The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-26
WEST POINT FACES
BRILLIANT FUTURE
RICHMOND CITIZEN AsToNisHED by
REAL ACTIVITY FOUND At YORK
RIVER TOWN.
NEW ERA OF ACTIVITY
ADyANTAGEOusLY LOCATED. REAL
ESTATE PROMOTERS ARE IN
TEREsTING PEOPLE NORTH
AND WEST.

A Richmond man, who has recently
returned from trip to West POM.
talked enthusiastically yesterday OF
what he saw and heard. In fact. he
was astonished at the development OF
West Point and that section. Said he:
Last June at the time when the
chamber of commerce and Business
Mems club were invited to a Port
Richmond Day at West Point, / heard
considerable comment on the develop
ment going on at that interesting lit
tie town at the head OF the YORK
River. From time to time since we
have seen literature bearing the boid
statement that 'All eyes are turned
toward West Point" but until
made a trip down there last week l
had no idea of the real activity whl 20
has seized the people of the district
round about there. ] was astonished
to learn of the extensive plan being
carried out and the amount of WORK
which has already been done toward
the improvement of the town and
it's SURROUNDINGS The Old Dominion
Industrial corporation. which owns
several large estates adjoining the
town and fronting on the three riH-
-Mattaponi, Pamunkey and YORK
have been subdividing these grand
old properties into small farms anu
laying out beautiful roadways, open
ing Up to the public stretches OF cour-
try which even the oldest residents
have never visited Families from the
North and West have been coming IA
and the company 10 putting up mod
err houses with up-to-date improve
nents and selling them on ten years
yfs Nxtan "A
large scale and being SO well carried
out that there can be no doubt az
10 the success of the enterprise ana
the rapid increase of population Ia
this garden spot Of Virginia
Il find that many people in the city
of Richmond have been watching this
enterprise with considerable interest
and that the Port Richmond idea ih
gaining ground rapidly. The location
OF West Point fits 1t most adrnira DIV
for an important seaport. ana lie
nearness TO Richmond makes it seem
very feasible indeed for Richmond to
embrace the opportunity which she
now has to gather this enterpTisinc
hamlet into its fold and make ii y
real part and parcel Of Greater Rich l.
mond We learn from the president
Of the o. p. !. company that their
plan of operations Is to settle up these
long unoccupied farm lands with an
Industrious farming population pefore
making any attempt to establish man
ufacturing plants of any size IN the
town itself, believing that the success
of such enterprises will be better as
sllred after there lis a well-established
back country population from Whfo
to draw supply OF labor.
IN addition to their plan OF sel.-
/ he
@ the recent demand for property for
purely residential purposes. have sub
divided tact Immediately adJoin-
ing the town on the north. stretching
along the beautiful high bank OF the
pamunkey river. into choice residence
lots. and they are installing complete
city improvements. including sewers,
gater and electric lights This sub-
division Is called Euclid Heights, ana
there is a station on the southern
Railway located on this properly.
With the improved service promised
In the near future, people doing bus
mess in Richmond will find 1t very
convenient to live on Euclid Heights
and go back and forth to Richmond
every day The Communication rate y
The cheapest known anywhere in tne
United States. being only about II
fare cents each way. and by buying a
quarterly ticket the rate is Is cents
per trip.
'tThe company has put up new
electric light plant half way betw n
Euclid Heights and the town of west
Point and are wiring up the houses
which, they are building on Encif1
Heights The Gresham Bridge COM
pany, consisting principally OF Rlcn"
( nond men, has lately begun the con
=.
taponi river. which 1t is said will more
than double the amount OF business
done in the town at the present time.
The county officials, both In king
William and King and Queen counties
seem to have imbibed the spirit OF
! progress, and extensive road-i'nprove-
ment work Is now going on in both ot
these counties. A year ago there was
not ar automobile in West Poirt, and
now. owing TO the improved eondi-
ton of the ROADS. many people have
cars and two OF the biggest tnaustr lll
plans are putting heavv automobile
trucks into service. Many OF the old
residents say that the transfer nation
which has taken place within a year
is almost magical, and the whole town
mas awakened to true idea OF Its
possibilities One Of the plans of the
&C mpany is TO further the Idea of ~
tensive cultivation, including IN
planting of combination orchards Of
ag and pecan. Under the advice Of
the agricultural de apartment they have
set out n model orchard and arc Guilt
waiting it according to the most inn
proved methods
ION all their properties they have
deep artesian wells, which furnish a
| magnificent supply of the purast WA
ter. This il something not always
found in tidewater countries, but
where 1t Ia possible TO secure this wa
ter, the advantages are very great
indeed
at is we'll worth the trip for any
one to visit West Point and look
over the work of these model cemmu-
nifty builders"