The absence of any one essential may prevent what should be an economical route or port from securing its tributary business. The trouble may be the lack of adequate terminals, the absence or inaccessibility of storage facilities, the imposition of excessive switching or wharfage charges, the absence of repair or docking facilities, the lack of well-balanced cargoes and frequent sailings, or other conditions affecting the movement of goods through the port and ability of vessels to earn a fair revenue. Port coordination and management are apt to play a considerable part in the success or failure of the port community to attract and hold business. Where possible, the control of all deep-water frontage by the public, as represented by the State or municipality, including the ownership and operation of a belt-line railroad connecting all rail lines and all terminals, is a practical solution of the coordination problem, and is an effective remedy for many of the ills that now exist. Ports should not have to depend upon the good will or selfish interests of either railroads or steamship lines to develop business. The railroads may prefer to have the business go elsewhere, and the water carriers could scarcely be expected to undertake extensive operations designed to bring goods to a particular port. In other words, the development of traffic should be regarded as one of the permanent functions of the port itself. Among the important objects, therefore, which it is hoped to attain from this series of reports is a more general appreciation of the benefits to be derived from proper develop ment of our ports. In obtaining the necessary information for our purpose it has been deemed of great importance that the statistics be compiled on an equal basis for all ports, and a comprehensive questionnaire and supporting tables, which were prepared as a basis of port information, have been as nearly as practicable alike for all ports under examination. These questionnaires and tables have passed the scrutiny of the office of the Chief of Engineers of the War Department, the Division of Operations of the Shipping Board, and the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department of Commerce. The reports will cover the port and harbor facilities for shipping, port charges, railroad systems serving the port, local conditions and costs of transfer between rail and water, and also the cost of transportation between the port and the interior. The important conditions governing the movement in traffic through the port will be followed, and such additional information presented as may be regarded of value to operators of vessels, and to producers and manufacturers seeking the most economical outlet for their finished products and for the importation of raw material. The reports will contain extensive information relative to the character and amount of commerce handled through the port, its origin and destination, the tendencies with relation to the development of traffic, and the adaptability of the physical facilities to meet the requirements of business which the port should serve. THE PORTS OF NORFOLK, PORTSMOUTH, AND NEWPORT NEWS, VA. PORT AND HARBOR CONDITIONS GENERAL DESCRIPTION The waters about Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News, with the excellent anchorage in Hampton Roads, may be regarded as forming one of the best harbors in the country. The depths of its channels, security of its anchorage, capacity, freedom from ice, facility of entrance and departure, combined with a central geographical position at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, confer on it unquestioned advantages. The ocean entrance between Cape Charles and Cape Henry lies about midway of the Atlantic coast line of the United States. A deep-water channel leads from this entrance to deep water in Hampton Roads, between Old Point Comfort and Willoughby Spit. This channel, which had a natural depth of 30 feet in its shoalest portion has been improved and now affords a depth of 38 feet. The controlling depth is in Thimble Shoal Channel which has a depth of 30 feet at mean low water for the full project width of 750 feet, within which has been completed a channel 38 feet deep at mean low water, with a minimum width of 500 feet, throughout the length of Thimble Shoal, a distance of about 48,000 feet. The James River, Nansemond River, and Elizabeth River empty into Hampton Roads. In all there are some 2,500 miles of interior navigable waterways which lead to this harbor. Information regarding depths available in the several channels of the harbor is given under the head of "Harbor improvements by the United States." Norfolk, Va., is in Norfolk County, on the Elizabeth River, about 7 miles above its confluence with the Nansemond and James Rivers. It is 187 miles south of Baltimore, Md., and 30 miles from the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, at Cape Charles and Cape Henry. The harbor consists of the Elizabeth River, a tidal estuary, and certain portions of its branches, known as the Eastern, Southern and Western Branches. Norfolk Harbor is about 154 miles long and varies in width from one-sixth mile to 2 miles. Portsmouth, Va., is the county seat of Norfolk County and is situated on the Western and Southern Branches of the Elizabeth River, opposite the city of Norfolk. The cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth are practically one community, as both are reached by the same ship channel, and have the same general commercial interests. Newports News, Va., is in Warwick County, on the left bank of the James River and Hampton Roads, and is 12 miles north by west of Norfolk, and 75 miles southeast of Richmond, Va. Newport News Harbor is reached by an improved ship channel 600 feet wide and 35 feet deep. TIDES The mean range of tides at the Norfolk Navy Yard is 2.8 feet, while the spring range is 3.2 feet. At Newport News the mean tidal range under ordinary conditions is 2.7 feet, and the extremes 2.1 and 3 feet. Extremes due to the combined effects of tides and wind range from 2 feet below to 7 feet above mean low water. TIDAL CURRENTS The mean velocity of the current in Hampton Roads Channel at strength of flood is 1.5 knots and at strength of ebb, 1.7 knots. Currents, however, are influenced considerably by the wind and, at times, attain a velocity much in excess of these mean values. Along the wharves at Fort Monroe the currents change about an hour earlier than in the center of the channel. In the Elizabeth and James Rivers the mean velocity of currents is about 1.3 knots. ANCHORAGES The anchorage grounds at the Hampton Roads ports of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News, Va., are under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard, represented by the captain of the port, whose office is at Norfolk, Va. The anchorage grounds are fully described below, together with the rules and regulations relating thereto : TEMPORARY ANCHORAGE A (Hampton Bar) To the westward of a line bearing 8° from a point (“A”) determined by the following cross bearings: Old Point Comfort Light, bearing 31°; flagstaff on Fort Wool, bearing 100°; to the northward of a line bearing 229° from "A" to a point ("B"), 425 yards distant; to the northeastward of a line bearing 289° from point "B." NOTE. This area is reserved for the use of vessels while undergoing examination by quarantine, customs, and immigration authorities. Upon completion of these examinations, vessels shall move promptly to a regular anchorage area. The master of every steam vessel using this temporary anchorage shall keep his vessel in condition to move promptly under her own power upon notification by the captain of the port, and when any such vessel is in charge of a pilot the pilot shall remain on board until the vessel is safely anchored in a designated anchorage area. No sailing vessel using this anchorage shall be left unattended by a steam tugboat while undergoing examination by any of the authorities mentioned in paragraph 2 hereof, except when her stay is likely to be of several hours duration, when she shall be anchored in the western part of this temporary anchorage out of the way of other vessels before the tug and pilot leave her. No master of a vessel awaiting or undergoing quarantine inspection shall release any part of the crew until the vessel has been passed by the proper quarantine officials and safely anchored, or moored, in one of the designated areas. ANCHORAGE B (Naval anchorage 1) To the southward of a line bearing 289° from point "“B” defined under temporary anchorage A; to the westward of a line bearing 229° from point "B" defined under temporary anchorage A; to the northward of a line bearing 292° from the northernmost of the two towers on the west side of the Jamestown Exposition Pier, Naval Operating Base, Sewall Point. NOTE. This area is reserved for the use of naval vessels, but in the absence of the fleet the captain of the port may, in his discretion, permit it to be used by merchant vessels. Upon receiving word that any part of the fleet is expected, the captain of the port shall cause a sufficient area in this anchorage and also in anchorage C to be vacated to accommodate the number of vessels scheduled to arrive. ANCHORAGE C To the southward of the southern boundary of anchorage B; to the westward of an extension of the line forming the eastern boundary of anchorage B; to the northward of a line running through the red buoys marking the 35-foot dredged channel to Newport News; to the eastward of a line bearing north through red gas buoy No. 8, at the western entrance to the old Newport News Channel. ANCHORAGE D The area enclosed by lines drawn as follows: From gas buoy No. 1 at the entrance to the Newport News dredged channel to bell buoy No. 2, at the entrance to Norfolk dredged channel; thence 229° to a point where buoy S 25 H bears 250°; then on that bearing until Newport News Middle Ground Light bears 3°; thence bearing 3° for a distance of 775 yards to anchorage buoy E; thence bearing 49° on a line in extension of the southeast boundary of anchorage B to intersection with the first line. NOTE. This area is to be used by deep-draft vessels, wind-bound vessels from Lambert Point and Sewall Point, and vessels awaiting turn for docking. Other vessels may use this anchorage when permitted by the captain of the port. ! The established anchorages for naval vessels having been found inadequate at times when an especially large number of vessels are gathered for parade or other purpose, and the Navy Department having requested the establishment of a numbered series of anchorages for such occasions in order that a naval vessel may be ordered to proceed to a designated numbered anchorage in the harbor, the following arrangements have been made: A key chart for naval anchorages in Hampton Roads, which provides for the emergent anchorage of naval vessels in anchorages A, C, E, and G, and also in the vicinity of Thimble Shoal, marked anchorage "X" on the key chart, has been prepared. These designated anchorages, with the exception of those in naval anchorage B, which are primarily for naval vessels, are not set aside for the exclusive use of naval vessels, but permission will be given for naval vessels to use them when available. When the captain of the port receives notification from the proper naval authorities that it is desired to utilize certain of these specially numbered anchorages he will authorize the use by naval vessels of the requested numbers, if they can be made available, the commercial conditions at the time being given proper consideration. If in the opinion of the captain of the port there are sufficient reasons why the numbers first asked for should not be used, he will confer with the naval officers making request, and if other numbers can be agreed upon he will authorize their use; otherwise he will communicate the request to the Secretary of War with a statement of the circumstances and with his recommendations. ANCHORAGE E (Middle Ground Anchorage) To the southward of a line running through the black buoys marking the southern edge of the 35-foot dredged channel to Newport News; to the westward of the northwest boundary line of anchorage D; to the northeastward of a line bearing 310° from the southwest end of the northwest boundary line of anchorage D. ANCHORAGE F (Anchorage for explosives and other dangerous articles) To the southward of a line, bearing 310°, through two points determined by the following cross bearings: Easterly point, Newport News Middle Ground Light, bearing 20°; Craney Island Light, bearing 131°; Nansemond River Light, bearing 243°; westerly point, Newport News Middle Ground Light, bearing 89°; Nansemond River Light, bearing 219°; northern red light on the railroad pier at Newport News, bearing 327° 45'. To the westward of a line bearing 183° through the above easterly point; to the eastward of a line bearing 183° through the above westerly point. The southwesterly limit of anchorage E is the northern boundary of the forbidden area around anchorage F. NOTE. All vessels are forbidden to anchor between the northern boundary line of anchorage F and the southwestern boundary line of anchorage E, or within a zone 425 yards wide on the eastern and the western sides of anchorage F. ANCHORAGE F-1 (Anchorage for vessels carrying explosives and other dangerous articles and having drafts too great to permit them to use anchorage F) An area within anchorage C to the westward of the eastern boundary of anchorage C; to the northward of a line bearing 292° from the southeasterly corner of anchorage C, 1,800 yards; to the eastward of a line bearing 49° to a point in the northern boundary of anchorage C 1,800 yards distant from the easterly corner of anchorage C; to the southward of the northern boundary of anchorage C. NOTE. When anchorage F-1 is not occupied by vessels carrying explosives it may be used as a general anchorage in the same manner as other portions of anchorage C, except that it must be vacated upon notice from the captain of the port when a vessel of a draft too great to permit it to use anchorage F carrying explosives desires to anchor. When anchorage F-1 is occupied by a vessel carrying explosives vessels shall not anchor in anchorages B or C within a zone 425 yards wide on all sides of the area. No vessel carrying explosives shall be anchored in area F-1 so as to swing within 500 yards of the Newport News dredged channel. ANCHORAGE G (Newport News) To the southward of the following lines: From Fishing Point to black can buoy No. 3 off Naseway Shoal; thence to a point fixed by the following cross bearings: Northern red light on railroad pier, Newport News, bearing 135°; Nansemond River Light, bearing 180°; thence to a point determined by the following cross bearings: Northern red light on railroad pier, Newport News, bearing 45°; |