Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-16
PRAISE THAT is DESERVED
purchase Of Ships Built Here Pointed Out
HI II Notablo Fact.


During the last few weeks the GOV
eminent has bought a number of YES
sells, says the Manufacturers Record.
Tor the purpose of strengthening the
navy and obtaining ships for carryini,
supplies. ETC. 1t Is a noticeable fact
that nearly all of the larger vessels
thus far purchased have been built at
a southern shipyard-that at Newport
News. Va The steamship Creole, which
mas been decided upon by the United
states engineers as a hospital vessel.
was constructed at this point for the
Cromwell line. plying between New
York and New Orleans. She is a new
vessel and was built for passenger and
freight service between these y uoints.
Her Her length is go feet and her5register
1000 tons. - - ---I -
The vessels will besfltteds out. im,me
TOR repairing equipment of warships.
and. in fact. will be a huge floating
workshop. On account Of the weight
and power of the apparatus to be in
stalled it is necessary to have a very
strongly built hull, and this is one of
the reasons why the Creole was select
ed for the auxiliary fleet, as it is
termed. The government has also
purchased the steamships FL Sol, Ell
Norte, Ell Rio and Ell Sud, all Of the
Morgan steamship line, which have
been running between New York and
sensers. : They: sasernge sahout 1000
tons each, and all hut-S EAs Sol we've.
constructed at the same yards as the
Creole. In fact. they were the first
and. although the government en-
gineers examined crafts in all of the
principal ports Of the country, they
We're selected as best adapted for the
purposes of the navy. 1t cannot be
said any favoritisn has been shown in
tayn C h "a
visiting Boston. New York, Philadel-
phia. Baltimore and other coast cities,
and the selections We're not made until
most of the available vessels We're
examined. ..i y, ,.l.., /,
FL Sol is an iron vessel. registers
1921 tons net, 1882 gross, was built by
VIM. Cramp & Sons at Philadelphia in
1890. measures 800 feet s inches in
length. 46 fee 6 inches in breadth
and "a feet depth of hold The Ell Sud
Is an iron vessel. registers 2gol tons net.
1869 tons gross, measures $50 feet
inches in length. As feet in breadth and
% feeet inches depth of hold. The FL
Norte is an iron vessel. registers 29ol
tons net, 1853 gross. measures $50 feet
inches in length and % feet inches
depth of hold.
& These vessels are to undergo changes
which will convert them into what will
he known as auxiliary cruisers They
will be equipped with rifled guns and
practically altered into warsihps. AS
great strength is required in order to
sustain the shock of firing modern ord
nance on a vessel, 1t is evident that the
naval experts considered these points
especially in the purchase.
While the Newport News plant has
been In operation but few years. 1t
has demonstrated beyond question
what can be done in the way of ship
building in the south, and emphasizes
the necessity OF more plants Of this
kind. either on the South Atlantic or
Gulf coast. That such yards can be
made profitable is beyond question. In
this connection it is interesting to note
that the Newport News Company Will
in all proba blity secure the contract
for two 10000 ton steamships for the
Pacific Mail Company. which 1T is
understood this corporation is about to
ont