Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-13

or great assistance In meeting congest-
cd shipping conditions. consists OF $500
Southern negro stevcdorcs modified
here promptly when labor troubles and
shortages threatened to tie-up the load
ing OF ships Those men. clad in a uni
form somewhat darker than the regular
army khaki. are probably the happie,t
In the whole government service. sing
ing the old-time negro melodies at their
work. Well treated, with short work
ing hours. plenty to eat and a good
place 10 sleep, Uncle SANS service
iooks particularly good 10 them. Many
! OF 'hen from time to time are being
sent TO tho "other side" to do similar
work at our French port OF debarku-
ton.
GREAT NEW POPULATION
TAXES CITi's RESOURCES
: Newport News has had a number "
problems TO solyc as the result OF the
great influx Of population. both soldier
anu civilian. These problems included
those arising from the added tax placed
on public utilities by the reason Of their
/ being called on to care for the needs
Of nearly 100000 people. civilian ana
military, in Newport News and its i'm
mediate environments. where hereto
fore. the population had been approx
!nately $4,000, the serious problem OF
housing the greatly enlarged civilian
population. aud the further question
Involving control of the undesirable ele-
ments male and female: care for the
unfortunate. the preservation of the
public health the protection Of the
community. military and Industrial,
from SPY activities. and the entertain
ment OF the soldiers.
With the influx OF new people every
vacant house was soon filled Then
soon practically every householder be-
gan 10 reat rooms. some or them at
prices Of an exceedingly prosperous
amount. However. 10 the credit of the
community and i;s people. allegations
OF e%toriion are not often well founded
Average furnished rooms have been
ana are being rented, az from So TO S.
a week. while rooms caccptionallv de-.
sirahi. in location are. Of course ren,.d
at considerable higher figure The
question now i. not 80 much one OF
price a. IL Is OF entire lack OF accom-
nodations for those coming in or wish
ing 10 come. Newport News Deopl.
themselves are not building any consid-
erhrie number Of houses. fearing that
sudden change in world conditions
would, in Few years. leave them
houses Without profitable lenteds Hence
the principa! relief from existing con-
dit!ons IN SO far IS housing is con-
cerned. must come from construction bv
the Newport News Shipbuildins and
Dry Dock Company. although the ay
surance OF great activity FOR several
years 10 come viii doubtless furnish
Impetus Tor reasonable amount O.,
h"mebuidlnG Conservative estimates
indicate that the civilian population OF
Hewport News at THE time Ia in excess
OF "o'o"p people. when Is 6ouble that o.
one year ago. II is - be apDrchended.
however. thnt government construction
Work VIII have been completed in a few
months, somewhat easing the housing
situation in that direction, although
II may well be believed that other ac
t!v!i.es vii! continue TO give employ
ment TO the entire population, even al
us presen, high mark
HEROIC ETFonTs TO
LAY LARGER WATER MAIN
one Of the needs OF the present situa-
ton IS an increased water supply. The
Hewpcrt News Water Company has
been ms king heroic efforts 10 complete
rs new pipe line from its lakes near
Lee iiall and has only about i've miles
more OF the line to lay before the new
ana larger main viii heready for ser
vice. Meanwhile, the water pressure 4.
low, and in case OF a fire OF any con-
siderable proportions il becomes heces-
S"ry TO shut off the water supply from
BnI
government activities and Industrial
and educational establishments in tha.
deHseiy populated area
The gas plant. TOO, has been taxed TO
It's capacity. while the stree: railway
and interburban systems have had to
struggle manfully to NEE; the require
mcnts OF their situation
RriCadier-General Grote Hutche,on.
IN command OF tho port OF emharka-
non. has co-operated in a most cordial
manner with the citizens Of the city.
and tho citizens themselves have cx-
crted themselves in every way possible
"a make tho stay Of the soldiers at
Newport News pleasant The churches
arc open all day every day in the week
for the use Of the soldiers, the y. NJ
:. y. keeps open house rcrpctualiy, en-
'crtainmcnts for their benefit arc fro
fuen'. and tho doors of hundreds of
homes are thrown open from time TO
time TO the home sick soldier.
PUBLIC HEALTH WORKS WILL
PROVE OF LASTING VALUE
Probably no work being done bv gov
ernmental instrumentalities will leave
more lasting or more helpful in
hucncc on Newport News and its SUI
Durham territory than that under the
direction OF Major S. Is. Grubbs. in
charge of the United States Public
ttC3ith Service at NcWDort NewS
ing in close cooperation with tba
Newport News Department of Health.
The city has established detention
homo for unfortunate females on II
Smoke fnh aIa+i~~