Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-18
A SPLENDID OPPORTUNITY FOR
The PENINSULA.


A splendid opportunity for the
peninsula is revealed in the interest
SnE report made TO the annual asricui-
tina, sessions of the Chamber OF
Commerce yesterday by George w.
Warren. engineer of the drainage hn-
reau OF the United States department
Of agriculture Mr.. Warren, who has
Just completed a survey of the swamp
lands north of the city, tells the
chamber that something over hva
thous ami acres OF land now worthless
10 its owners and the community can
be reclaimed and converted into a
fertile trucking section at a cost OF
$4,000. or five dollars an acre. what
Is more. the engineer outlines IN
plain. practica, terms a plan by when
the reclamation project can be carried
out within the estimated cost, and
directs attention TO the fact, which
had been overlooked here, that a law
enacted by the general assembly dur
ing the last session makes it posi-
BILE to get State aid for such an un-
dertaking.
The possibilities for development In
this project are tremendous 1t Is
estimated that Norfolk draws some
thing like six million dollars annually
from its back, country. which is re-
cosnized as one OF tine finest trucking
sections In the land. Newport News
ought 70 have and can have just such
q trucking section. Our soil is as
well adapted to trucking as that on
the other side and our climate is just
as favorable One OF the greatest
haEdicaps has been the swampy con-
ditioa Of large part of the country
Immediately adjacent to the city, and
the lack OF q suitable harbor for
email boats also he's played its part
IN reiarding development in this d.
recsion. BY draining the tract sur
veyed by Nr. Warren We will have
FIVE thousand or more acres Of fertile
farming land right at the doors OF
the city. and. furthermore. the engi-
neer believes that the carrying out Of
his plan will pave the way for CIV
ing Newport News q "backdoor" en-
trance for small boats. He says.
This plan is safe, 1t is legal, IL is
inexpensive, 1t will interest all the
PEOPLE in the waters he'd, not merely
Hose above North Newport News: it
will tend to improve the present
channels Of the Southwest Branch sof
Back R;ver) by increasing the tidal
scour, II win be In line with the pos
sihle future development OF a back
door entrance to Newport News for
the small boats that now are Obliged
70 pass around outside in coming
down the bay TO Norfolk, 4 viii inter
sect nc steam or eiectric railways, II
win add to the shellfsh industry Of
the Southwest Branch and Back Riv-
81 by bringing down more OF the food
apon which sheIlnsh feed
Il seems TO this paper tina; this
pfopec< Is OF sufficient importance to
warrant the Chamber Of Commerce
giving II immediate and earnest at
seafioa. OF course the Chamber could
not undertake 10 finance the propo-
s:fion. but Il might organize 81, bring
ing the State. the counties. the prop
nrty owners and the cities Of Newport
News and Hampton together in It's
support The proposed reclamation Is
o< a. much interest TO Hampton as u
Newport News. Tor II win benefit both
o. TIE cities and the rest of me
Peninsula. The owners OF the hand
rsI b. enormously benefited and
therefore. should pzy Z fair share Of
ne expense Bot the possibilities o.
tie project are - FAR reaching thai
tie irrsessed valuation Of property
70 :adiYideai owners promises 70 b
Ss. a small matter in compar
isen sifh TIE benefits 70 ac
crue to tse comnusify II general
So shE nsvcnent II one for fhe pub
~ good. ans TIE state. counties sr<
cincz can ven zserJ TO provide 20
rc>>iderzrie psrt Of The expense.