Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-28
FOR NEWPORT NEWS.
EFFORT TO HAVE SOME OF THE BAT
TlsShIPS BUILT THERE.
co,onei. puford and Braxton Address the
Chamber Of Commercs-Letter 10 tue
secretary OF tho Navy.

A called meeting Of the Board of Direc-
GOV. Of tho Richmond Chamber OF Com
,oorca WAS held yesterday evening at
O'clock. Present George l.. CHRISTIAN
(pres,dent), s. W. Travers Second vice
nres,dent. f. II. Bisseli. Lewis u. Cren-
sbav Jr. r.. II. NJ. Harrison, II. l.. Staples
rva,ett Waddey, G. u. Wingheld, r. NJ
Wbi,tle. Jr.. J. II. Witty, and ii. W.
Wood (directors). There were also pres
ant Colonel A. s. Buford, a member OF inc
Chamber. and Colonel Carter NJ. brHAton'
OF Newport News. Az oh
The president explained that tho ob-
go, ~ The meeting was 20 consider suS-
ges,ion that Colonel Braxton desired C 10
submit to the Richmond Chamber Oh Ooli-
,nerce. and that q paper emo0uyIne W.
suggestion had been prepares, Wuio' W., -. 40
ioy before the board. Mr.. Harrison then
raonested the secretary TO read this paper,
winch reclted briefly that contracts would
h. shortly awar led for building three new
cruisors Tor the United States navy anu
the propriety and eIpediency OF tne gov
eminent awarding the contract LOT I1n-
structlng one of these cruisers 70 lhe sn'b
49, a, Neunort News :,it is also set forth
the tull advantages OF TINS pIhu' i"' wa"
structing such vessels
SHOULD OFT SHARE.
Altar tho reading Of the paper Colonel
Rnford and Colonel BraXton were lnVlteu
20 address the meeting foi the purpose OF
tbrowinc any additional light upon the
orestion' Colonel Buford. responding
briefly 20 this invitation. said he was al
ylsed that the government was ABOUT 10
award large contracts amounting 10
about $4,000. 900, and that the CIauP
Works. already having large contracts O'
this character. were formlGapIe cVui.
neti;ors tor all Of this work. but that
he understood II was the wise policy OF
tbe government to make some dlstrlbu-
tion where IL was practicable 10 90 SO III
building their vessels Of war; that IN one
case the government had awarded tne
contract to ship-yard on the racine
coast at price Ettie bo9Ve Tu"e 'n r
same work could have been done 10! AZ an
eastern ship-yard, considering 1t eXpedient
~ deyelop the facilities for tins character
Of shin. building on the Pacific coast that
tbe competency OF the Newport news
shin-vard being we'll vouched for and be-
inc understood by the government, II
seemed eminently proper for the secretary
of the Navy. in the exercise OF wise uIs-
cretiop in these matters, to award the con-
tract for one of these cruisers to the New
mort News establishment ; that such a de-
cision of the question would rebound
Greatly TO the benefit Of both the States
Of Virginia and North Carolina. whose
lumber and labor interests would be pro-
noted thereby.
THE CHAMBER ACTS FAvoRABLY.
Colonel Braxton, following Colonel Blu
ford said that personally he had no lDme,
date interest IN contract beng awarded
10 the Newport News ship-yard; but as a
citizen of the State of Virginia ne telt
the greatest interest in the subject; that
during the coming year many foreigners
would visit this country. and especially
Hampton Roads, and that the impression
would be bad with such a plant 10
Gated at Newport News 10 see all OF
the government ships being butt else
where. He further explained that the yard
a. Newport News was the largest IN the
country that IL had every advantage ior
doing work of this character, but that the
Crsmp Works. having had greater eHpe-
rlencs in figuring for such contracts, IL
was desirable that the interest OF hlcD-
lnoud should be enlisted. and he therefore
thought IA letter addressed 10 the honor
able Secretary Of the Navy from the Rich
mond Chamber Of Commerce would be de-
s.rable "a an influence IN behalf OF the
claims of Newport News.
some slight alterations having been
made III the paper submitted by Mr. Har-
uSOD. IL was unanimously adopted as tue
ssis for a letter To- be Immediately ad-
dressed to the Secretary Ot the Navy.
There being 70 further business before
the board the meeting then adjourned.