Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-29
is BERKELEY IGNORED?
More Industrial Capital There
Than in Norfolk or Portsmouth.
An Indignant Citizen Counts tho Lumber
Interest at s4,ooo,ooo, Cotton Textile
ss,ooo,ooo. Cotton Seed OIL at $1,000
600. and Others TO Make the Statement
Good.

Berkeley is the Invest city of the
three cities" said one of the most sue
cessful business men of the three cities,
speaking to reporter for the Virgin
ian-Pilot yesterday. "And yet" he
continued. Norfolk ignores it.
Now. 1 shall tell you something as
tonishing. There is more industrial
capital employed in Berkeley than in
either of the other cities. Neither Nor
folk nor Portsmouth has an much
manufacturing capital employed as
Berkeley
To the questions of the reporter, as
to the proof for this statement the in
dignant citizen of Berkeley gave some
details which are alike astonishing and
convincing. They show that Berkeley.
which now claims 10000 inhabitants, is
more important than most people sus-
pect, and more substantial in her
growth than any. except the real estate
experts, know.
The greatest, most important and the
wealthiest industry of Berkeley is that
of lumber. There are five saw mills
and planning mills and two box fac
tories. These represent capital of.
say. s4,000.000 and employ men to the
number of 1900.
considerable industry. There are three
knitting mills and one yarn mill. They
represent capital Investment of about
S3.O0o,0O0 and employ about 1900 per-
sons. chiefly girls.
Ten years ago. when these mills were
beginning, they imported girls as ex-
pertS from North Carolina. Now the
girls who are natives here are superior
in efficiency to those who were i'm
ported. There is no necessity for i'm
porting experts. because those here are
more expert than those formerly i'm
ported. But the mills have had great
influence in inviting families to settle
here. They have made the population
increase rapidly. Still there is always
demand for girls. Few If any, are
ever turned away for lack of work
But there is another feature not to
be overlooked, namely, the constant
demand for dwelling houses. There
are not enough houses in Berkeley, and
there has never been any too much
female help. There is scarcely enough
now.
The Berkeley street railway is another
prosperous enterprise. 1t is a trolley
line Of three and a half miles. which
is now being increased to nearly seven
miles. 1t extends from the Norfolk
ferry to Money Point, n thrifty little
place of 200 inhabitants, on the South
ern Branch. This road represents an
| investment of 100000 and is doing ex-
cellent service. The cars used are of
an excellent pattern and the schedule
is carefully arranged. systematically
run. 1t never had a serious accident.
There are two banks, one having a
capital of $4,000. the other a capital of
$4,000. Both of these banks have I'M
usually large deposits for city of this
size.
A feature of the railway business in
Berkeley is that there is a large union
station at Fourteenth and Liberty
streets, 1t is n brick building, two
stories high, conveniently located 1t
is. therefore, economical for citizens
who ship and receive merchandise. and
| advantageous for all of the railways.
A new industry Is the cotton-seed oil
mill. That was organized with n capt.
tai of. say, a million dollars. It gives
employment to 500 persons.
The electric light company has a
model plant. 1t lights the city with
forty arc lamps and has an incandes-
Berkeley is so up-todate that gas was
never used. This plant lights all the
churches and public buildings.
Berkley is proud of the water supply.
This comes from twenty gang wells
and Is artesian water, equally delicious
and wholesome. This supply is suGi-
cient not only for all the uses of the
Citizens the factories and -fira-da-
partment. but for selling to the water
tug boats which supply the vessels
which come here. 1t sells water to
Norfolk.
There are six ship yards in Berkeley.
All OF them are prosperous They rep
resent great deal of active capital
and much more energy and skill They
are always busy.
The city Itself is improving. 1t has
borrowed $l50.0OO recently for repairs
and betterments to the streets and
sidewalks. This money has not been
expended because the materials are
not to be had. But all the principal
streets have been paved. This includes
Chestnut. Main, Liberty and all the
side streets. Thus Berkeley, with all the
usual public services of a large city
and but $3.50 on the 500 taxes, Is q
good place to live in or to do bust
ness in. The citizens there feel a lust
indignation. therefore, at being ignored
by all except the Virginian- Pilot.