The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-01
WILL BUILD THE
SHIPYARD. HERE.
Even If the Torpedo Boat COntracI
Does Not Come to Richmond,
ALL THE FACILITIES ARE HERE.
Government Expert Visits Richmond
and States That Both the Torpedo
Boats and Dcstroycrs Can BE
Built in Richmond.

1t IS now a certainty that ship-yard
will be established in Richmond. ard it
IS thought that il will not be long before
work will be commenced to that end.
At first st was understood that the en-
terprlse would be pushed ahead upon inc
condition that the contract for the tor
pedo-boats and torpcdo-boat destroyers
was given 10 Mr.. william r. Trigg, presi-
dent Of the Richmond Locomotive and
Machine Works. Mr.. Trigg's bid was the
lowest submitted. and af,er the splendid
work done by the Richmond company
on the battleship Texas, there was left
no doubt that the work on the new
boats would be satisfactorily done. 10
was reasonable. too. 10 suppose that tne
contract would be- given TO the lowest
bidder. and hence % was believed from
the start that the boats would Doe buht
in Richmond.
WILL BUILD TT ANYHOW.
with these supnositions in Wow, #
was stated upon good authority that The
ship-yard would be established. There
seems 90 hc little doubt that the contract
Will come this way. But even if the
Board OF Award should SEQ On 20 place
the contract elsewhere. the ship-fard
will Doe built anyhow Plans ~ that end
have been developing steadily for some
DAYS. and there is every reason 20 exc
poet that Richmond will soon have an-
other great industry 70 bring money
here and give mechanics steady work
10 establish ship-yard there must
be q sufficiently deep water 'front.' ample
space and adequate machine shops, all
quisitcs are found here.
NAVAL EXPERTS VIEWS.
Well-known naval experts have been
here and made careful examination of
the place and conditions existing. They
were favorablv impressed with every
thing and did not hesitate 20 say That
everything needed was here 90 establish
successful ship-yard. II was stated
that not only the torpedo-hoats. bur also
the t0rpedO-boat destroycrs could easily
be built here. II was also stated that the
depth Of the river could readily be in
creased with the Government apprOpria-
ton TO enable ship-builders 10 construct
larger craft. such as battleships and
after building the ships themselves could
easily send them down 10 the Norfolk
Navy Yard 20 have the armament put
ON.
TO INCREASE THE NAVY.
II SIS understood by a gentleman who
is I'm q position 10 know that &c viii De
the policy Of the Government for several
years 10 come 70 build a great many
torpedo-bOats. torpedo-boat dcstr0ycrs
fast cruisers and battleships. IL is un-
derstood that there is a. disposition
among the naval authorities 90 increase
tho numerical strength and capacity Of
the navy. Tho recent brilliant achieve
ments in the war with Spain has inspired
n pride and confidence I'm the American
Navy and marines never before felt. and
fthe desire TO see am even stronger and
better equipped naval force for this Gov
eminent has been etcadi'v Increasing.
TO VISIT WASHINGTON
Tho interest felt here i'm the proposed
ship-yard is growing daily. Tn few
days q committee of influential citizens
viii 80 TO Washington TO confer with
the Board Of Awards on the subject ri
the contract for the torpedo-boats and
torpodo-boat destroyers. and will ask
that any technical questions that may
be- brought mp I'm reference 10 the matter
be set aside and the contract awarded
TO the Richmond bidder