The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-10
BIG CHANCE
old POINT
Ground for Belief That They Are
Being Planned Despite Denial.
THE HYGEIA= HOTEL. IS 10 GO
The Chamberlln Owned by the Parties
and Would Profit BY its Removal if
Paid for by the Government.
5a New c hurch at Old Point.
Especial D1spatch to The Tin.s. J

Especial Dispatch to The TtnsS.)
NEWPORT NEWS, VA, April Gin.
spite OF the Efforts made 10 dlscredit the
report that the government contemplates
enormous improvements at Old FONT. In.
Guiding the razing OF the old Hygela Ho-S
tel and the establishing OIL beautiful
light battery park, It can be stated au-
tnoa1tatlvely ,naL there were ample
grounds for the report. ehat such pro-
ject was under consideration and is act
ually under consideration at this moment.
and that blue prints and speculauons OF
the proposed Improvements have not only
been prepared, but are at Old Point.
A letter from Assistant Adj utant
General Parker. in reply to a
query in this connection, states
that the scope Of inquiry and rec
! concentration OF the board Ibid not include
! the seacoast fortihcations, for which rea-
son their report did not relate in any man
ner to the site at Fort Monroe, Virginia.
This would appear conclusive, if the as
sistant adjutant general were referring to
the same board that visited Old Point.
which, apparently, he Is not, as he
speaks only of The board of officers re-
| Gently assembled In this city (Washlng-
| tom to consider the question Of the main
tenance or abandonment Of military
posts"
PLAN MADE OUT.
|
| information in the hands of the assistant
| adjutant general. there can be no doubt
| that the project referred to has been
| and probably is contemplated and the
plans for the same have been made out
| and are within an hours journey of New
| port News, If one might but see them
The Hygeia was closed asain yesterday
afternoon. Whether 1t will be opened
again will depend upon whether the GOV
3 ~ cfi1 fT ic pro
with contemplating. The same authority
| which states that it has been recommend
ed that the hosiery be torn down ven
lures the opinion that it WIN not be open
ed again. This is as it may be.
The important question as far as the
owners of the hotel are concerned, is the
question of compensation. The building is
on the reservation on Suffrage, SO to
speak, and may be torn down at any time
should the government decide that war
purposes 4necessitate such action. It Is
not to be supposed. however, that the
building would be destroyed without COM
penSation to the owners, even in the
event of actualswar and any reasonable
bill for compensation, especially if based
upon recent expenditures for renovation
and repairs. would be cheerfully paid.
OWNED BY SAME PARTIES.
The Hygeia and the Chamberlin, as is
CT the same management With the
Hygeia out of the way and paid for, and
a beautiful park facing the Chamberlin.
the latter hotel would have all the bust
ness it could take care of and would inn
mediately be placed upon a splendid pay
ing basis. It is a well-known fact that
there has never been room for two great
hotels at Old Point. and tits equally we'll
known that there is mint of money in
one. Phoebus demonstrated the latter
poin; Chamberlin, the former
Speaking of improvements at Old Point,
not the least that the next year or SO
will bring forth will be the handsome
new church that will be built for the
congregation of st. Mary's. of which Rev.
Father F'allon is pastor. Plans for a fine
stone edifice to replace the present little
frame structure are now being prepared in
New York with specifications and will be
submitted in a short time to the congre
CATION. The new church will cost prob
ably between $4,000 and $4,000. It 3 is
understood that Mrs Thomas F.. Ryan. of
New York. is largely interested. and is
| contributing most of the required money
for the building. ..rts ~ ~