ihls belt line will place any mapnfac.
tuIlng concern located on its line In
e.ose touch with every railroad and
transportation line centering in this
harDor. It WIFI give all manufacturing
estaD!lsshments located on other rail-
roaas the advantage Of connecting with
any point reached by any railroad and
mus secure the advantage of every com
olnation or low rates and facilities in
try. $50 - - - ZIG couh
The cotton yards warehouses and
CLOCKS Tor the iOlJrpnsn ~ foto,1..-I,-