The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-20
SEABOARD'S WAREHOUSE
THIS PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM INCREASES ITS
TERMINAL FACILITIES.
The New Warehouse Covers Two Acres and
has Capcity of About q, 900 Bales
of Cotton. The Seaboard goes
Forward.
Forward.

Norfolk, Va, Sept. 19.-(Special.)- 49,
Norfolk people, as well as Southern
tourists familiar with harbor surround
ings here, who went North three or four
weeks since and returned within the past
few days via the steamer line, have been
surprised to find within that short period
an additional immense warehouse has
been completed on the Seaboard Air
Lines water frontage. From the in
coming steamers looking to the right
this commOdouS structure seems to as
sumo Il natural and busineSS-like air
among its sister warehouses, all bearing
the Seaboard Air Lines standard color
stretching in unbroken line on the west
ern side of the water front and the eye
is lost i'll the shipping of the Navy
Yard.
A reporter had quite Il pleasant visit
through the new warehouse with Mr.. j.
w. Council, the Seaboard's Forward
ing Agent, and from him gained some in
teresting information as to the efforts
and progress that company is making in
the development of this port. 1t stands
to the credit of the Seaboard's manage
stantly required to take care of its bust
ness. This is especially applicable in The
case of its new warehouse as the new
building is to be devoted exclusively to
the handling of cotton brought from ter
ritory contiguous to its line for export
business, indicating that the movement
of this commodity through Norfolk port
is on the increase, notwithstanding the
impetus given in recent years to the eS-
tablishment of mills throughout the
South for the development of home con-
sumption of cotton. 1t is well known
that the erection of mills throughout the
South has resulted in the consumption OF
Il vast amount of the staple and Il conse-
quent reduction of shipments on many
lines to Northern markets and foreign
ports.
Opening of mills on the Seaboard Air
Line alone, however, within the past
twelve months has increased largely the
tonnage in factory products, and with
other factories now in course of erection,
its is Il strong evidence of faith in the
South's resources and speaks well for the
progressiveness of that company that adj
ditional facilities are provided for cotton
shipments and it is well known that the
considered ample for the handling of al
most any amount of that commodity.
But the size and conveniences of the
new building indicates that the Sea-
board means business, and that it means.
furthermore, to take care of it according
to improved methods.
The new building covers something
over two acres and will have Il capacity
of about u 900 bales of cotton.
With these enormous facilities the
Seaboard will be better prepared than
ever to handle through shipments to ship
side and from Il standpoint of economy
and dispatch they are placed on a still
firmer footing. Unusual facilities in this
respect will be required, however, as on
the front deep water sOundings are af
forded for docking the largest foreign
steamships, while the slips on either side
can accommodate steamers of equal
draught and tonnage. When it is re-
membered that these ocean tramps east
~ carry from nine to twelve thousand
bales of cotton ut sailing, some idea is
given as to what these new facilities
will mean for the Seab0ard Air Line dur
ing its busy season. On the north Of
the slip space is also given for the ac
cOmmidatiOn of cOaStwiSe shipments
Two of the Seaboard's warehouses have
heretofore been devoted almost eXclu
sively to coastwise business. and with
the additional wharf room obtained by
e completion of the tracks in the new
slip, convenient accommodations are to|
be had for the docking at one time of
vessels amounting in the aggregate tC
an almost incredible tonnage. The new
structure will be known as warehouse
&c" and it will be remembered it was
from this dock then only recently pur-
chased by the Seaboard Air Line sys-
TEN, that British tramp was loaded
with several thousand bales of cotton
from Georgia sailing the same day of its
arrival over the Seaboard Air Line, and
making a phenomenal record to Bremen.