The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-05
WILLIAMSBURG
HAS FIRST TASTE OF
REAL LAND FEVER
VHgtniA's Ancient Capital Scene Oh
HurTying TO Buy Land on Dupont
Rumor.
RICHARD EPPES SAID
TO BE AMONG BUYERS
One of Hopewel's pioneers. Close to
Dupont Plans, Believed 70 Have
'fTnken a Shot" At tho Peninsula
Situation.

Interest 10 undated In the PENN
suia section over thu belief generally
entertained. and accepted as q fact by
practically everyone now. that the
Duponts will build another great plan,
on York River few miles northeas,
Of VIII amsburg.
Interest has been increased by the
report that Richard Eppes, one of the
pioneer Hopewell owners, and still
largely interested in that town has
bought or optioned considerable prop
erty In the Williamsburg section.
Mr.. Bppes, It IS said, has 'hit II
right" at other points developed by
the Dupont plants, and is known to
be in exceedingly close touch with
the Dupont situation.
The Williamsburg Gazette. in It's
current weeks issue. carries the fol-
lowing story:
According to the latest credited re-
port. the Dupont Powder Company
will erect on York River, between
Queens and Kings Creeks, the largest
dynamite plant In the world Besides
this II is reported that other munition
plants will he erected at the same
place and that thousands OF skilled
and unsleilled laborers viii be given
employment How authentic these re-
ports may prove is to he learned
soon. because the options taken by the
man supposed to represent the Du-
points will begin to expire within the
next few days II the purchase money
IS paid. Il will then he time TO count
upon the thing ~ a certainty
"MRny rumors that have been foat-
Ing are subject Of course To liberal
discount One Of the reports that has
&c EsG N
electric railway VIII be cous, Tucte ed
from the site of the dynamite city to
kW!iia msNurz and that Il concrete high
wa Will he built between the points
President George Stevens is said 70
have declined TO put up the money
10 build the spur from the Chesa peake
and Ohio right ~ way 10 York River.
hut was told nv the Dupont people
that they would advance the money
for four years and II the railroad
company ala not ind Il profitable. 10
then ray the $4,000 that the line
will cost they need not do so A rail-
WAY line IL the Chesapeake and Ohio
has Already been surveyed. but II does
not come to williamsburg. but TO s.
point east of Beale's crossing Will
Harrisburg should see that the junction
In formed az this place for many rea-
sons.
Spectators IouF In
For more than week speCula tors
have been pouring into this section
from many places, Richmond. New
port News and other nearby places be-
ing we'll represent t--t- A ftef practical
iy all Of the farms had been secured
bv options, the spectators turned
their attention to williamsburg prep
erty Captain r. W. Maynard has
given AN option on the old Williams
burg Hotel building TO Mr Thai
h.mer Of Richmond, Others who have
been paid cash options are: George
NJ Dickerson. II. W Holmes, Mrs. n.
f Brooks. r n. Pcachy. J. T, Van
Smythe Tansword estate. and many
others.
"Hammel & Jackson, OF North Caro-
tina. have put an option OF $500 OF II.
n Barnett's farm. near Fort Ma
sruder. Mt $4,000, and n smaller cash
optton on l. J. Hansen's place nearby
LAT $4,000: e. 7 willard has sold his
pJace at SIS. 900 s400 cash option hav-
ing been paid him. But one of the
hFrreet deals that has been made
was that OF r r. Wright, who sold a
t~entv-acre tract adjoining the site of
the proposed factory town for $4,000
cash This tract was purchased by
the Mr.. Epps. who hgured prominent
ly IN tho Hopewell deals. he being the
owner Of Tpps island and much Of
the land where the Dupont's big fac
tory stand ut CITY Point. II looks like
he has confidence In the certainty OF
the plant coming here.
All Take Options.
THE town today and every day this
kweek mas presented an animated APP
pearance caused by the presence or
speculators from various parts OF the
| l. To- = n
Fla: Hopewell. Richmond, Newport
News and all nearby cities have had
their representatives on the ground.
most OF whom have taken options.
IAN idea NAV he gained from the
price named In the options as 10 what
effect the rumors OF DupontS coming
has had An option of $1,000 cash
has been paid on the WILLIAMSBURG
Hotel building at $4,000. On r. ID,
Peachy's part of block known as the
Necl property $500 cash has been
paid on purchase price OF $1,000,
G.. NJ. Dickinson's property was sold
at $4,000 The Hansrord property
was sold at $4,000 with a $500 OPP
ton. and SO on. Captain Maynard
has given options on six or seven
p,eces Of his pronertv- all at reason
able prices 4 F.. Grif'n's property
was sold at $4,000,
Cash Changes Hand.
&C. w Thorpe has sold his farm
knear town at 500 per acre. with a
GOOD cash option. A cash option has
been placed on l. w. Roberts farm
at $4,000 Interest IL still at fever
heat and every dav brings fresh sur
pr;ses in prices obtained and options
paid
MEN who claim that thev know
whereof they speak. say that the Du-
ponts are coming here. and that their
options will all he covered with cash
before thew expire Thew also say
that the railroad will he built and that
there IS no doubt about the coming
OF the greatest enterprise on tho
Peninsula, and one OF the greatest In
the country II is said that any day
now may bring statement from the
puponts confirming all the rumors
now afoat
"B r, Wolfe was the only man IN
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