Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-30

Now one would naturally infer from the
above that The sum OF S3,l99,00o is now
being or Is going 10 be expended m the
Portsmouth navy-vard, and We are satisfied
that Mr. Wise il too wcli-iniormcd 10 have
made any such statement ~ that. Mr.. Wise
came down here week before last with The
House Committee on Naval Affairs aud must
have seen That this naYy.yard Is about viz
tualN abandoned. Scarcely anything al all l.
being done here. AID some Of the work
shops have been closed. But let ~ consider
tho item, Of the 50, 100 900 % appropriations
which .'are Icing expended here
/. For The armorcd ship Texas S2.500,00
not one dollar OF which is being expended
here. ana even II the vessel * begun during
Mr. Whtnev's term o. Office. only small
percentage Of that amount will be expended
here. An Of the material TO be used i'm her
cou-'ructiOn-ifO and steel plates, &c.-
will be purchased 10 the North; her rigging,
sails. and other equipments Will be made ut
the Boston nqvy-yard her armament will be
made AT the Washington uavy>yard, and no
one vet knows where her machinery VIII be
built. so that al that VIII be expended here
will be the cost Of the labor OF putting her
h,iH together. which win hardly be one
fourth Of the appropriation, but no one can
tel! when work will be commenced on her.
Thu, far there has not been provided single
tool to 20 10 work with, or ssingle pound
Of material to build tho ship Of. The me-
chanics about here have been fed on
PROMISES and have been living on hope for
two years past; but let MS go on with the list
OF appropriations.
.. For tools and machinery for same,
$4,000.
Nof one cent Of this has been or will be
eyDendcd here. The tools will be pur-
cha,cd-at the North and sent here, il they
are ever provided al all.
3. For erecting buildings in connection
with this work.
one large she'd has been built for this pur-
nose. but it is a fact that before It was COM
plcted all OF the journeymen carpenters en-
ploycd on it were discharged and apprentice
boys were taken from other work and other
Departments 10 finish II.
{. For extra tools provided for lSG9-'10,
$4,000.
These tools also will be purchased at the
North. and not one cent % the money will
be extended here. The question naturally
arises II these tools were provided for I'm
1SG9-'70, or eighteen years ago, why have
they not yet been furnished?
r. For her new timbeT.wOrk, $4,000
This work is being dOne bv contract, and
the contractor will receive $4,000 for It,,
hut that amount will not be expended here.
The contractor will paw ont about $4,000
here for labor, and the rest OF the appr0pria-
ton will be used mp m purchasing material
elsewhere and in the way OF profits 10 the
contractor on bis work and his invention,
which IS patented, and O very large part Of
his labor was brought here with him from
the North. and their wages wlll be sent to
their homes.
6. For railroad extension and engine
house. 100000.
Thi, is being now expended, or probably
will be expended hereafter, If there should
be need for II: So that the immense apprO-
priation Of -. 10000 which l. now being ex-
uendcd ut this nqvy-ygrd dwindleS down to
Sl9S 900 when the light Is turned on.
There are about two hundred men en-
Dlovcd I'm the navy. yard here, including
clerks. writers. special store laborers, bosses,
watchmcn. and apprentice hoyS. The Re
publican Administration generally employed
from 900 10 l.400.
Thcsa making department has been closed
here and transferred TO the Boston ndyy-yard,
and Mr. Wise knows very well that when
there has been work here for rigcers in fitting
ont nav i vessels the Navy Department had
the work done 10y enlisted sailors OF the navy,
who were sent ashore from the receiving
shin 10 do II, while our local mechanics were
walking about idle and would have been glad
TO have gotten work. ] say Mr.. Wise knows
this. because the writer Of this article wrote
70 him on the subject and received in reply a
letter stating that be had been 10 see the Sec
rotary Of the Navy on the matter, but could
not accomplish ANYTHING,
For the above reasons we think your cor
respondent must have misunderstood Mr..
Wise. The people here are glad that Gov
ernor Lee spoke out rs be did, and the only
regret Is that he was rot better posted so
that he could have said more. People who
are contented 10 lie down all the time VIII be
walked over.
A foundation Of logs has been prepared
here 10 build the new ship on. II was com
pletcd several months sgo. and the general
impression Is that II will 20 to decay before
the vessel Is commenced.
There are other points OF the correspond.
ent which | would like 20 refer 10, bst II
you VIII kindly publish This you will confer
favor upon the unemployed workmen OF
this city and vicinity. PORTSMOUTH"