Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-02
THE NINTH DISTRICT.
No CONDITIONS THERE TO SUPPORT
WALKERS CONTEST.
DEEPENING OF JAMES RIVER
This, In Connection With the Ne"
ship-Yard Here, IL Attr"c'"s
widespread and Favorable Az
tcntion-wnshingt Personals.

WASHINGTON, d. c., December L.
(special)-N[r. w. II. Aston. Of Washing
ton county, Va, who, with his accom-
plished wife, has been n guest at the Ho-
tel Raleigh for several days, left tor his
home last night. Mr. Aston is quite IA
miliar with the politics Of Washington
county. where he has rendered signal SER
vice in reuniting discordant elements OF
the Democratic party, and is deservediy
quite popular in the Ninth District. Mr..
Aston says General Walkers defeat IS
attributable to the logic of events; that
the district is primarily Democratic, and
has only gone wrong Of late from care
lessness; that the people have, however
determined to have relief, and believing
that the contraction of the currency cou-
pied with high taxation, can never pro-
duce prosperity, have determined to re-
turn TO Democratic principles, and conse-
quently voted for Rhea against Walker.
Upon being asked IL the election was a
fair one, he said that whilst there were,
doubtless, irregularities here and there
over the district, such as might be ex-
pected from ignorance and lack or Ia
miliarity with the requirements OF the
law; yet i'm the main the election was
fair and honest, and the mistakes we're
as many on the one side as on the other
Mr.. Aston said he could speak with con-
fidence Of Washington county, where he
knew the only purpose OF the Democrats
was to hold a fair election and have the
ballots properly counted. and II there
was any fraud in that county, in his judy
ment, it was for the benefit Of General
Walker.
DEEPENING OF THE JAMES
In conversation with Hon. Connally r.
Trigg to-day, he said he had just return
ed from the Navy Department. and that
he had been very much gratifed to find
there such a general approval Of the ew
ship-yard at Richmond. Mr.. Trigg be-
lleves that if the proper effort is put forth
by the city of Richmond an appropriation
can be secured, which would ultimately
result in deepening the James river TO
twenty-five feet. or more, If necessary. Up
10 the city of Richmond. This. in connec-
don with a ship-yard there, he believes,
would be a matter in which the whole Of
the West and South could be easily in
terested. He was gratifed, he said, 10
hear the matter so fayorably talked Of by
parties outside of the State.
WAR VESSELS TO BE BUILT IN VIR-
GINA.
Commodore Hichborn, chief of the
Bureau OF Construction and Repair. I'm
his annual report gives the following
among the contracts awarded for the con-
struction of battleships, monitors. tor
pedo-boats. and destroyers:
Contract
Price.
Battleship Missouri, Newport
News Ship-Building Company. s.. ss5 900
Monitor Arkansas. Newport News
ship-Building company 800. $4,000
Destroyer Dale. William r.
Trigg Company .................. 2so 600
Trigg Company .................. 10000
Torpedo-boat Shubrlck. William
r. Trigg Company ............... 1890
Torpedo-boat Stockton. William
r.. Trigg Company ............... l2s75O
Torpedo-boat Thornton, William
r. Trigg Company .............. l2s75o
NEED OF NEW NAVAL DOCKS.
Speaking OF the necessity for Fastening
the construction OF docks appropriated for
during the last session Of Congress, Com
modore Hichborn says: THE naval con-
structor at Norfolk reports that the tim
ha- Of i.of hal hCen In "a