Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-28
.SMALL-BOAT HARB0R
PROVING GREAT SUCCESS
Constructed by City of Newport
News, 1t Has Been Good
Investment.
INDUSTRIES LOCATED THERE

INDUSTRIES LOCATED THERE
Greatest Feature Is Curtiss Aviation
School, Which Recently CLOSED
T~wenty-Year Contract With the
Municipality.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.]
NEWPORT NEWS. VA. May 27.-
Five or more years ago. when 1t looked
as IL the small-boat harbor proposition
were going to fail. a local prophet
arose and predicted that in five years
at least 500. 900 would be invested
along the line of the municipal small
boat harbor. This prediction has not
only become true, but has grown far
beyond the most sanguine views Of the
prophet.
The small-boat harbor was con-
structed by the municipal authorities
OF Newport News at Il cost of more
than $250, 000. The city has a fine in
vestment' here, for already industries
valued at $4,000 have been located
on the small-boat harbor, and appiica-
tions for more sites now are under
consideration.
Not only this. but the city still has
about thirty acres Of land fronting on
the harbor, and is negotiating with
| pluntS Wnlcn VIII SIcuu miiiioH " NV
erection of buildings and other equip
ment in the event they locate here.
The hnrbor, built primarily for a
shelter for small boats and an induce
;nent to manufacturing concerns, is
spoken of as the greatest undeveloped
asset of the Virginia peninsula.
Fishermen and oystermen OF the
peninsula now are using the harbor as
a base for their operations, and II is
not an unusual sight to see 100 or more
small boats, power craft and wind
driven vessels riding placidly on tho
1uiet body OF water. while the seas OF
Hampton Roads are dashed to a frothy
fury by the elements. The coming of
the oystermen and fishermen means
that Newport News now gets "A great
deal OF trade which formerly went to
Norfolk, Hampton and other nearby
points. Merchants state that the OPEN
ing OF the harbor has brought them
cash customers whom they never saw
before.
FISH AND ICE CONCERNS
Il TO LOCATE AT HARBOR
The first plant to locate at the harbor
was the Newport News Fish and Ice
Corporation. The now has
we'll under construction an $4,000
plant. When j. j. Lane, however. be-
gan promoting the project he had great
|. difficulty in disposing OF the stock In
+ small parcels. The promoter then
took his project to n Boston capitalist,
s who. after examining a blue print al
$ the harbor and studying the fish and
oyster industry Of Hampton Roads
. Chesapeake Bay and James River, fur
< r&shed money with which to build the
d largest fish. oyster and crab packing.
n house on the Atlantic coast. The nam
v moth brick structure will he supported
IS by deep-driven piles. The foundation
n is complete, and the erection of TIT
! side walls has been begun. It is ex
pected that the plant will he com
pleted some time next fall.
e The second plant to locate at tn
o harbor was the international Tool Com
y amy, which has been operating 10
six months. The project was parti
financed by local capitalists. TIL
building and machinery is valued a
approximately $4,000. The compan
manufactures tools for pruning frui
lie trees and shrubs, many OF which ar
sold In South American countries.
Is Two plants recently located at tn
harbor are an oyster-shucking an
~, W packing plant and a marine railwa
8 for the construction and repair O
small boats. Both concerns will fror
on the artificial harbor. Material n
ready is being assembled for the
construction. they are financed b
IL Virginia capitalists.
Another recent industry is a box an
nj barrel factory. Logs will be rate
t. 10 the harbor. where they will /
n. cut into lumber by a small sawmi
n. operated in conjunction with the be
$ and barrel plant.
i, AVIATORs TRAINED
G. For EUROPEAN ARMII
al The greatest advertising feature
i'll the harbor. however. is the Curt
ph Aviation School, which concern recen
~ closed a twenty-year contract wi
he the city and made provisions TO loca
lea it's Buffalo plant here. Aviators a
OF being trained ut the school for Il
ky armies Of Europe and the militia
IN the United States. The company h
TN erected several large hangers, clear
ia off a mile speedway and constructed
ref two and ne-half-acre landing fe
of AeroIilanes intended for use in I
he European armies are tested out at t
by school. The machines are brought he
'oa from the northern shops OF the col
IN pany and assembled. After being tie!
"a ed out they are r%eshipped TO En-
,rn land and Russia.
bnt Glenn IT.. Curtiss, mere Su~perintendi
ma. the e%quipping of the testing stall
$50 states that the new America" in VIII
Rodman Wanamaker will attempt
cross the Atlantic. will be brout
! here and tested out. A large hang
already has been built to house
machine, which is expected 20 be CO
pleteh within six months.
~, Ferry service between this city 4
81 Norfolk now is maintained from
s artificial harbor. The Newport Ne
emit, landing was changed from Hamp
vice Roads to the harbor because the
on ter afforded ample protection in
Itch ro,pbest weather Hundreds Of nee