Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-31
NORFOLK.
Great Prospcrity-A Splendid new
Year Outlook.

NORFOLK, VA, December So.-(Spe-
cial.)-This seaport metropolis of the
South Atlantic has enjoyed year of UNI
exampled prosperity The city has spread
itself over new territory. Never before
have the building trades been as active
here as at present. and never has the
commercial Importance of the port been
so great Wholesale business and manu-
features OF all kinds are hourishing, and
nothing could better show the healthy
condition of the retail trade than the
wide expansion Of the dry-goods district,
now In progress. CRANKY street, an old
and aristocratic thoroughfare. Is being In
vaded by trade. many blocks north or
the former bounds of the retail district.
More than a dozen fine business blocks
and Office buildings are being erected
throughout the city, the major portion OF
them being on CRANKY street The mag
nificent new custom-house and post-ofiice
is rapidly approaching completion, and
residences are going up all over the city.
Norfolk Is now surrounded by populous
and beautiful suburbs, readily accessible
by rapid-transit trolley lines. A new road,
now nearing completion, designed to open
I'D the waterfront residence property at
Sewelps Point where a hotel is to be
erected, will also connect by ferry to Old
Point.
The lumber Industry of Norfolk. Ports
mouth. and Berkeley Is one Of the most
important, and the past year has wit
messed a marvellous increase In it. Many
large fortunes have been made during the
past twelve months, due to the extra
ordinary increase OF activity in this
branch Of industry.
Portsmouth and Berkeley have in all re-
spects kept abreast Of their big sister
city. In all three towns extensive real
estate deals have been consummated du"
ring the year; new factories for the man
ufacture Of cotton, silk. and novelties are
being built new banks have been organ
fed, and others have extended their capt.
tai and business.
The port derives its worldwide repu-
tation from It's export trade. By far the
most important feature of this is the coal
trade. There were shipped from the Lam
bert Point coal piers this year, to foreign
and cOastwise points, several million tons
OF Pocahontas coal, the world-famous
Virginia fuel. The port has well-nigh re-
gained its lost prestige as one of the
worlds great cotton marts. The records
OF the Cotton Exchange show that this
years increase In receipts. COMPRISING.
and shipments was very gratifying.
The coastwise shipping has increased
marvellously, and Norfolk easily leads all
other South Atlantic ports, both In tom
mage and In the number OF arrivals
and departures Of vessels. The old
Dominion Steamship Company. during
the year found 1t necessary TO add TO
its large fleet the two finest vessels for
the coastwise service afoat They are the
Hamilton and Jefferson. and are in SER
vice.
Increase In their terminal facilities have
been made by the Southern railway, the
Atlantic-Coast Line, the Norfolk and
Western, Chesapeake and Ohio; New
York, Philadelphia and Norfolk; Seaboard
Airline, and by other railway systems
centering here.
Norfolk Is in the midst OF an era OF
substantial, healthy growth. 1t has for
some years past been steadily increasing
in area and commercial Importance, and
the great prosperity it has enjoyed du-
ring the past year presages its continued
growth.