Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-12
NEWPORT NEWS SAFE
The Force Ample to Repel Attack
From the Sea.
IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES PROTECTED
The Ship Building Interests and
Norfolk Navy Yard.
NOTED SEAPORT CIT y
IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES PROTECTED
NOTED SEAPORT CITY
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

The statement was made in a dispatch
from this city Monday to The Star that
there were reasons for believing that the
SPaniards might attempt the capture of the
ship yards in Newport News and the navy
yard at Norfolk. Va.
1t IL probable that they have been advised
by some of their spies of the fact that the
possession by them OF the two cities named
could be made to result in the infiiction of
damage amounting to many millions of dol
lars in property owned by Americans, be-
sides which the business of a large section
of the country at large would be almost
completely paraIyzed. Whatever may be
the wish of the Spaniards in this regard, no
one here has any expectation that any hos
tile feet will make demonstration in this
vicinity. There is unlimited confidence in
the ability of Gen Frank. commandment of
the forts in this vicinity, and OF Commo-
dore Schley, with his flying squadron, to
repel the enemy. no matter if he brings
many ships composed the notorious
Spanish armada of former years.
Newport News is really d wonderful city.
Almost unknown ten years ago, it has be
come in about decade the greatest export
point on the Atlantic coast, with the one
exception of Baltimore 1t was the crea-
ton of Mr. c. Z. Huntington president of
the Southern Pacific Railway Company,
and Mr.. Huntington and the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railway Company have built up
enterprises here which have attracted Il
population of nearly 1S,o@o Industrious peO-
pie. nearly 1000 of whom have settled with
in its bounds during the last year.
When, during the duh times of 1893 Mr..
Huntington contracted to build two ships
for the United States government at a
much less figure than it was believed they
would cost. the great capitalist was said to
be beside himself. and il predicted that
he would rue his contract. but such was
not the case. and his workmen produced
such excellent craft that bonus of $4,000
earned for their builder.
1t is a fact not generally known that all
of the great steamers of the Morgan and
other lines which have been or Will be con-
vertei into auxiliary cruisers at the New
port News ship yards were built here.
Contract for Tug Beats.
The first cort-ac; signed by the Newport
News Snip Building Company. after its
Organization about eight years ago. was
for the building OF two tug boats. the Dor
othy. for the New York and Northern Rail-
way Company. and the FL Zorro. for the
Pacific Improvement Company. They were
sister ships, each being ninety feet long.
nineteen feet wide and ten feet deep. and
propelled by tandem compound engines.
They We're launched in January. 1s91 and
went into service the following April.
Fl Sud (the South the next ship
built Sh, was designed for the coastwisc
trade between New York and New Orleans.
She is over 4G1 feet long and her dispiace-
E1eut is 100 tons. on her trial trip she
made fifteen knots. Her tonnage is 4.G-J9
tons ana she has four maStS Following
these were the Fl Norte, duplicate of the
e Sud the FL Rio. duplicate of the
others except that she had but two masts.
the Fl Cid. which later was sold to the
BRAZILIAN government and became the
NicthtToy. now the properly of the United
States government and TO be renamed the
Buffalo; three gunbOats for the govern
ment. the Nashville. Wilmington and
Helena: the Newport News. which plies
between Washington. Old Point Comfort
and Norfolk; the Plant liner La Grande
Duchesse: the creole Of the Cromwell line;
the steamers Sommers y. Smith, Margaret
and mary tugs of various sizes and for
owners in different portions Of the coun-
try.
The fact that the company Is building the
mighty fighting machines. the kearsarge,
Kentucky and Illinois. is so well known
a. TO render repetition unnecessary.
The yard covers an area of 2,D acres
and Is probably the largest ship-building
plant in the world. certainly in America
Several months ago Mr. G. =. Huntington
purchased tract of land adjoining the
yard. making the frontage on James river
2n even mile. Tie mammoth dry dock,
the modern brick structures and the i'm
proved machinery rcpTeS mt an investment
Of more than S>.t1p.cOD. Nowhere can be
found d plant with superior facilities for
building and repairing ships.
The Railway system.
Newport News has but one railway sys-
tern-the Chesapeake and Ohio-but this
line stretches its iron way far into the
nth. south. west and northwest, connect
ing with other railways that thread the
country The city is connected with Hamp-
ton and Old Point by the Chesapeake and
Ohio which gives hourly service, and there
IS also electric railway between the
same points. y second electric railway
C. mpany has been organized, with Mr. Nj
Z ingalls,. president Of the Chesapeake ana
Ohio Railway Company, as its largest
stakeholder.
Situated as Newport News is on Hamp-
ton Roaus. the magnificent gateway to
Richmond. Washington and Baltimore, the
city has a natural harbor, which Is tamil
lar TO all sea-faring men, and any ship, no
matter how large. can steam INTO port ana
drop anchor along the wnarves. owing To
the inGeutation OF the Atlantic coast line
ut this point. Newport News Is nearer 10
the open sea on the one hand and to the
interior ctnters OF population and produc-
tiCu on tn other than any OF the Atlantic
ports. The harbor is natural refuge IN
all conditions Of wind and weather for in
coming vessels seeking safety.
Ten years ago Newport News was q
hamlet. Today il Is "A seaport city of the
most fiourishing kind. Here grain. cattle.
flour and miscc IaneOus provisions are load
Ell on steamers for Europe. AS the port
grew and business increased, steamship
lis began To touch at Newport News UNI
80 day the vessels Of sixteen different
Li7rs lie up at It's wnarves. ana discharge
and load cargoeS. Every facility is offered
docks are large and spacious. and equipped
with modern appliances. Within a few fee.
az the water5s edge is the mammoth grain
elevator. with capacity Of I.IJO.sO bush
els. Grain ccnvcycrs stretch out to the
docks and cereals are poured directly into
the hcIls OF the ocean freishters.
steamship Lines
Following IS a list Of the steamship lines
and vessels that sail regularly from New
port News for foreign ports:
Union Line for Hanburg-Stcamers Al
bano. S1lernc. Pisa and Catania.
Lord Line for Belfast and Dublin-S;eam-
ers Bengore Head ard Lord Londonderry
Phoenix Line FOR Antwerp-Steamers St
MarEoCk and st. Enoch.
Friende NIrginla-Baltic Line for Copen-
hagen and "Reminiscences Xenia and
Arkansas.
Donaldson Line for GIasgow-Steamers
indrani and IndTalema.
Orange Line for Rotterdam and Ar1ster-
tam-SteaTner AldbCrouEh.
Chesapeake and Ohio Steamship Line foi