Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-09
CITY TO BUILD SHIPS.
rue POSSIBILITIES OF RICHMOND IN
THIS DIRECTION.
encouraging Words from President irving
n. Scott, Of San Francisco. and
Commodore Melville.

building city"
This was what Mr.. Irving NJ. Scott. presi-
dent Of the Union Iron-Norks OF San
Francisco (himscif the greatest ship-build-
ar on the Pacific coast). said yesterday.
In thus recognizing the natural advan-
tages Of this city Mr.. Scott was sustained
IN his opinion bv Commodore Melville,
chief Of the United States Bureau OF Me-
chanical Engineers, Chiet = engineer
Fletcher, and Paymaster Burton, OF the
United States navy.
After seeing the facilities Mt the klch-
mond Locomotive and Machine, WORKS Tor
equipping great YES els win an hlnus Vi
machinery these gentlemen naturally in-
CURED why there was no ship-yard mere
VIEWING TIE JASEs.
Some OF them had sccn tho beautiful
locations for ship-ysrds on James .river,
lint Others OF the party had not, and IT was
agreed by their friends here that they
should be taken down the river IN the
afternoon.
After the trip the gentlemen were more
than ever firmly of the opinion that mere
is no better place IN the country than hlch-
mond 20 construct ships. a.,
Mr.. scott was very enthusiastic on the
subject He said the day - not far distant
when such q business viii be extensively
conducted here The advantages are
Cheap. with reliable labor, abundance oi
GOAL and iron convenient, and beautiful
yard locations on the river.
WHY THEY ARE HERE.
Commodore Melville. Chief Engineer
Yletcher. and Paymaster Burton arrived
here Friday night. They came ina semi
official capacity to inspect the VOTE .i on tHo
paacaincry for the armored battie-Snlp
Texas. which is beng constructed by tue
Richmond Locomotive and Machine
Works. Mr. Scott, who was well acquaint-
ed with Mr.. 1ricg, happened TO be IN
Washington at the time. ana also accepted
an invitation TO come down 20 hI .,
The visitors were driven out TO the COM
pany's plant Yesterday morning about u
O'clock. Several prominent citizens bad
been invited TO meet them at the works.
Arlony those who accepted were mayor
Tllvson. President John B. Purcell, OF the
Chamber of Commerce; Major n. '. Ran
dolph. Mr. Joseph Bryan. Clty-Ensineer
u. l.. Cutshaw, and Mr.. Charles l.. Boiling.
SURPRISED AT THE INTENSIVE woREs'
Tie visitors were surprised to find such
extensive and well-equpped works IN
Richmond. They were shown through the
establishment and were enthusiastic IN
their praise of the excellent management
which the entire plant indicated. Alter
viewing the compauys capacity tor build
ing machinery Tor great war-Ships Mr..
Scott and others expressed the opinion that
in MANY respects the locomotive WORKS
arc suDeriOr to the establishments of John
Roach and CTanp, III Pennsylvania IL was
expected that one of the great cylinders
for the Texas would be cast Yesterday put
ali the arrangements for this operation
could not be- completed
Mr. Trigg, president Of the works, show
ed his visitors every courtesy ana aIter
inspecting the plant and the WORK on the
machinery for the Texas, lunch was
served in the Office OF the company.
or TIL CRA,GHILL.
At2 o'clock the party left the locomo-
fireworks and were driven To the Virginia
Steamboat Company's wharf, Where tAey
were iolned by Mr.. Lewis ID. CrenshaW,
chairman of the Committee on James
River Improvement. and others, and en-
barked on the tug Craighill for u trip down
the river. -, =,
MIR. Scott and Commodore Melville
pointed out several sites. between the
wharf and the monitors when they
thought well suited for ship-yards: The
Richmond people manifested much nte-
rest in this matter and were evidently
Greatly encouraged at the words of the
visitors.
HAD BIIN THERE BEFORE.
Commodore Melville years ago spent
considerable time on James river. When
a beardless boy he came up the stream on
q Union cunboat and anchored below
Drewry's BluH. he seemed 20 be much
Interested in old and familiar objects along
the river. lie was on one OF the boats
which came up to Richmond at the time OF
the evacuation.
The trip was extended down the river n
short distance below Drewry's Blum. Rich
moud was reached on the return soon
after o'clock.
A GLORIOUS FUTURE.
At the landing Mr.. Scott said TO the Dis
sutch reporter that Richmond has q glori;;
Gus future before her If the people viii
utilize the natural advantages. He Was
frrnly of the opinion that ship-yard Will
soon be operated here
Such an industry. he said, can certainly
be gotten if the efforts OF the people are
exorted in that direction.
rEHsoNAL.
Commodore Melville is abOnt fifty years
old. He is inclined TO be stout, has q
kindly blue eve, and wears his hair quite
long. He was the chief engineer OF one OF
the boats Of the Jeanette expedition and
Ia one OF the few survivors who on that oc-
casion started out TO find the North Pole.
The Commodore has lots OF sense ana 10
full of wit and humOr. He does not appear
10 like TO speak OF the expedition IN when
% mary OF MS coInpanlons lOst thVII iI'Cs:
II evidently brings 10 his mind the days OF
suffering and death TO so MANY people who
gtarted ont in the hope of discovery. IL
will be remembered that those who were in
Melvilles boat were the only ones who
were saved.
When asked yesterday if he would be
willing again to undertake TO reach the
North Pole the Commodore said Yes,
and added. with some emphasis: " BY my
attempting 10 60 there might keep some
other fool from doing likewise"
Last night MIR. Trlgg entertained the
visitors at supper at his residence. The
other guests present were Mayor Euyson,
Colonel william II. Palmer, Major T. L. ID.
Myers. and Mcssrs. Joseph Bryan, Charles
r. Boiling. and Sale Watkins.
The visitors viii leave the city this morn
h.g for Aashiarfoa