The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-31
GROWTH OF NEWPORT NEWS.
Population Increased Six Thousand In
Past Twelve Months.


NEWPORT NEWS. VA, Dec so.-spe-
cial.-The year just closed is unquestion-
ably the most significant and evsntfui IN
the short life OF the city Of Newport
News. il has been fraught with larger
ACCOMPLISHMENT and Is pregnant with
finer promise than any other three hun
dred and sixty-five days that ever hung
their sunshine and shadow across the
Virginia Peninsula.
The population Increased in the twelve
months just gone, six thousand. The
total population Is now In the neighoor-
hood Of 300. so the remarkable ralo OF
the increase is readily noted
During the year FIVE hundred new resi-
dences were started, and are now either
oompleted or IN course of construction.
In addition. a number OF handsome. large,
modern business buildings are rapidly
going ID. These include the beauriiui
Sisby building. the magnificent winston
block the Academy of Music block, ana
a score OF others OF less pTetensions
Every religious denomination I'm the city
during the year either tarted new
churches or purchased sites and made
preparations TO build. Three OF me
largest and handsomest public sen oil
buildings in the State were completed IN
the summer.
During the year two handsome bridges
across the Chesapeake and Ohio were
begun. and are now rapidly nearing COM
p'etion. a sewer system costing $ly"J
and over has been put down. The street
railway trackage I'm the. city has beeh
trebled The Chesapeake and OHIO began
a 100000 Improvement, including a new
grain elevator. two new piers and miles
Of additional yard track. all Of which,
when completed. will make the terminal
probably. the largest in the world. Al me
ship-yard. the largest years work In It's
history was turned out Seven vessels
were launched. and most OF them nave
been completed and are in the hands OF
their owners. In addition. the great bat
tle-ships Koarsarge and Kentucky, inc
fastest and strongest ships OF their class
I'm the world, have been completed.
During the year business was generally
good. Merchants are In a good humor
Practically. all Of them did good business.
I'm spite OF keen and extensive competition.
There vas not single failure OF any
consequences during the year, and those
cases in which the bankrupt law was In
voked were Insignificant and legacies or
ancient days.
There seems every reason TO believe that
the coming year Will bring even larger
measure Of success and prosperity. There
Is certainly every indication Of s.. The
ship-yard is the principal business and
cor nerCial barometer. and 1t betokens
fair weather. contract for four new
Morgan liners has been secured, and the
vessels will be built during the year. In
addition the work on the great Pacific
Mail liners will set well under way, ne
cessitsiing the employment OF much ad-
ditional labor. There may be az many as
eight or nine thousand people employed
at the yard before the end OF the year.
The G. ard o. Improvements will be com
plefe1 and an immense impetus VIII be
given to grain shipments, which last year
were by far the largest in the ports his
tory. The atattoir work upon which has
recently been actively started, Will be
completed II will slaughter fifteen hun
dred head of cattle day. A brewery
will be built and Will be In operation be-
+, re summer. The principal streets Of
the city will be paved. Two new public
schools and a Catholic college VIII be
built. A third bridge across the railroad
will be erected. Better transporiational
facilities between this city and Norfolk
will be in operation. In word, the fn-
ture OF tho city seems to be giit-edged
and silver-lined.