Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-26
HUNTINGTON TALKS.
DISPATCH CORRESPONDENT INTER-
VIEWS HIM AT NEWPORT NEWS.
TIE OBJECT OF HIS YSIT.
Ia Down TO Note the Progress of
ThinRs-His Recent Purchase of
Water Front-The New Dry-Docls-
IL VIII he Built.


Pacific Mail Steamship Company, exten.
sive property-holder. railway magnate
ana the only man in the United States
who has ever been able to ride on his
own tracks from the Pacific to tho At
lantic, arrived in this city on a special
train at II o'clock last night. He was ac-
companied by his private secretary, Mr..
S. ~. Miles. and Mr.. Schowein. vice-presi-
dent OF the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany.
When seen by a representative of the
Dispatch this morning Mr.. Huntington
presented a picture of robust health He
was in good spirits, and talked freely to
tho reporter.
II would like to have about fifteen min
utes of your time, Mr.. Huntington, If you
can conveniently grant 1t before break
fast" said the Dispatch man.
''Sit down. sit down." rejoined the mil
| lionaire. "a number Of great men have
asked for fifteen minutes Of my time and
been refused. 1t is more than / usually
give"
do you care to state your purpose in
visiting Newport News at this time, Mra
huntingdon asked.
''Oh. no. I simply came down, as L
usually do, to make an inspection of my
| ship-yard and note was is going on
! generally. 1 have great hopes for the flu
ture Of Newport News, and nothing in
terests me more than to see Il forge
ahead TO the position It deserves"
Then your coming in company with
Nice-President Schowein, of the Pacific
Mail, has no significance with respect to
the building of the new passenger steam
ship for that service?"
"Oh, no, no; none at all. can arrange
TO have a ship built without coming to
Newport News"
1T is true, is it not, that you contem-
plate having the ship which you were
authorized 10 have constructed built at
your own yard?'
"Ah,. well; of course the ship will be
built-some time; but It is too far ahead
for me to speak with any degree of GER
tainty. You can rest assured that l shall
not be lost to the interests of the ship
yard"
'Will you make arrangements while
here to improve your recently-acquired
half-mile of waterfront property above
the ship-yard?'
COULDN'T TELL.
81 can never tell to-day what / shall do
tomorrow. 1t is possible that may do
something while 1 am in the city, but
do not know just what at present. or
course, the ship-yard, which is already
the largest in America, and one of the
largest in the world. must be extended
one day. and in purchasing that half
mile Of water front L simply had an eye
to the future. My yard is already ac-
knowledged TO be the most complete on |
this side of the Atlantic, and some day |
it will compare favorably with any the |
world over"
HAS the yard any private contracts in |
view, in addition TO the Pacific Mail
ship"
"Oh. yes; I have several matters in
view which may result Wen for the ship
yard"
what about the large dry dock that
report has it will be built on your pro-
perty?
ION, the dry dock viii surely be built.
am determined on that point. / shall
not use any of the additional property
above the ship-yard for that purpose, but
will construct it at one corner of the
yard This will be the largest dry dock
in American waters, and will be capable
Of receiving the largest ship afioat"
when will work be commenced on the
new dock?"
'As to that cannot say at present"
at is reported about the city. Mr..
that you intend giving your
valuable piece of school property near
the ship-yard to the city to be used as
a site for a new school building. The
State Legislature has authorized the
Council TO issue bonds to the amount OF
$4,000 for public Improvements, as you
probably know"
you don't say"
as there any truth in the report about ,
your property"
mot the slightest This is the first
time / heard Of it,"
1.-THE School Board appointed commit {
tee TO communicate with you i'm the mat !
ter" ]
WOULDN'T CONSIDER 1T. {
81 don't know anything about IT. IF 1
lid would not consider it for a minute.
That school is for the children Of the c
employees of my yard and do not pro- j
bose to abolish it, You can say for me I
hat the city will not build a rev school 9
IN the site now occupied by the Hunting |
on School" ]
While the above interview was in pro- I
;ress. the train was slowly nearing the 7
ihip-yard Mr.. Huntington frequently re- q
marking on the evidences of activity in v
|
ure at seeing the city property improved C
In the course of his remarks. Mr. Hunt \
ngton spoke Of the reported deal with 4
about the sale Of the ship-yard 4
md stated that the plant was not under y
ption TO any one. Armstrong had a y
nance to secure a controlling interest.
'ut as far as Mr.. Huntington is aware
It present. the shp-yard viii not change
lands. He will devote more of his time
o its growth, and predicts plenty Of c
york for the future. I
ANY more news?" queried the re- !
orter, as the train was being switched =
rom the Chesapeake and Ohio tracks TO !,
hose leading to the ship-yard
NO. can't say that there is. If 1 hear !
# anything or decide on any course my 4
elf, come to see me, and / will gladly o
ell you what / know. 1t wouldn't do for v
ne, you know, to tell you anything before e
knew it myself" n
Mr.. G. b. circuit, president of the New
ort News Ship Building and Dry-Dock =
company and also OF the Old Dominion =
and Company arrived here at 8 O'Clock Il
his morning from New York, and pro- Q
eeded to the Warwick. Shortly after II
e was driven to the ship-yard, where he 81
)ined Mr.. Huntington. n
The day was spent by the visitors in an Il
lspection of the yard. \
Mr.. Huntington will remain two or three | n
avs, and before he leaves Ii is probable III
nat he will have some important news &
} communicate. y
FLUvANyA. ~
he Fence-Law Question-Confede-