The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-28
FINEST HARBOR ON
ATLANTIC COAST
ICommemoration Will Serve to
Call Attention to Marvellous
Advantages Of Tidcwatcr.
SURPRISES ALL LOCATIONS
For Climate and for Land-Locked
Deep Water America Has No
Duplicate.
SURPRISES ALL LOCATIONS
BY WALTER EDWARD HARRIS.

BY WALTER EDWARD HARRIS.
JAMEST WIN xPoSITIoN
GROUNDS. April 26.-While the ccle-
bration OF the three-hundredth ami
versary Of the establishment OF the
first permanent colony of English
speaking people in the New World ia
the primary and entirely sufficient OBJ
jcct OF the Jamestown Exposition, the
commemoration of an event of such
far-reachlng Importance will also
serve to direct attention to section OF
the country which has in such large
measure escaped the notice of those
at home and from abroad. who are
seeking opportunities to make two
blades of grass grow where one grew
before, and incidentally secure a good
dividend on the investment.
The development of the country on
the shores OF Hampton Roads, while
fact may be dimly realized by the
man who gives the subject even cur
sorry attention, after visiting this sec
ton and taking superficial glance
at its possibilities. Norfolk and Ports
mouth people, and the people of Hamp.
ton and Newport News. on the hither
side of the Roads, are wont to ex-
palate upon the wonderful develop
ment which has taken place. but in
comparison with what has been done
in newer parts of the country, and
with what there is to be done in order
to gain the full measure of possible re-
suits from the opportunities at hand
down In this Underwater section Of Vir-
ginia, the surface has not been
scratched
There is no great city on the entire
coast line of the United States which
has such wonderful advantages of Ia
cation and climate. Hampton Roads
is not only the finest harbor on the
Eastern coast, but is hardly surpassed
in the world, veritable kings
Chamber of the Seas" as Commodore
Maury described 1t. Even New York
harbor appears narrow and cramped
in comparison. Landlocked. and af-
fordlng sufficient depth OF water for
the greatest vessels afloat, free of ice
all winter Hampton Roads should be
covered with shipping every day in
the year.
Small Import Trade.
But 1t is never crowded. Few ves-
sells direct from foreign ports arrive
at Norfolk. The export trade of the
Hampton Roads cities IS considerable.
but Imports are few. Exports look i'm
portant when. reduced to figures In
the tables of the statistician, but they
do not add very materially to the
wealth of the port through which they
pass out Importing houses in this sec
ton are few. and there are no indica-
lions of progress In this respect.
1t Is strange that more attention has
not been paid to the development of
the importing trade of Norfolk. Much
talk and some effort has been expended
to increase the immigration through
the pol1 Of Norfolk Portsmouth. Every
time there Is publication made of the
figures showing the number of tmmi-
grants arriving at the port or New
York. or Baltimore or Galveston, the
Norfolk papers and business men re-
vive discussion of the projects TO In
crease the dissemination of foreigners
through this port. just as though the
prosperity OF city on the seaboard
were indicated by the number of
aliens passing through 1t to the. back
country every year.
Southern Rail Lines.
The entire South is brought to the
back door of Norfolk by the three lines
Of railroad which penetrate the heart
Of the Southern country-the Southern,
the Seaboard and the Atlantic Coast
Line. Importations which find their way
to the shelves of merchants and to
consumers in the cities of Virginia.
the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Ken
lucky Ohio. Indiana Missouri and
many other States should come through
Norfolk or Newport News Instead.
they enter through the port of New
York. or the port of Philadelphia or
Baltimore. Cincinnati. for instance. Is
several hundred miles closer to the Vir-
ginia ports than to New York. so Is
St. Louis, Louisville. Memphis,
Atlanta, Charleston. Even Rich
mond imports little through the
ports on Hampton Roads. save
af-n 7 In