The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-21
ITEMS In VIRGINIA.
THE MAMMOTH SHlP-YARD At
NEWPORT NEWS.

Ex-senator Riddiebcrger Not Expected 20
Live-Roanokel :Enterprises--A Num-
ber of Booms Reported Under Way
Cleanings.
NORFOLK. January Especial. The
mammoth ship-yard being built at Newport
News by the Chesapeake Dry Dock and
Construction Company is now rapidly near
ing completion, and in six months will be
ready 20 build iron steamships. The ship
yard covers an area Of sixty-hye acres Of
ground has 900 feet Of water front, and is
the largest In America. G. B. Arcott. of
New Y FORK, who is general coal agent Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio road, is president
Of the company, and G.. p. Huntington is
the largest stockholder. Three million dol
lars will be invested i'm the plant and the
payroll al present amounts 10 over $1,000
day OF the $3OOO,OOO to De spent 81 ,JOO.OoO
will 20 towards purchasing machinery
100000 for buildings, 100000 for dredging
and $4,000 for filling and grading the yard.
Two sets Of launchways have already
been built, and the work of building ships
ON them could be commenced 40 once. lhe
dry dock owned by the company is OF the
Simpson pattern, and the largest IN the
United States. Some idea OF It's dimensions
can be ascertained when il is stated that an
ocean steamer the size Of the City OF Paris
could easily 20 in it. The British steamship
Kimberly is now in the dock, and will have
$4,000 in repairs put on her. Contracts
have already been made to build three
ocean steamers, two Of them being for the
Morgan line. As many as eight ocean
steamers, however, can be built in the yard
at one time.
All the C0mpany's shops will be hand
some structures. and are now in course Of
erection. All will be built Of brick. The
joiner shop Is three stories high, BOG feet
long. and go feet wide. and the blacksmith
shops will be BOG feet long and 100 feet wide.
The machinery which will be put i'm these
shops and i'm the foundry Will be the latest
patented. and the officials say the finest TO
be found in any ship-yard in the world.
Mr. Henry Louiizky, who has been for
many years superintendent in Crampe's
ship-yard at Philadelphia, has been ap-
pointed superintendent Of construction OF
the work and has already assumed charge
and has a force Of draughtsmen at work IN
a temporary building, which, however, VIII
be vacated for quarters in handsome
structure 30 feet long, with draughtng-
room 2OOxG0. Mechanical Engineer Young
en-. also with Crampe, is experimenting the
putting up OF All machinery lu'luHtu III
the machinery xviii be a derrick capa-
bic Of lifting hundred tons. Mr.. ).
L. White. Of New York, has the
contract for erecting all the building and
the work is superintended for him by ". A.
Post. of Newport News. >eyenty-tiye brick
dwellings in the vicinity Of the ship yard
have Just been completed by Mr. Hunting
ton. and work has been commenced on the
same number. 10 is intended 10 rent these
buildings TO the cOmpany's w0rkmen. IL is /
estimated that the yard will give employ
ment 10 5000 skilled labOrers.
There IS a probability Of the new steel
cruiser Baltimore, which, by the way, is the /
fastest war ship afoat, beng ordered 10
New York 10 receive her armour, as the /
docks at the navy-yard, where 10 will have
20 De placed aboard, are surrounded by such /
shallow water that the big vessel already |
stirs up the mud when she mOors at them, |
and of course when She gets her guns /
aboard she will set deeper IN The water.
The scheme for the Belt Line Railway Is /
being opposed strongly by the Ports /
mouth Council, Board of Trade and press
and war against the bin has already zen /
declared. That the bill VIII be pas "a by /
the Legislature, the Norfolk people think is /
pretty certain.
Mr., Uriah y aughan. a well known resi-
dent of this section and a wealthy cotton /
merchant, died Sunday, much 10 the regret
of many friends.