The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-11
|R|CHMOND'S DEAL
WITH WEST POINT.
Logically Port Richmond" Must
Be at the Head of York

The West Point News agrees with
is the logical seaport for Richmond.
and that it is. or should be. really Port
Richmond. The following. taken from
the editorial column OF the News of
yesterday. will necessarily attract at
tention in Richmond:
THE Norfolk Ledger Dispatch. in an
editorial in the May issue. published
data showing the urgent need OF deep
water terminal facilities to relieve the
congestcd condition OF New York lIar-
Dor.
Figures complied for tho forthcom-
ing report OF the New York Chamber
of Commerce show that The total for
eign commerce OF the port of New
York during the fiscal year ended June
80. 1912, amounted to S1.9l4.263,s40, an
increase OF s16a.3S6IO6 over the pre-
ccding year. The total foreign com
nerce of The rest of the country was
s2.174,A5l.;7;. an increase OF sl35.o7S.-
4S4. New Works. percentage OF for
eign commerce of the United states
was in the fiscal year of 1879, 1850
per cent. as compared with +0.I2 per
cent in 1911.
the time is not far distant when there
will be established some where along
the Atlantic Coast, probably in East
.ern Virginia, q port which shall be
nst as accessible to the English. French
and German ships as New York, and
yet SO located as TO afford short rail
haul to the principal markets Of the
North. Middle West and South On
the surface Of things and considering
the excellent beginning Norfolk has
made. 1t seems possible that she might
become the great Southern metropolis
The Ledger Dispatch. however,
seems TO place the blame for lack of
concentration and bringing about this
hoped for Improvement upon the rail
roads centring In Norfolk. In speak
ing of this matter the Dispatch says:
If the railroads that have termi-
nails here were rs intent upon such
business as the Chesapeake and OHIO
has been across the Roads, this city
would easily control the largest port
business OF any city outside of New
York. but there is reason somewhere
why this is not true. This reason must
he located by Norfolk and the work
or correcting conditions begun.
All this goes to show that Norfolk
is looking into the future, and her
newspapers are endeavoring to arouse
the people TO take advantage of all
her opportunities.
Norfolk reasons rightly. The day is
not far distant when there will be cs-
tablished along this part OF the South
Atlantic Seah"-.~1 port with n great
city which will become, rs the years
20 by, second New York, and Rich
mona with all her wealth and great
business interests, possesses all the
influence necessary to make herself
this Southern metropolis with A real
port, comparable 10 this Northern por,.
~ la
lars worth OF commerce passed during
this past year. Is ii possible she cannot
throw away her little James River
stick OF candy and settle down 10 the
rcapinS Of such n harvest as would
become hers were she able to estab-
lish direct ocean steamship routes to
all parts OF the earth? Probably of
mat immense volume OF trade which
went through the port Of New York
last year. five hundred million dollars.
or 20 per cent. of the business was
done Al points up and down the river
at least distance of forty miles from
the city OF New York itself.
The greatest ocean liners will soon
he discharEing their carEoes and pas
sengers 100 mites east OF the city on
Long Island Yet these passengers and
this freight are credited to New York.
Come. Richmond. will YOU continue to
dope yourself with the idea that YOU
are city OF the sea and neglect your
opportunities. while ambitious Nor
folls takes the lead In the race? VIII
you not avail yourself of the real deep
water harhor within thirty-eight miles
OF your door and inaugurate n move
ment which shall bring TO this har-
bor-yonr f'arbor .rships from every
land? careful examination OF the
map OF the United States VIII show
you that passengers or freight landed
nj West Point can he put into Cincin-
natl or Chicago quicker than through
any other Atlantic port, and the many
miles OF deep water frontage. once
utilized. would make Richmond second
only 10 New York in maritime i'm
portance.