The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-09-05
Big Shipbuilding Plan t
To be Located at Norfolk Edward
S. Cramp, Late Of the Cramp
Shipbuilding Company, Of Phila-
delphia, Interested in Project
An Enterprise that will Mean
Much for Norfolk and Vicinity.
Wilmington Star

Wilmington Star
1t is evident that Norfolk and vicin-
itv is to become one Of the greatest
shipbuilding points i'll this country
The natural advantages OF Norfolk
make it a city OF destiny, so to speak,
and it is gratifying to note its position
as one Of the progressive cities OF the
South, indeed OF the Republic.
From the Norfolk Girginian-PH0t
il is learned that the Cramps, Of Phil
adelphia, will locate a big shipbuild-
ing plant at Norfolk. Says our es-
teemed Norfolk contemporary:
Edward S. Cramp, late OF the
Cramp Shipbuilding Company, OF
Philadelphia, associated with George
W. Norris, OF the banking firm OF
Edward r. Smith & Co, OF No. 81
Chestnut street. Philadelphia, have
purchas d n ninety-five thousand dol
lars piece Of property fronting one
thousand feet on the main harbOr,
just opposite the Norfolk and West
ern station, by one thousand feet on
Perscara Creek, with twenty-five to
thirty feet Of water, or enough to ac-
commodate the largest vessel afOat,
and will Immediately begin the con
struction Of a shipbuilding plant,
which will be one Of the largest in the
country.
THE purchase was made from the
Hardy Homestead Corporation, OF
Norfolk. with offices on Plume street,
Mr. j. ". Hough, president.
"The papers closing this transac-
tiOn were signed by Mr. Cramp and
Mr.. Norris nearly three weeks ago,
when a large sum OF money was paid
over.
1.-The charter has been drawn and
will be shortly filed with the COrpo-
ration Commission.
a real estate company will be
first formed and the property will
then be turned into an extensive
shipbuilGing plant with a working
capital OF half Il million dollars.
In addition to doing all kinds OF
repair work, the plant will be con
structed on such q scale as to be in a
position to make bids for the con
struction of the largest type oF battle
slips.
THE Philadelphia source from
which this information came, gave
as the attorneys for the Quaker City
capitalists, Mr.. Tazewell Taylor and
Mr. ID. Lawrence GrOner. Confirm
alton through the local attorneys
could not be gotten last night, as
both of the gentlemen named are out
of the city.
Mr.. Edward S. Cramp will be pres
ident of the concern, the name of
which has not vet been selected.
Mr.. Cramp is a practical ship
builder. and was formerly one of
the heads OF the great Cramp ship
building Company, OF Philadelphia
He is, however, no longer connected
with that company, but will give his
lOug and varied experience to the
Norfolk plant
''Mr. Norris who il associated with
Mr.. Cramp, represents large moneyed
interests in Philadelphia, and those
interests originally acquired the Bay
Shore Railway, when it was sold by
the receivers a short time ago.
This is decidedly the most impOr-
tant industrial development for this
section since the decision of the Tide
water-Deepwater Railway to make.
The purchase Of this large prop
erty from the Hardy Homestead Cor
poration will probably make the
stock OF that company worth four or
five times as much as it has ever
been. However no definite infor-
nation regarding this could be OBJ
tained.
with large additions recently
made to existing plants, and the
coming of this great enterprise, Nor
folk $ Importance as a shipbuilding
centre can at once be realized"
We donot think that the Tiryinian-
Riot exaggerates the Importance of
the Cramp plant to that city. Ship
building is bound to become tremen-
dous industry in this country at no
far distant day. We are on the eve
OF it and Norfolk will be in the swim.