Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-24
THE SEAPORT OF THE SOUTH
Newport News Forging Ahead Of Other
Atlantic Coast Cities. 81
GREHT TERMINAL FACIL|TIES
New York and Philadelphia Jealous of Our I'm
mense orcign Tradc. Few
Facts and Figures.

Newport News, 1.-The Golden Gate o
the AHA tic, as it is most ayp,ropri,
ade4y termed. today commands ranl
among the foremost of Americas com
HeFcial cities, where fifteen years ag,
1T was practical an unknown quantity
AS an export point it is rapidly f3rgins
u TIE irans and now gives promise OF
ore day claiming the distinction |,
which IT is rightly entitled by reason o
It's naturally advanta gecus .uation
It's connection with the great producing
region of the west. its magnificent wa.
ter front and haloor capa Bile of noat .ne
Inc very largest vessels at any stage
~ the tide arr its unrivailed facilities
IcF exporting ne products OF this great
American nation-the distinction of be
ing the greltest seapor: city on the AT
uantic coast of the United States
1t may seem like exaggeration to
edeaim 50 much for q city CT 16. 500 in
ha'bitants, with as yet only one railrua
ana but a half-mile Of shipping in,.er-
ests along the water front but the re-
cord or the past and present is the cr-
aerion for the success of the future and
important commercial role for which 1t
has been especially fitted by nature.
ALREADY the great export points on
the atlantic coast have felt the effect
OF the progressive growth of the enter
prdsing Virginia port. New York has
discovered that her foreign trade is
tanning off. AT first. PhiladeI phia and
baltimore fattered themselves that
they were eating up part OF New York s
business, but it was soon evident that
even THESE cities were not recev:ng
their share OF the perpetual increase OF
business which marks the progress CT
the American nation. The influential
trade bodies of these large cities COM
menced to realize that considerable ex-
port business was taking a course here
tofore unknown to the commercial map
and they commenced to look around for
ats new destination. 1t is needless TO
state that they found it in Newport
News, In a short while the newa:pa pers
on these critics took up the matter and
from them continually come complaints
that what is their loss is, to a large eX-
tent. the gain of the "Golden Gate of
the Atlantic" and the liverpool Of
Virginia.
These assertions would count for
nauGht without the facts and figures
necessary to positive assurance. The
Daily Pra:s, after carefully searching
the records OF the port for nearly fiji
teen years, is in possession of the great
mass CT facts and figures which speak
with conviction and ii is with just prida
that it presents to the rhousa n,is cf
guests of the city on this memorable
day the history of the pert cf Newport
News.
The business of the port can be di-
vided into three classes: M
Exports ". "u" #.un d. .
Imports. g."
CoaT shipments.
OF these three branches the export
trlde is the greatest and by far the
most important. The pride of Newport
News. of counse, is it's mammoth ship
yard, many columns Of interesting mat
ter devoted to which are to be found
elsewhere. The city also takes alInos:
an eQual pride in the prosperous Ches-
ape.ke &: Ohio railroad. which has its
terminal point at this port. The history
and business of THE road Will also be
found elsewhere in full. To the Chesa-
peake &, Ohio railroad. however. the
port owes its magnificent record in the
expectation OF American products and
manufactures to the shores Of the
many foreign nations where they bring
n,and.
The first Cargo of exports from New
port News was shipped by George NJ.
Donaldson &. CO. April 2, 1888. to Eng
land ON the British steamship PaSo.
Captain r. Casper. When the record
Of This shipment was made on the GUS
tom house books little was it dreamed
by those in charge that this cargo was
10 be the corner stone. SO to speak, OF
an immense commercial structure.
The regular customs business for the
tiny port practically commenced With
lasJuly l. 1883. which marked the opening
aof THE first fiscal year.
It win be interesting to note the ex-
port business for tine first year in the
ports history. ending with June 80,
1854 It is given below just as il APP
pears on the custom house books: