The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-04-25
LARGEST IN THE WORLD.
The GREAT DRY DOCK At NEWPORT
NEWS.
OVERNOR FITZHUGH LEE RE
sPOvDS TO 4 TOAST
DIsIINGUIsHrD MEN AROUND THE
FESTIVE BOARD.
Base Rail Games Yesterday-1he Wash
Ington Races-OwDers of the Danmark
To Pay all Damages To the Missouri
Views of southern Bankers.

NoRFoLG, Va, April 24-The new
dry dock recently contracted for the
/ Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction
Company was formally opened at New
port News to-day by the docking OF the
United States monitor Puritan. The dry
dock is the largest ever constructed. lis
dimensions are as follows. Length on
top, 900 feet width on top, l3O feet;
width Al bottom, 30 feet; width an en-
trance. g3 feet. draught OF water over
sill, % feet, or s,jOO,0OO imperial gal
Ions.
After the Puritan had been success
fully dOckcd the guests were driven TO
the Hotel Warwick, where an elaborate
collation. was served In thief hours
at the table many happy speeches were
made
Among the most notable and interest
ing were the following Governor Fiiz-
hugh Lee. ia response to the toast, "The
Old Dominion pictured The advantages
of Newport News as a great harb0r: de-
tailed the work of the Dry-D0ck and
Construction Company, and predicted a
brilliant future for the port.
The Governors remarks were re-
ceived with round after round of ap.
plau-e, especially that portion of bis
speech in which he referred to the good
work which was being accomplished
under the Stars and Stripes
Mr.. 4. A. Low, Of Brooklyn. \. y,
addressed the assemblage i'm response 10
the toast "The Merchant Marine and
Surgeon General Brown, in response TO
a call from the chair gave some interest
ing statistics on "the United States
Navy
Colonel Fred D. Mussey was called
upon TO respond to the toast "The Press "
Colonel Mussey alluded in a graceful
and eloquent way 10 old Virginia, and to
Governor Lee.
lie said he esteemed il an honor to
follow Governor Lee. and IL was not the
first time, for in the famous Lee.Wise
campaign, he had followed him all over
the Old Dominion. with fire in his eve
and batchet in his hand after Lee
had been elected" said Colonel Mussey
"he sent me an invitation 60 come and
partake of his hospitality, for no Lee
was ever known 10 do an ungenerous or
unchiyalric thing This was greeted
with great cheering, as were further re-
marks in the line Of the disappearance of
disagreemenis national and personal
Colonel Mussey and Governor Lee
subsequently had a long talk together
and the matter accustomed a good deal OF
pleasant comment
One of the happiest speeches of tie
day was delivered by Congressman Can
non of Illinois, who predicted for New
port News in the next few years pop
ulstiOn of 100000 He congratulated
The hosts upon their enterprise, aud
brought forth round after round of ap-
plause by his happy and bright illusions
10 Virginia. Governor. Striking a Sc
riousycin, Mr. Cannon assured his au-
dence that the wonderful dry-dock az
Newport News was q credit, not only 10
Virginia, but to Illinois and the entire
United States.
Other speeches were made by the
Speaker OF the Virginia Legislature,
Hon Robert II CardWell. State Senator
Bacon, OF Illinois, Constructor simpson,
Of dry dock fame, and Chief Engineer
Melville Just before the close OF the
entertainment calls were made for Major
J VI. Carson, OF the Philadelphia Ledger,
who aroused the enthusiasm Of the guests
bv alluding 10 the great national adyan-
tages presented in the harbor Of Newport
News for the development of the export
trade OF the country etc.
Major Carson concluded his speech by
"a humorous alusion so the assistance
which would be given by the individual
efforts of members of the press This
allusion was received with cheers.