The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-21
SEES VISION Of
RICHMOND As A
DEEP-SEA PORT
Mr.. John 6. Freeman Pre-
diets and Urges Improve
ment of the James
TELLS OF RICHMOND'S
SPLENDID LOCATION
Paper of Great Local Interest
Read Before Atlantic
Deeper Waterways
Convention

he making or hicnmOnd port
for the convenient entry OF ships
engaged In the overseas traffic has
heen vision enjoyed by many en-
dowed with the prophetic eye Tor
many years
That Richmond may become such
a port is entirely possible-~in fact.
very probable. That in order TO at
tain its highest destiny and reach
that pinnacle or commercial great
ness which IS very properly the
praiseworshy ambition OF its peo-
pie. Richmond must forever keep In
view the development OF It's water
borne commerce, il one OF the plain
est propositions imaginable
The James should not only fur
pish the power to make Richmond
greater as manufacturing center,
but II should be made the instru
ment for the development al the
heart OF Virginia OF a magnificent
foreign and domestic commerce The
flags Of every nation should be seen
in the harbor Direct lines should
carry the products OF Richmond and
Southern mills FROM our wharses
to foreign lands.
Apropos of the subject one of The
most Interesting papers read before
the Atlantic Deeper Waterways Con
vention was that by Mr John g.
Freeman. OF Richmond director OF
the National Rivers and Hareors
Congress Mr.. Freemans paper was
the final paper of the convention,
being read on Thursday night. Ii
is reproduced here verbatim,
MIR tretnntn's Paper.
In briefly presenting TO YOU some
OF the facts connected with the
commercial liz of the city of Rich
nrond that yon4 may know what
part ii can and VIII take in the inn
portant project OF opening an M
land waterway from Maine to Flor
ida, permit me first to call your at
tention to It's unique geographical
position.
The United States occupies that
part OF the North American CONT
nent which is best suited for hu-
man habitation. A short distance
south OF Florida or Texas the com
tinuing high temperature very soon
ssps the life and energy OF even
the young. while but a lie" miles
north Of our Canadian border zero
temperature is often encountered
and an almost perpetual battle must
he fought with Ice and snow.
Richmond Is not only situated just
midway between these two extremes
OF heat and cold. but. although on
an arm Of the Chesapeake Bay. with
a rise and fall Of three and hait
feet of tide every day, 1t Is Inland
from the sea more than one hon-
ared miles. and Is about the same
distance from the mountains on the
west.
our climate ls unsurpassed. we
very rarely have a heat prostratioa,
and never a death from freezing
Our health record compares faVor-
ably with that OF any city OF 'he
country.
While that part of the United S,a'es
east of the Allegheny Mountains "as
the first settled by our fathers. and,
being in closest touch with Europe. Is
an a whole, further developed than
other sections Of the country II Is new
ertheless true that We have hardly
begun to use the natural resources ly-
ing on every hand This statement
Ia particularly true OF the southern
part OF this section. All around as
there are millions Of acres OF uncut
tivated land. Although untitled. this
land is far from being worthless. II
can easily be made to produce not
only very great variety of farm
products. but these in exceedingly pro-
ftable quantities. Twenty-Five dollars
per acre Is not considered bad from
the rich wheat fields of the West In
Virginia and in the adjoining SOUTH
States, several tttliGS tbdl
In frequently obtained from the cul-
tlyation OF corn, cotton and tobacco.
while the return from these staple
crops IL not to be compared with the
very much larger yield from fruits
and vegetables.
Mineral Wealth Untouched.
The mineral wealth OF the South is
not yet known. We have barely touch
ed the coal, iron and other valuable
rixyt,f ut Inst
ten miles west of this city. there is
a bitumnous coal field, which Pro-
lessor ~ S. Shaier. of the United
states Geological Survey. says contains
l.1520000 900 tons of coal. The high
grade OF this coal is fully attested by
the fact that the Richmond. Freder-
icksburg aud Potomac Railroad Is
using 1t, regularly on the engines run
ming between this city and Washing
ton.
While mines were opened in this
field as early as 1922. they have been
worked to such limited extent and
In such an irregular way as to give
but little more than positive proof thar
most excellent quality of coal exists
throughout the entire field.
To give you u better idea OF ths
extent OF this deposit. will add that
It covers an area Of 1S9 square miles,
while the SchuylkiIl. Anthracite de-
post Of Pennsylvania covers only 146
and the Lehigh 1928 square miles.
The topography OF our country IL
such as to distribute throughout tho
land the natural waterpower OF our
rivers. which as they descend from the
mountains to the sea, furnish num-
: berless ideal sites for factories ana
power plants.
Take ms an illustration the James
river. which passes through the coal
field Just referred to. From the foot
hills OF the Blue Ridge Mountains 10
4 SContinusd on Third PaxSl