Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-12
KICK FROM NORFOLK
Cages Plan to Consolidate
the Ports Denounced.
BUSINESS MEN UPiN ARMS
Secretary of the Treasury Proposes TO Make
Newport News the Port or En-
try: Hence the Howl from
the Other Side.

IL the Recommendation of Hon. Lyman
Gage. the secretary Of the tr-usury, is
approved 10Y CoEglg5s, the ports Of NUr-
luik, Pt:iS1outh and Newport News will
De lnciCIed in one district witt; New
port News as th's> port of entry. Wr5i!,-
er this WEI be practicable ca NOT re-
mains to bG determiney,s but if it is
found Feasible all of the business trans
acted at thu Norfolk custom house will
De transferred to this port.
The business men of Norfolk are up in
efms over the announcement that the
se2r.taty of the treasury proposes to
ABOLISH tJe customs business of tfat
city, and the newspap ers in th. city
across the Roads have set up u mighty
n VII w nil. the business men of this
CITY wish TO SIC Newport News inter
ests advanced, still they do nDt care to
nave It done 70 the material .ietrim. ut
"f Norfolk, tbat is. 10y legislation
The N!rSinian and Pilot came out YES
terd2E with the assertion that Norfolk
is the leader and Newport News the
followers that Norfolk has an immense
foreign trade. While Newport News has
practically none.
lhe Nirsinian published number of
interviews with prominent citizens,
among them being the following:
colonel William Lamb: About 1885
or SO. whl-. Mr. Buwden was in Con-
sress and Mr.. O'Ferrail on the Commit
tee on Commerce. the collection dis
trict Of Norfolk vas robbed of Hampton
Roads. The Kings Chamber of the
News, then only thu site nf nv HINT
ing,an,s shipyar5 and = station an
his railroad, got the plum. All YES
SelS putting in to the roads for orders
IN distress or seeking cargo. hence
Huuiingtnn's lnhhv '2rcon,niishad mis-:
he iust about owned mar rnmntti,aa
The Norfolk representative was prom
Used that nothing should be done dur
bill was passed and the porI of New
port News established before they had
a graveyard in which 10 hurv a dead
sailor. Norfolk has A tremendous local
trade with E.urope whereas Newport
News has Absolutely none whatever.
bur is only used as a wharf by west
ern cities"
.aAIr Leroy Fl. Shields. the present
collector. when seen, said that in his
opinion as soon as the work Of the
custon-house and the yast increase in
the foreign trade, which has taken
place of late. is brough, into the mat
ter Mr.. CAS- nronnsitinn viii b..
dropped Norfolk is now classed with
the six greatest American ports and is
REQUIRED to furnish EXPORT reports to
the department on the 5th OF each
month These win demonstrate the
folly of centraliz;ng the great business
of This port at Newp0rt News"
rra Efroi,,i9n -han suggests thar Mr.
Huntinrto: is back Of the new move
The ,Norf0lk Ioi;u, published the fol-
lcw:ng:
"\urruik il the leader, Newport News
,ha f0llcvar on most rhings going to
make a port. The port of Norfolk and
IurtSn!0u, n is a metropolitan district.
with over 100. 600 inhabitants: Newport
News has but la000: Norfolk has ten
railroads. Newport News has but one;
Norfolk has everything in its favor. and
its very connections with Newport
News are TO Norfolk's benefit. 1t is the
centre the Mecca and its future
growth can hardly be limited. The TWO
cities are Twelve miles apart. anu
though now 70 be on belt of rail and
ferry encirclinG the two ports and
Hampton Roads, Yet the objective point
of that circle is Norfolk and all roads
lead here If the port is TO be CONSOLE
dated Norfolk has custom house and
a sheltered harbor: is the center of the