The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-28

in the present fiscal year at this port
viz: July. August, September and DC
tober amounted TO s33S,93s.2A, and
Mr.. Hamilton said there Is every rea-
son to believe that this ratio will
be continued; he expressed full con
fdence that the Richmond collections
would reach the million dollar mark
during the year.
Collector Hamilton remarked that
there are just now fewer foreign ships
In Hampton Roads than there were
Immediately after the outbreak of the
European trouble, but the outlook Is
good for great export business from
Norfolk and Newport News in the very
near future. The Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway IL preparing to send
forward great quantities of grain from
Newport News, and there is now much
cotton. lumber, etc. on storage at Nor
folk awaiting shipment He said
big ship finished loading at Norfolk
and Newport News this week for Eng
land with a half million dollar gen
eral cargo. This was In the usual
and ordinary course of trade. The
Norfolk and Western and Nirgintan
Railways at Norfolk and the c. @.
Railway at Newport News have on
hand large quantities Of bituminous
coal for dumpage into foreign bot
toms for export as soon as ships are
available. A large amount Of coal,
Collector Hamilton said. is of course
being sent out all the while from
these piers. but the coal business dur
ing November was not as large as In
September.
strikes Optimistic Note.
Collector Hamilton. IN discussing
business generally. was most opti-
MYSTIC. He said every indication point
nd urtx narlpd 0f
perity. The opening up of the Pana =
ma Canal the collector said, is al
ready being felt at Norfolk and New
port News, where vessels are now ar
irving from the Pacific coast, not
only for bunker coal to complete their
voyages to Europe, but with local car
goes. One or two Norfolk firms, said
Collector Hamilton. now have en- route
to Hampton Roads from the Pacific
coast large consignments of canned
goods, etc. for distribution from Nor
folk South American fruit is also
being brought into Hampton Roads
to some little extent following the
Panama Canal opening, and Collector
Hamilton believes that Norfolk, as a
result of such trade, Is destined to
become q great depot for the impor
tatton and distribution OF tropical
fruits.
Look For Large Export Trade.
He said the Hampton Roads cities
are looking TO a large trade gener-
ally with South American countries.
Norfolk and Newport News are grid
ing themselves for more manufactur-
ing industries, looking 10 the send
ing out OF their own manufactured
products, as well as acting as great
deep water outlets for vast country
that can reach the sea via Hampton
Roads ports easier and more directly
than In any other way, Collector
Hamilton urged that always when it
Is possible, all Virginia exporters
see to 1t that their goods are sent
out via Hampton Roads; it viii mean
much to the development of the Old
Dominion's commerce.
He stated that the municipalities
on Hampton Rctds, especially at Nor
folk, Portsmouth and Newport News,
are looking to the improvement OF
their harbors so that they. in depth
and general facilities. may be unequal
ed on the Atlantic seaboard. Coliec
tor Hamilton. at the request of the
Norfolk City Councils special commit
tee on Hampton Roads development.
has just furnished that committee with
very valuable statistical information
TO he used by the Norfolk committee
ested in the compilation of data to
be presented to the Virginia Congress
men and senators for use by them
Ia urging river and harbor improve
nents for Hampton Roads and its
tributaries.
Some OF the information is sur
prising. few probably realizing the
great foreign business alone done on
the Virginia seaboard. and especially
yr-ais hf fs1fS51 "a q
domestic and foreign. a the port OF
Norfolk alone.
some Noteworthy Figures.
Figures furnished by Collector F,rn
ilton give the following interesting In
formation:
During the fiscal year ended June
so 1914, there were A total OF 46S
ships to enter HAMPTON Roads ports
Norfolk and NEWPORT News-frorn for
eign porte. bringing imports valued
at approximately $s.21s, $40. OF these.
2ss came into Norfolk. bringing i'm
ports valued at approximately So
$3.50 and $50 into Newport News.
bringing imports valued at approx
mateIy S33Sl,27i.
During the same period a total OF
l75s vessels cleared from Norfolk and
Newport News with cargoes for for
eign ports. of which number LBS
left the port of Norfolk with exports
valued at sia.5s3.sS5. and 55s left the
port Of Newport News with exports
valued at ss.6sS. 3oi,
During the calendar year 1913 the
Approximate amount of water borne
freight tonnage in the port OF Nor
folk, exclusive Of that carried By ves-
sells calling there for bunker coal only.
was 17.34s.942 short tons. this valued
at $s6653o.S99. The water borne
freight tonnage in transit in vessels
calling at Norfolk for bunker coal
only. hut which freight passed twice
through these waters, amounted TO g.
1880 tons. valued at sl14,S2S11e.
Total water-borne freight tonnage OF
the port Of Norfolk for the year lala
amounted. as itemized above, TO 20.
4s5.s52 tons. valued at s1,o4o.s6o.115
The constant and increasing water
horne freight tonnage of the port OF
Norfolk is shown by the fact that In
1888 the approximate amount of freight
carried, excepting that In vessels call
Ing for bunker coal only was but l.
st4,5os tons. as against 1T,3ta,st2 tons
IN 1913
In 1903 IL was e,47s.soo tons.
In 1ao4 II was 10.1Se,s72 tons
In 1905 it was 10,s14.s1S tons.