New Britain herald., 1917-07-07
HAMPTON ROADS IS .
 HISTORIC LOCALITY
Point Where U-B0at Was Seen a
 Naval Stronghold
Especial to the Herald).

Fortress Monroe, Va, July 1.-Ru- mors of German submarine activities in Hampton Roads have again brought this famous locality into the lmelight and caused Americans to ponder on the importance of this stra getic point. Old Point Comfort, famous the world over as winter re- sort is the site of Uncle Sam's largest artificial fort. which guards the en- trance to Washington D. c. There is no greater army post in the United States than Fortress Monroe. In nor mai times there are never less than 1,20O soldiers stationed here. They are members of the coast artillery and mum bered among them are some of the finest marksmen in the world.
 Hampton Roads has often been pictured in the minds of those who were never in this vicinity as great boulevard, or levee running along the coast line. It is just the oppo- site. Hampton Roads is the name. gaven to the harbor that begins at Old Point Comfort and juts into the great seaport of Norfolk. It is here that the James River. and the York River empty into Chesapeake Bay. First discovered by Captain John
 
 by a heavy storm, it has ever since been pronounced the safest harbor known to mariners. It is great basin capable of harboring all the fighting ships of the world Almost every year the United States has as- sembled the South Atlantic fleet in these waters preparatory to the journey to the southern drill grounds for target practice.
 In war times Old Point Comfort Is almost a closed port. Yet the activ- ities that take place in the little towns immediately back of the Point have increased tenfold. The Penin- sula that extends from Old Point Comfort to Newport News is exactly eight miles long. In this expanse of territory there are some six or eight towns. Just over the bridge from Old Point is Phoebus. famous fish ing town. Next is Hampton, where hard shell crabs were first canned. and where is situated the National Soldiers Home and the Hampton In- stitute where Booker T. Washington was educated. Next after Hampton comes Newport News. city of some 300 inhabitants. The chief indus try of this Virginia city is hip-build- ing. Here is situated the great dry docks and yards of the Newport News Shfpbuilding and Dry Dock company. Many of the famous battleships in the American Navy were launched at th1s yard. There are also two man. moth grain elevators in Newport News, and long array of stores Where ships chandlers cater to mer- chantmen from all parts of the globe.
 Between Hampton and Newport is the famous Boulevard. magnifi- cent stretch of macadam road that follows closely to the waterline and gives wonderful view of Hampton Roads. Visitors have often com pared this boulevard to parts of the shore line of the Bay of Naples. Hereon is the great Boulevard Inn. a magnificent structure that has this week been taken over by the Dixie Realty Company, Inc, of Virginia, extensive land operators in the United States who plan to make the entire boulevard here the equal of any in the world. Government and ship building officials are interested in the project to the end that many mag nificent residences will be put up during the coming year.
 Accessible from all points of the compass, both by water and rail Old Point Comfort, with the activities of war, bids fair to awaken from its dream of three centuries and -blos- som out as one of the great residen- tlal sections of the country. All told. there are now some 5O.OOO peo- pie living on the peninsula, from Old Point Comfort to Newport News. Merged, the various towns could be moulded into one of the big cities of America. With ideal weather condi- tions the year around there is no bet ter spot in the country than this. within hailing distance of the first settlement in Virginia. Jamestown.