Evening journal., 1900-02-22
YOUNGEST CITY
OF VIRGINIA
Interesting Story Of the Remark
able Growth of Newport
News.
HAS A POPULATION OF $4,000
ONLY FIFTEEN YEARS AGO II
CONSISTED OF A FEW FISHER
MEMS HUTs-NoW 1T is A BUSY,
BOOMING CITY.

MEMS HUTs-Now 1T Is A BUSY, !
BOOMING CITY.
Newport News. Va, Feb. 2l.-Where
fifteen years ago n few ishermen's
huts clustered along the shores Of
James river and Hampton Roads the
city OF Newport News-the youngest
city In Nirginia-today stands and on
the same ground are now erected theI
homes Of about $4,000 persons, who
have come from all parts OF the globe,
and who are confident that the day isl
not many years in the future when
Newport News will be known through
out the land as the American Liver
pool. Such are the fondest hopes Of
her citizens. and the present Indications
seem most favorable for the realiza
tion OF them
From an industrial and commercial
standpoint Newport News Is today
among the most progressive and enter
prising cities OF the South. and as a
seaport she rs fast coming TO the front
as has been frequently demonstrated
and Is appreciated even by New York
and Philadelphia. Her exports and inn
ports now lead all the Southern ports
the majority OF the time. and her ship
ping business, as shown by the figures
from the Custom House, is far greater
to foreign countries than that OF any
other Virginia seaport.
Al the present time there are In oper-
alton several large and important in
dustries, and others are soon TO be es-
tablished. Capitalists from all parts of
the country are investing here and the
greatest activity is noticeable In all
branches of business. Hundreds Of
new and substantial buildings are i'm
course OF construction in various parts
Of the city. and many OF these edliices
would favorably compare with the
structures TO be found In cities four
times as large as Newport News The
main business streets OF the city are
fast being built up. and old frame
structures are giving place to hand
some new brick and stone buildings
LARGE SHIPBuILDlNG PLANT.
The largest and most important OF
the many industries In operation here
is the mammoth plant OF the Newport
News Shipbuilding and Drydock Com
pany, which Is considered to be one o.
The most extensive and complete ship
building plants inthe world. and is said
to be second to none IN the United
States today. The company now has
under contract thirteen steamships
which leads all the shipbuilding plant.
Of the country and places Il on an equai
footing with many Of the Europear
yards. There is more repair work {,
be done than the company can easib
handle az times. and although NOR,
could be done at the shlpyard in this
line, the force has TO be increased
greatly from time 10 time. and the worl
Of enlarging the plant Is being pushed
by huge force Of laborers.
There are now in course of construc
tion at the shipyard FIVE great war
ships for the United States govern
ment The battleships Kearsage. Ken
lucky and Illinois are almost com
pleted, and Will be placed In commits
sion in the navy i'm the course of a few
weeks at the longest For the past few
days various tests have been made O
the searchlights on the vessels. Their
being but little left about them to b
finished. The keel for the hrst-clas
hatueship Arkansas was laid a few
days ago and work on the shin is be
ing vigorously pushed. The plans 10
the seagoing monitor Missouri hav
been completed and the keel for IN
warship is to be laid in short time
STEEL MATERIAL AND ORDINANCE
Just above the Newport News shin
building and Drydock COmpany's BIZ
plant, and extending for about half
mile along the water front. will be an
other great industry. which is TO be es
tabhshed by Coils p. HUNTINGTON. tn
owner OF the shipyard Il is a plant 10
the manufacture OF steel material.
afmof and ordnance. charter for ia
erection OF II having been granted b
the virginia Legislature at its pres On
session. Actual work on this enter
prise mas been started, and the survey
Tor the plant have been completed an
turned over to Mr. Huntington. The sit
selected was found TO be rather 10
small for the plant and accordinel
Nh. Huntington decided TO an in pal
or the river. and his engineers hay
staked on shallow water for at lea.
halI mile from the shore This wi
an be filled In and a great breal<wate
constructed 10 keep IL IN good ccnd
ton. This, II is understood. will ri,
MI Huntington about a full souaI
mile on which to erect his steel plan
the excavations for which have bee
commenced.
A LARGE COTTON MILL.
Immediately opposite the shipyar
on the east side OF Washington ay,
nue. and running along that thorough
fare for several squares and extendin
back 70 Lafayette avenue. is the M
upon which Mr.. Huntington and Sc,
eral other Northern capitalists wi
soon erect a cotton mill. which. whe
completed, is to be one OF the large
Industries OF its kind in the Sout
Work on this Industrial improveme,
has also been commenced and the .,
cavations for the buildings are beir
made.
On Lafayette avenue. opposite n
site Of the cotton mill. is located N
iron and brass foundry Of Casky Brol
which is one OF the largest foundries
the United States. Here are ma,
many Of the iron and brass materia
used by the Newport News Shipbuil
ing and Drydock Company in the co
struction Of ships. and since the pla
was remodeled and rebuilt. about