Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-04
HARBOR OR INLAND TOWN,
WHICH?

nature had given us the finest harbor
on the continent, with natural ad-
vantagcs Climatic and geographical,
as we'll as nauticaD surprising those
OF any rival; and the boast was we'll
founded. for nature had done wonders
for us. We did by nature have 81 glo-
rious harbor, In which the navies of
the world might ride in safety. Our
harbor naturally extended from the
city of Norfolk to and across Hampton
Roads and into Chesapeake Bay. but
oh, vain boast, tits not so now,"
"harbor is port or haven for ships,
bay or inlet of the sea, in which ships
can moor, and be sheltered from the
fury of winds and n heavy, sea-any
navigablc water whore ships can ride
in safety" Now, where is the harbor
OF Norfolk? 1t certainly cannot claim
exclusive right over Hampton Roads,
for the harbor of Newport News has
sprung up, and with her broad waters,
and her deep basins and docks, ma
turally lays claim to at least an equal
participation in the ''honors and emol-
uments' of that great harbor. Until
recently that was not so 1t was all
Norfolk harbor
The fatal policy of those who have
managed the marine affairs Of Norfolk
has done much-very much-towards
destroying the natural advantages of
our harbor. Instead of sacrcdy pre-
serving it as an open port'-instead
OF deepening and widening our water
ways-they have been filled up and OBJ
structed by piers until you cannot see
straight down the river for these OBJ
structionS, much less sail with safety
down it, Lambert's Point is virtually
the northernmost point of our harbor:
for the harbor has been there so far
encroached upon by the immense piers
projected out into the river that there
is not harbor enough at that point to
accommodate the coal vessels that
come there for coal and have to wait
their turn in loading, much less to
float the navies of the world" And
in fact, the Norfolk Terminal Com
pany is now besieging the authorities
for permission to increase its facilities
there. 1t has not room enough for it's
own uses, let alone the public uses, At
W.
cramped and choked, and yet the cry
is for more harbor room, not for the
public. but for that company. Why,
it was but the other day that one of
the ships of the Merchants and Miners
Company in that vicinity ran down
barge and drowned nineteen nen-and
all because there was not sea-room
enough for the vessels to pass each
other in safety! If the piers along the
river front did not run out into deep
water, small crafts at any rate would
be much safer because they could keep
out of the way of the larger vessels by
running over the shoal waters and still
keeping on their way. But when
hedgcd in by these piers, they have
to take their chances along the mar
row, congested channelway. and of be-
ing sunk and all on board drowned, as
were the nineteen men above referred
to. The harbor of the Norfolk Termi-
nal Company is ut Lambert's Point,
and there is no obstruction scaward
to 1t. 1t would matter nothing to ii if
the whole river up towards Norfolk
city was filled up. because it has a
land-route by it's railroad to that point
But the harbor should not be destroyed
for the benefit of Il single corporation,
or for any number OF corporations
Where can ships lie in safety between
the cities of either Norfolk or Ports
mouth and Lambert's Point? Can they
United States Naval Hospital? No
But some man will say. we are going
to try and get the Federal Govern
ncnt to cut away some of its land and
thus improve the harbor. We think it
would be much wiser to Keep the hdr6or
open titan 10 choke il w ourselves, and
then ask the Government to obviate
the evil results of our own stupidity
or cupidity whichever happens to be
mischief. Is there n harbor in which
ships can moor in safety between Hos
pital Point and Lambert's Point? No.
Rcrklcy flats are still Il part of our
magnificent harbor;" but unhappily
they can only accommodate n few
small hulks that are about to sink, and
do not have so far to sink before they
reach bottom. No vessels of size can
lie there. In the Southern Branch.
near the navy yard, there is hardly
room enough for the naval ships that
are usually there; ana us TO the East
crn Branch, no ships so up there OK
cept those going to the Norfolk ana
Western Wharvcs.
Where, then. we repeat, is the mag
nifcent harbor of Norfolk? Much i'm
paired already. ana daily being made
worse. Between the piers that are al