The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-08
NEWPORT NEWS SHIpYARD.
THEY WERE ALL FAIRLY UHDERDID.
Yet They Try to Throw Discredit on tho
virginia Plant, and the Enterprise and
Educational Advantages ofthe
Ifustling Little City.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA, Dec. 7.-Spe-
ciai.-It has been known for some time
that tho Newport News Ship-Building and
Dry-Dock Company and Cramp 4 Sons.
OF Philadelphia. were rivals IN their line
put not until the ship-yard on the Della
ware was 80 completely left behind I'm the
pios Tor the two new battlcships for our
Cover nmcnt, which were opened last
saturday. was IL known that our north
en- friends regarded US with so much i'll
The statements made In some OF the
papers OF the city Of Brotherly Love
SHOWS coucluSively that the ship-yard
mere ~ looked upon by the people oil phil
sdciphia as their direct enemies After
having fairly beaten them--that Is. unbd
them-thoy give vent 10 the iii-feeing that
theN nave pcen nursing ever since the
Ne"Iort News yard made its first bid
Tor Government work.
The article which has attracted the
most attention among tho people not
only Of Virginia, but Of the South. ap-
peared only few days ago So which
charges were made against Newport
News not only as a ship-building centre.
but against her educational advantages.
the town as manufacturing and ship
ping point. in which there was not a
single truthful statement made.
We OF the South DO not Ike 10 say hard
things or bring charges OF untruthful-
ness against our northern brothers. even
when there X not shadow OF doubt as
ments. and when we have ample proof
that we have been misropresntcd but I'm
TINS case u is our duty TO set ourselves
right before the world.
THE SOUTHERN CONCERN.
IN this ca-c the Philadelphia yard was
not only underbidden by that Southern
concern" as We have been termed but
by the Union Iron Works. Of San Fran
cisco. withsianding this nothing was
said OF tnat company, but all of their III
temper was showered upon Newport
rnc charge that the yard here was
long way behind with it's present con-
tract IS false The yard IS up with fits
work but the completion of the vessels
has been delayed by the Government
The statement that the reports that had
been published I'm reference 20 the maani-
tude of the yard and its ouuipnl0nts were
made by parties interested lu The plant
and were untrue W. equally false. n has
been during the present week that gentle
men who are ia no way connected with
the yard. or those who are. have said
that the published reports ware true. and
that the ship-yard here was equal 10 any
Of those IN this or the old country
IL Is claimed that the yard here can
. not construct al the same time the two
now going TO build. Naval Constructor J.
J. Woodward says that the Newport
News yard can With ease not only build
the battleships and complete them within
other work at the same time.
JEALOUSY THE CAUSE.
1t has never been claimed that our
manufacturing enterprises are more eX-
tonsivc or more equal 10 those OF cities
which were I'm existence many years be
fore Newport News was ever thought of.
but tho claim that they viii compare IA
VOrshly with any Of them when age is
taken in consideration be- made.
The educational advantages are as
population where better advantages along
tns line are offered. either public or
private.
no sum the whole thing MP and put
10 in "a uut-sheu. jealousy iG al the bot
tom Of 10 an. The rest of the skilled me
chanics of the northern ship-huildinr
companies have been drawn here by O 0
many superior advantages offered them
In every way. They are behind the times.
u S. trme that the yard here ~ I'm 80
youth. but with an OF the latest labor
saving devices known TO the world II
can compete with any of them. as has
Tricks or THE TRADE.
There are many tricks n an trades.
and when success cannot bee obtained
through fair means these are brought
into play The bids on plans not asked
for Will come under this head. The claim
that the Cramp yard was really the low
est bidder is proven 90 be untrue by
few figures. The three hatucships wiich
that company offered 10 build the Coy
eminent for SG5COnpn. according TO the
new plans submitted by them. would
amount 90 S2l6 for each ton OF dis9iace-
ment The Newport News yards offers to
build two vessels. according 20 the COY.
arnmont's plans. for Sf.5DOu, or SHY
Tor each ton of displacement Thus -
will be seen that the southern concern
will DO the work for S2t per ton less
than the other
Because one yard has been doing com
uaratively an the Government work IN
fhe past. with little or no competition. Us
no reason why IL should continue 20 have
for itself q monopoly The yard on lhe
Delaware Is carried on with foreign car
tai. that on the James with American
money The Democratic idea ~ TO los
ter home industries when 10 is not at the
nUblic expcnse. In this case the award
iug of the contracts for The building OF
me new. battleships TO the Newport News
ward will not only be carrying the IDEA
~ patr0nizing our own Institutions INTO
effect. but AFT the same tins "a saving to
Tho frrrlp