The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-15
THE NAVY-YARDS.
what the Washington Correspondence
Iins 10 Say About Them,

Washington, ID. c.. Feb. l3.-The cry
Is coming up from various parts Of the
country to the ears of Cungressncn
sen the ihNN-yards or abolish .he
cisnl-hour law. People living in the
vicinity of the Government nayy-rards
ANA the communities which are depen-
dent in a great measure upon their ac-
i've opera ton, look with alarm upon
the gloomy prospect in store for them
as indicated by the Secretary of the
Navy in his recent interview with The
delegation OF business men from Ports
mouth. Norfolk and Berkeley They
asked that al least one of the new bat
ileships proposed 10 he built by this
Congress be constructed at the Ports
mouth Navy-yard. Mr. Herbert very
cooily informed them that the depart
mcnt had found it more economical TO
build battleahips at private Ship-yards
by contract than at the Government
yards. and he could see no necessity
for making an exception in favor of
the yard ut Portsmouth, Va. This an
nouncement, coming from the head of
the Navy Department. was equivalent
to serving notice upon the pcOple living
in the vicinity OF all the Government
navy-yards, and dependent thercupon,
that they had better settle up their
business and remove to localities more
favored by the powers that be.
II is well known that the Government
yards are Thoroughly equipped with
modern machinery, and use the most
approved methods: that they are direct
ed by the best naval architects, and
have the best mechanics for construct
ing new warships. The question then
arises among the people, Why is It that
the cost of construction at the navy
yards is greater than that of work done
at the private ship-yards?
In reply To this, naval officials say that
ii is mainly owing 10 the fewer number
of hours worked daily at the navy-yards
than at the private yards. The Govern
menu gets less work done. the worllmcn
gets less pay, and the cost OF ship-build-
ing is thus; increased. The eight-hour
lnw is said to be the cause Of the differ
encc between the public and private
yards i'll the matter OF cost. In other
words, as a. letter received here said
"lf the cight-hour law causes the Gov
ern1nent To have itsl ships constructed
at private ship-yards. instead of at the
navy-yards, of what practical benefit
10 workingmcn is such q law"
Inquiries such as these are constantly
being received here by congressman
from various parts of the country, and
the demand is being heard. Sell the
Yards II Is being said, or operate them
to advantage--if III no other way, some
way? AS IL Is at present. the only pros
pcct for the navy-yardS is that they will
be used solely for the repair of warships.
and probably no great quantity of this
sort of work will lie done. II is appar-
ent now that our ships will have to be
sent to private yards for docking il
the Government abandons the building
of such vessels, for those in the yards
will 60 to decay and be unfit for use
Why not, then, sell the yards at once.
said Congressman the other day, and
let some private companies take hold
of them and maintain their advantages
TO the communities in which they are
located? No doubt a bill with this OBJ
ject in view will be introduced at an
early day.