Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-16
FIGURES DON'T LIE
Reasons Why This Should Be
the Port of Entry.
UNCLE SAM LOSES MONEY
ohicial Statement Shows That 1t Costs
More to Collect Customs at Norfolk
Than 1t Does Here. Many Advan-
tages of This fIarbor.

When Hon. Lyman Gage, the Score
tary of the Treasury. recommended
that the ports of Norfolk and Newport
News be consolida ted with this harbor
as the port of entry, he was not talk
ing through his hat" as the Norfolk
papers insinuated Mr.. Gage knew
what he was doing. He had been doing
little figuring, and that is what has
hurt Norfolk, for that port does not
snow up very We'll when compared to
Newport News in the amount of bust
ness transacted. Secretary Cages rec
ommendation may fan through for the
present. but the time is not far distant
when Newport News will be the port Of
entry.
Newport News has many advanta-
ges over Norfolk. This harbor is more
accessible. The largest ship at!oat can
tie up at the piers here without sticking
IN the mud. But large vessels cannot
steam into the Norfolk harbor with the
same ease Take. for instance, the
american Liner st. Louis, which is now
at the shipyard. This vessel could not
W4'h safety enter the channel beading
INTO Norioik. The same may be said OF
many freighters which come. here. It
is Well known fact that the command
er of the cruiser New York refused to
take his ship TO Norfolk because of the
shaiioW harbor there, and yet the Iarg-
est battieshps come here and anchor
--nt1-the- piers But what's the use of
making a. comparison riven the IONS
over in Norfolk know that Newport
News has the finer harbor and better
shipping facilities.
Questioned by a representative of the
Daily Press regarding Secretary Cages
plan to consolidate the ports. Mayor w.
A Post last night said:
Yes, the Secretary of the Treasury
is certainly on the right track in rec
ommending that Newport News be
made the port of entry for this district
HIS recommendation may not be car
ried out at this session of Congress, but
1t is only a question of time when the
people VIII demand more economical
administration of the customs service,
and. however calling 10 the pride of
Norfolk il may be, the justice of max
ing this city the port of entry will be
conceded by ali.
The reasons are perfectly apparent.
Norfolk can never become great COM
1nercial port.
ANY ocean steamer going to Norfolk
must traverse a narrow circuitous chan
mel for a distance of ten miles-all the
way from Sewalrs Portland for a
distance of Two and a quarter miles
this channel is only kept open by fire.
= Tuent dredging. An this time our wor-
thy representative in Congress is try
ing to secure an appropriation of $780,
900 to improve the channel to Norfolk
Now what are the facts as to the rel
ative Importance of Newport News and
Norfolk as factors in the commerce of
the nation? Here are the figures taken
from the report of the supervising spe-
cial agent of the Treasury Department.:
In 1897 Newport News collected $685.
27S55.
In 1897 Norfolk collected s24.29375
Each dollar collected by Newport
News cost the government IS cents,
While each dollar collected by Norfolk
cost "a $40 cents. During the years 1894
1886 and '9Ii the cost of collecting dol
lar at Newport News has varied be-
tween IL IL cents and 1SS-1O cents.
while at Norfolk the cost ranges be-
tween 43 lilo cents. the lowest, and
81. clio. When you take into consid
GRAFTON what il costs to keep the harbor
open to good sized ocean steamers. is it
not quite an expensive port to main
tain?
Now please examine this government
chart and see what a clear, broad, deep
waterway there is TO this city and OBJ
serve the narrow little passa ge leading
TO Norfolk, which. by comparing with
this scale, you Wiz see is ten niles
long. What shipmaster would prefer to
so to Norfolk"
Opposition to the suggestion of Sec
rotary Gage to consolidate certain GUS
toms districts, SO far as it effects Vir-
ginia, Will be vigorously pushed by the
Virginia delegation in Congress. The
bill proposed affects the congressional
districts of Representatives Young,
R;xey and Epes, and all three of these
members are opposed to the bill for 10
cal or other reasons, and in their oppo-
:sition they will have the support of SEN
ator Daniel and probably Senator Mar
tin. 1t is said that other members of the
Virginia delegation may also join them
in their opposition TO the measure.
1t is stated that Chairman Dlngley,
of the Ways and Means Committee, is
personally in favor of the plans of Sec
retary Gage, and other prominent men,
bers Of the House state that they will
insist upon the passage of the bill as 1t
stands, and will not accept any amend
rnents relieving ports of Virginia from
dts operate
1t is anticipated that the bill will be
considered by the Ways and Means
Committee and promptly brought be-
fore the House for consideration and
will probably pass that body.
When the bill comes up Congressman
Young, according to his present inten-
t,ion, will offer an amendment to strike
cut the consolidation of Cape Charles
and Norfolk with Newport News, or
else he will endeavor to have Norfolk
made the port of entry, but it can he
stated that Secretary Gage has given
much attention and consideration to the
matter and if the bill becomes law at
all DIT will so through as it stands, and
Newport News will be the port of entry
for this district.
Their Guilt Fully Proven.
After running for over wa,k, our