Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-08
NEWPORT NEWS MAD
And She ass Brsry Reason to
r,roueeus Statements Regardins IL
ana other Industr1cs-The Tess'-
-.,x ~ Men who Know whereof
They sbeak-BattIeship Dids.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA. December l.
Tho people of Newport News aro
very proud of the great ship-puuo'ns
n,ant which Is the principal INDUS
trv in the city, and for that reason
great deal Of Indignation has been aroused
here bv an article that appeared In
philadelphia paper (the Press) the o'ne'
dav in reference to the bidding on the
two battleships authorized by the ias'
conorass. This article contoins two al
Legged interviews-one ascriped 10
weIl-known authority on snip-pui'oihs
matters. not only on this side OF the Az
,.rt,c but the other side of the water;
and the other to another weli-known su-
thority on naval matters, and one tno-
roughly familiar with the principal ship
building plants Of the United States
The first "wel-known authority" takes
occasion at the outset to refer to para
oranh which he has read. to the effect
that the plant OF the Newport News Ship
Ruilding and Dry-Dock Company Is SUI
nerior TO any in the country. which
statement. he declares. Is absurd and dis
tinctly untrue THE Cramps are very
much displeased with it," he continues.
The two "wsll-known authorities are
quoted as saying, among other tninss'
that the Newport News ship-yard en-
ploys between 800 and loo men; tna'
the yard Is nearly a year behind on tne
glnboats Nashville. Wilmington. and He
lena: that the ship-yard Is tho only IN
dustry in Newport News; that this CITY
is new and crude. and the school iacii-
ties here for the children or workins
men are very defective, as compared WIN
those I'm the other centres where SHIPS
are built In this country; that Newport
News il midway between Norfolk and
Richmond, and about two hours from
either of these cities; that skilled aru-
Sans will not work here with the ne
eroes. who are employed In the yard;
and other things equally ridiculous.
ABSOLUTELY ERRONEOUS.
These statements are absolutely errone-
ous. During the past year the average
number of men employed in the yard has
been go: the number at work there at
present is 200. The yard Is not DAY
behind in the construction OF the gun
boats on itg own account. While tins
ship-yard is the principal industry here.
there are many others OF Importance, III
Guiding the Chesapeake and ONO
terminals, an immense grain elevator, an
extensive brass and iron-foundry, Knit
ting-mill; plant for the manu-
facture of ice-making machinery; a
fertilizer mandatory; largo lumber
mills, and n number OF others. Among
the educational institutions OF the city
are the Newport News Military Acade-
my, the Newport News Female SEMI
nary, a fine system OF public schools. ana
the Huntington Free School. The last
narned is maintained by Collis p. Hunt
ington. for the benefit OF children of
ship-yard employees. and no others are
admitted. No expense Is spared to keep
this school up to the highest standard.
and tuition is free to the children oil
every white man employed in the ship
ward. Instead OF being located midway
between Norfolk and Richmond, New
port News is situated at the meeting OF
the James river and Hampton Roads,
fourteen miles from Norfolk. Compare
| lively few negroes are employed In
| the ship-yard-only a sufficient number "a
| do the work Of common laborers-tha'
| is. such work as white men do not care to
| perform.
| CONSTRUCTOR WOODWARD INTER.
VIEWED.
This morning a Dispatch reporter met
Nayal-Constructor ]. J. Woodward, United
States navy, who Is in charge Of the
construction OF the three gunboats nov
nearing completion, and the following in
| terview took place:
"Mr. Woodward. you have pretty
general knowledge of the ship-building-
plants of the world. VIII you tell me
how the facilities for doing all kinds OF
heavy ship-work at Newport News COM
pare with other ship-yardsY'
"As far as my own observation EXTENDS
there is no ship-yard in this country OF
| abroad In which there are better ap-
planes for handling material In the
construction of bulls or engines OF the
| largest classes of ships. / have seen
large yards, but none in which the plant
was better, or, indeed, as well, arranged
for carrying on steel ship-buiding.
Then, you think there is no doubt az
| % tho ability of the Newport News Com