The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-04-29
AN IMMENSE mAsurAoronr.
The Great Ship Building Works at
Newport News. Notwithstanding
OYSTERS in the James River.

Newport News. Notwithstanding
Oysters in the James River.
Correspondence OF the REPUBLICAN.
NEWPORT News, April eel arrived
at this beautiful place on Monday, 18th
inst, having left Wilmington on Sun
day night at 1900. The trip was de-
lightful, and whom daylight dawned
the scenery was beautiful. This morn
ing, In company with Mr.. Elingia Pen
nington, formerly Of the Pussy q
Jones Company, and Mr.. John Cross
grove, formerly of the West Yard. l
took stroll up to the bluffs of the
James River. This river, as you know,
Is historic, from the important mill.
tary operations upon it, and along Its
banks during the war for the suppress.
sion of the rebellion.
We walked fully four miles, and
viewed with interest the operations OF
the oyster boats. This is a great In
dustry in this section, and theluscious
bivalves are sent from here all over
the far West, where q stew, a PANIED,
or frie would be unknown, were II
not for those obtained from here. Al
though the season is almost over,
there were quite number OF boats
engaged In the work. At the com.
mencement of the season, at least one
Thousand boats can be seen daily on
this river. taking tens oil thousands OF
bushels OF luscious oysters from their
beds on tho bottom OF the stream. This
Is wonderful business, and it seems
as though the bottom OF the river ls
covered with beds OF oysters many
feet deep.
Well, now will drop the oyster busl-
ness and tell you something about
the Newport News Dry Dock and Ship
Company where l am employed. This
gigantic plant is the largest ship build
ing industry In this country, and ]
question II there is any larger In the
world. not excepting the great ship
building works of Great Britain.
There are five large brick buildings,
two of them being four stories high,
and three three stories high. Four
of them are 60x300 feet, and the other
100xg00 feet. They are all strong and
substantial, well lighted, and during
the coming winter will be we'll heated
throughout by hot air. The machinery
is all first class. and the best that can
be secured for the purpose. The dry
dock Is 500 feet long, and cannot be ex.
celled by any in this or any other
country.
At the present time two immense
ships are being built, each of them 405
feet in length, with the other dimen-
sions in proportion. There are four
sets of stocks at present, but 1t is the
intention OF the company to build two
more in short time. The managers
seem to try and make everything as
pleasant as possible for the employees.
and do everything that will conduce
in any way to their comfort and con-
venlence. There are about 900 men
employed at present, but in q short
time there will be work for from 1000
to $500. The main office is fine brick
structure 40x100 feet. The company
wish to have all their employees live
here, and with this end In view have
erected about $50 nice comfortable
brick houses, close to the works,
which will be rented to employees ut a
reasonable rent.
Each of these houses contain from
five to six rooms, and they stand on
high and dry ground. The only
trouble / see here Is the water being
bad, buta well and tank Is now being
constructed which will afford fun
supply of excellent water. Living Is
cheap, wages good, and the climate
healthy and delightful. Fish, crabs
and oysters are abundant, and / do
not think that anyone who has to work
for their living, could wish for a bet
ter place to live. j. ii. Q.