Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-01

December Qo l5th).................. 'ovo
Total for 1898 ..............1. 79l 955
Total for Observation-Disclosures. 1885 S3S
Increase ......... ........... go. oS9'ol'
This has been an eventful year at the
ship-yard When the year opened, the
Newport News Ship-Building and Dry
Dock Company was building the battle
ships Kearsarge. Kentucky, and Illinois,
The first two were launched March 9th
and the last October 4th, all three In the
presence Of tremendous throngs OF spec
tators. Recently, the yard has received
the contracts for the battleship missouri
and the monitor Arkansas and seven
merchant vessels-four large steamships
foI the Morgan Line, two large passenger
and freight steamships for the Cromwell
Line, and a large steel tug for the Nor
gan Line. The prospects are bright Tor
two more contracts being awarded the
yard i'm the mex. few weeks-thOse for the
two l00OO-ton passenger steamships for
the Pacific Mail, which will be the hand
soonest and cOstliest merchant vessels
ever turned out at the yard.
At the present time there is N6,OW'OOO
worth Of work on hand and 5000 men are
employed by the company in its several
departments. Preparations are being made
10 increase the ldtlilltSs anu NhtA
all of Mr.. Huntington's plans materialize-
and assurances have been given that they
will I'm a short time now-the Newport
News Ship-Building and Dry-Dock Com
pany will have a ship-building, ordnance,
and armor-plate plant equal in size and
value TO any in the world.
Mr.. Huntington has recently closed a
deal with Vickers Son & Maxim, of
England. whereby the English capitalists
invest capital in the company and ex-
tend the plant as above stated. 1t IS
expected that the capital of the new COM
pany, which will retain the same name,
will be I'm the neighborhood of Sl5.0lO.OOO.
The other industries in Newport News.
smaller, of course. have been thriving
during the year. The disastrous fire of
Thursday night. when Caskey Brothers
brass foundry which has the contracts to
do all Of the moulding and casting for
the ship-yard. was destroyed. to the
extent of 81, 600. will cause some delay in
the work at the yard. but it will not in
terfere with delivering the ships on con-
tract time The Messrs. Caskey state that
they will begin work on a new foundry
at once and yesterday morning a large
force of wOrkmen was put at work NOV
I ing the debris.
During the year there have been seve-
raj new companies started here. The
Atlantic Transportation Company started
its coal operations in the spring. The
Virginia and West India Fruit and Trad
inc Company, which was recently organ
ICED is doing a large fruit business be-
tween Jamaican ports and Newport News.
The Newport News and Old Point Rail-
way and Electric Company bought out the
Did Newport News, Hampton and Old
Point Railway Company which operated
IN electric line between this city ana
the Point. The new company has started
work on q city railroad, and Will, II is
said. shortly commence work on a new
power-hpuse in this city. The Peninsula
Railway Company. chartered in February
last. has recently secured a franchise
from the Council, and Will next month
start work on its city line.
Other companies, Of lesser importance
have been organized. and the character
of the business followed is the best evil
dence that merchants abroad realize the
Importance of Newport News as com
mercial city.
During the year the city has provided
for municipal improvements aggregauns
nearly 100000 in value. and II is expected
that bonds for $4,000 more Will be issued
next month. Among the improvements
are a new sewerage system High Schooi'
East-End and colored schools, nre-ensine
house. and city jail. Nearly all of these
are completed or in the last stages OF
completion.
Among the Industrial improvements OF
the year are the new 100000 dry-dock at
the ship-yard, which has recently peeh
started. and which will be sufficiently
large to receive any two OF the largest
warships afiolt at one time; the new steer
covered u!er at the Chesapeake and ONO
terminal, replacing the Pier NO whlch
was burned in 1896: another pier, No. 3,
for the Chesapeake and Ohio, and new
merchlndise and passenger pier for the
old Dominion Land Company, which Is
doing an enormous business already. The
latter cost $4,000.
Among the private Improvements In the
way OF industry may be mentioned the
Gas plant OF the Newport News Gas Com
Many which, with its system, cost in the
neighborhood OF S6OVO.
Rcai-estate circles have been iourishing
this wear more SO than ever before; in
fsct The sales Of 1898 will possibly equal in
,,alna those Of any two preceding years.
washington avenue property especially
No. heen going at good figures, and some
norner lots haze been sold as nigh as
SIX COO. AS high as s4eOOo has been Oh
sered for other corners on the avenue.
Realty prices have been aavahcins srau-
uaily for tho past few months, ana now
'.ronertv IN every section OF the city is
bringing good prices, 80.
,rhe nopulation OF Newport News Is SAFE
:. as,i,nated al 1900 II IL expected that
r. ordnance and armor-piate plants.
' nh viii be completed possibly by the
W. =, neyt wear, will employ togethe:
80 less than 5000 men. There are those
in Newport News who believe that .ns