The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-23
ASSERTS WILLIAMSBURG
OUTLOOK VERY BRIGHT
Page Of Norfolk Head Of Realty Company Which Had
Large Holdings Near Asylum Property Which Have
Greatly Enhanced Points To Statement AS Significant

Williamsburg, Va, April 22.-Busi-
ness and real estate men in all parts
of the State are finding in the recent
awakening of williamsburg much to
interest them, and from all parts OF
the State they are hocking to this
ancient city. Among those who are
enthusiastic over the outlook Is H. l.
Page, Of the real estate frm OF II. l..
Page & Co. Norfolk, who is convinced
that all activities on and around the
site Of the new Dupont development
indicate that the big powder concern
contemplates operations on large
scale.
Page g. Co. had 116 acres OF land
| HdJoining The asylum property when
the boom started following announce
ment that the DuPonts would locate
a dynamite plant on the York River
! below Yorktown and not far distant
/ from VILLA msburg. Probably the best
! illustration OF their faith in the de-
velopment Of the property in the vi
entity OF Williamsburg is found in
their action yesterday in exercising a
sixty day option they had taken on 500
acres of land on jamestown Boule-
ward, adjacent TO Williamsburg. The
boulevard connects Williamsburg and
/ jamestown on the James. and extends
about ten miles. The new property
they anticipate placing upon the mar
ket at low prices by the end Of this
week. 1t will be cut up into Ave-
acre lots.
| 1T will be noted that the announce
msnt that the DuPonts works near
! Williamsburg would employ only goo
hands was not issued over the sigma
! ture OF an official of the company. but
was given out by a subcontractor."
said MIR. Page today. The warning
that went out to the people OF Hope
well against fantastic dreams OF the
future was formally issued by the vice
president OF the company. and think
II was an excellent thing to do. But
at Williamsburg no such announce
ment has been issued by any officiai
of the company, and every activity in
that section bellies the so-called warn
ing"
Tremendous DEVELOPMENTS.
II went all over the ground yester-
day and what / saw convtnces me that
the development in the vicinity of
Williamsburg is going to be tremen-
dous. We have staked our opinion
against those of the alarmisfs who
have suddenly contracted cold feet,
and yesterday we closed our option
Of 500 acres OF land, which we will
place on the market at once.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
ROAD has fully $50 men and a number
Of teams at work upon tho branch
line double track from williamsburg
to the dynamite plant site. . distance
of about four miles. I understand
that fully Ave miles OF sids-trackinx
will be put down inside OF the COM
pany's grounds.
There are now sixty men working
on the grounds building houses for the
accommodation of employees More
men are being put on this work every
day
Sixty carloads of lumber have been
received at Williamsburg from the
Hopeweli plant, and will be used at
once in house construction. This
lumber will be hauled Immediately to
the plant site. ] was told yesterday
va man in position to know that the
DuPonts had placed with n North
Carolina manufacturer an order for
100000 feet of lumber for quick
delivery.
THE scare stories about the risks
being taken at williamsburg have not
frightened of the legitimate investor.
the man who Ia able to pay for what
he buys II has worked wonders for
the situation, however. by putting out
or business the fake real estate man
and the Irresponsible specuiator, who
are trying to make fortunes on shoe
strings. The field 10 practically clear
ed Of that element.
while the unauthorized announce
ment about williamsburg might have
caused some to hesitate before inves-
tigating too deeply In property, 1t was
the best thing that could have hap
pened for Williamsburg and vicinity.
The unnatural boom period has been
brought to its equilibrium and the
legitimate investors see In the situation
4 much brihter prospect OF substsn-
tial development than appeared dur
Ing the first wild days OF buying and
selling.
Mr.. Pages Experiences.
II have had occasion to see 4 num-
Der Of sections developed In Tidewater
Virginia and 4 have been fortunate
enough to have been identified with
several big projects that bore out my
own estimates OF their worth ~ In
vestments was one Of the arm be-
|iievers Of the Wiiioughby Spit prop
'erty and built the drs< railroad