Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-29
Cement Factory to Be Erected
Near Yorktown.
CARPENTERS IN DEMAND
Mechanics Gather at Yorktown Prep
srstory 10 Beginning Work on
euildines--Manufseture Cement Out
Of Mari Found Along York River.

According to reports brought TO
this city last night frsm yorktown,
work will be started this week on a
cement plant on York river just NORM
OF the historical old village. Carpen-
tiers from York and the adjoining
counties began arriving at Yorktown
yesterday sfternoon preparatory 10
stating work on the structure and
others win assemble this week.
II is said that it is proposed 10
complete the building a. quickly ss
possible and that a large force of men
Will be employed Thus far only
comparatively small number OF me
chapics has been secured and high
wages are offered first class carpen-
ters.
Several months ago engineers rep
sentlng a northern cement company
spent sometimes examining the mari
alcns the York and James rivers with
the view to establishing a cement
plant IN the peninsula. The idea was
20 manufacture cement out OF the
mari. large deposits OF which are to
be found alcng two rivers.
Large Deposits Found.
The engineers made extensive ex-
aminaiions. but would have little or
nothing to say regarding the tests or
the intentions of the company. They
found large deposits of high grade
mari on the York river few miles
north Of Yorktown, but the mari along
James river was not considered be-
cause OF the difficulty that would be
experienced In getting IL out of the
river bank aud TO the plant.
Following the departure of the en-
glDeers, nothing definite was heard
here OF the proposed cement plant I'M
til the reports were received yester-
day from Yorktown A local man
who was at Yorktown yesterday says
that he is confident the cement COM
pany Intends TO establish big plant
near Yorktown.
Details of the proposed plant are
meagre. However, the site selected
Tor Il is in the center of the large
mari belt along the York river and
&c viii be easily accessible By water.
Railroad Project.
Sometime after the engineers Sx-
amined the mari beds. number of
local men organized the Yorktown
Railroad Company and secured
charter tom the State Corporation
Commission. Al the time II was an.
nDanccd that the local men were act
Ing fer big Northern interests and IT.
was rumored that the men behind the
proposed railroad and the cement COM
pany possibly might be the same.
Shortly after the railroad secured
Iss charter, Col. C. V. Hobart, OF Chi
csgo. aud some engineers came here
and made surveys OF the right OF way
for the proposed road The right Of
way IN the city as announced at that
time was along Madison avenue TO
Twentieth street and thence across
the county To site Just below chess-
peaks & Ohio coal dock No. IL. wnere
the terminals or the proposed road
we're to be erected
Application for right OF way FOR
the read from the city council was
made by representatives of the com
pany. aud il was referred 10 one OF
the cosHcil committees. The commit
tee desired TO take the matter up On
several occaEsons, but as none OF the
ofscers Of the railroad company ap-
pearea the matter was laid over each
Ting end Il Is no~ pending before
the committee