The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-11
COAL SHIPMENTS
HAMPTON ROADS
VIRGINIA RAILROADS DOING MUCH
OF THE BUSINESS OF
THE WORRIED.
NORFOLK PROGRESSIVE
FUEL FROM VIRGINIA GOES TO
MANY QUARTERS OF THE
GLOBE FROM GREAT SOUTH
ERN PORTS.
NORFOLK PROGRESSIVE

A million tons Of coal q month u
4he now dumping record for Hamp-
ton Roads portA with Norfolk put
ting over two-thirds Of all shipments,
says the Manufacturers Record Fig
urea for 1918. just compiled by the
three railroads having piers on Hamp-
ton Roads--the Norfolk and Western,
the vtrEinian and the Chesapeake and
Ohio, the latter at Newport News
show that Hampton Roads u demon
atrating its right to the second largest
coal shipping point on tho Western
continent, the three ports dumping
more than half as much ~ Cardiff.
Wales.
The export trade. like the coast
wise trade, IL growing in great volume.
and we'll informed coal men say that
the increase In 1914 will be more than
100000 tons This IL conservative
when II In taken into consideration
that the new piers of the Norfolk and
Western railway. which are nearing
completion. will be working on fun
time about the middle Of January.
Coupled with the fact that 1918 has
been the largest In the history OF the
port in coal shipmentA prices have
been satisfactory and the trade has
been uniformly PROSPEROUS with a
bright prospect Norfolk expects with
IN the next decade to occupy flrrs
Mace In America In coal shipments
particularly In view Of the growing ex-
port business coming out Of this port
The Pocahonfas companies. II II re-
ported. have recently closed contracts
Tor nearly three-quarters Of q million
tons for European export In 1914,
which meAns' an Increase OF about
one-thfrd over 1914, and 10 regarded
a. dgnfflcAnt IN showing the growing
demand in Europe for American Goals
Norfolk II already sending laigc
quantities Of fuel to Naples. Genoa
and other foreign markets. and Is be-
ginning to pick up considerably In
ecsith American trade. It's b lsincss
with the government In = considerable
factor, One Of the features OF the
1919 business was the large arnount
~ coal taken by the government for
tlse naval stations OF the PACING Coast.
especially MARI isIand. Bremerton and
olongApo, besides large shipments to
the Panama canal
Several American operators are
said to have signed large contracts
With foreign governments for the de-
livery OF coal for the uac OF Their
naval vessels and also for tho govern
ment-controlled railways. as well as
for private enterprises, these In pref
erence TO the WEIGH and English coal.
The opening Of the Panama canal.
which Will naturally bring Norfolk
closer 20 many west coast and South
American ports. II expected to bring
Z great boom In the coal business TO
Hampton RoadA The coal trade TO
European ports chiefly italy and Aus
tr1a and 70 South American ports IL
keeping up with the growth Of the
West india islands ana South Amer
lea, territory which up to few years
ago had been almost entirely supplied
with WEIGH COAL Here, too, tho
American product In gradually sup
pianting English coal.
During the year several new coal
companies have opened ,hlces in Nor
folk, and ara doing business over the
norfolk piers. The West Virginia
Coal company, a concern organized
Muring the year. does considerable
bunker business over the virginian's
pier At Gewells Point Although still