The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-12-22
GREAT GUN WORKS
WHICH HAY BE ESTABLISHED AT
NEWPORT NEWS.

WHICH HAY BE ESTABLISHED AT
NEWPORT NEWS.
luttmated That Noted English Firm
May Become Interested In an Enter
prise of This Kind In Connection
With the Great Huntington Ship
yard at Newport News - Would
Mean Much for the South.
NEW YORK., Dec. 8.-Collis p. Hunt
ington confirmed yesterday reports
that the English firm Of Vickers.
Sons & Maxim had been negotiating
for an interest in the Newport News
shipbuilding establishment, in which
he is a heavy owner. He said that
the deal had not as yet been closed.
He denied that there was any inten-
ton Of selling the yard outright Ito
the English interests.
Il have been in negotiation" said
Mr.. Huntington, with the Messrs.
Vickers, Sons & Maxim, who have
thought Of taking a large interest in
the plant and of establishing at New
port News, in connection with the
shipyard, a very extensive plant for
the manufacture of guns. IL these
negotiations should be carried to a
conclusion there would be established
at Newport News new industry,
which would greatly benefit that
city, furnishing work and support to
t thousands of people in addition to
those there now. But the yard would
continue to be an American enter
prise, as do not propose to sell my
holdings outright, but to retain a
large interest. | would like, however,
to lessen my cares and responsible
ties, and let others take up and carry
on the work that have started. Mr..
Crosley, Mr.. Dunn and Mr.. Loewe
came over from England to look
about, and while here examined my
shipyard most thoroughly. I learned
that they expressed themselves as
very much pleased with it, and l do
not see how it could have been other
wise, for not only is Newport News
the best location for great ship
yard interest but the Newport News
yard is one of the best shipbuilding
yards in the whole world.
1.-The proposed gun plant would
not be a seperate organization. 1t
would be conducted as part OF the
general business. 1t would be con-
Quoted as part of the general bust
ness. 1 have wanted to get those
people to take a large interest,
because | was anxious to see
great gun manufacturing establish
ment put up at Newport News;
and my impression is that my Eng
lish friends will find it very greatly
to their interest to complete the ne
gotiations. l think, too, that it will
be a good thing for our government.
The Vickers. Sons & Maxim are
known over the whole world for their
skill and success in making great
ships snd all sizes of guns. Their
experience would be invaluable at
Newport News, and they would find
there advantages which do not be-
lieve can be had anywhere else to the
same extent.
1.-The material necessary to the
manufacture of guns-fuel and iron
are close at hand, as it were, and
probably more plentiful and better in
quality than can be found in any
other country in the world. There is
no better labor than the negro labor
OF old Virginia, particularly the labor
which can be obtained at Newport
News and in that vicinity.
LAS for the shipbuilding part Of
the proposition, I believe we now
have at the head of our various de-
partments as good, as practical and
as successful shipbuilders as there
are in this or any other country. II
this new element should come into
the ownership they will have nothing
to do in the way of increasing the
capacity and facilities of the Newport
News shipyard, as what has been
done and what is now under way, will
provide the yard with the most COM
plete equipment for heavy and rapid
work that could be devised.
1--WE have started our new dock
and the work is progressing finely.
We have already driven. 1 believe.
something like 10000 piles. and are
excavating the ground rapidly. There
is quite hole to be dug, as you can
understand when you consider that
the dock is to be $50 feet long,
with gate of 100 feet and with 80
feet of water over the sill. The gran
lite necessary in the construction of
the new dry dock is now being cut.
We are extending one of the piers
nd To-
and q mill for the manufacture of the
numberless brass appliances which
might be used in ships, particularly
in government vessels. We are also
putting in a number of new ship
ways, with the necessary travelling
cranes over them for the transpOrta-
ton of the heavy metal which must
be carried to all parts of a great mod
ern vessel.
'.Of the gentlemen connected with
Vickers. Sons & Maxim who visited
the yard. Mr.. Crosley is a man OF
large means and great experience in
the building of ships. Mr.. Dunn
probably stands at the very head Of
naval experts. having been Chief
Constructor to the British Admiralty.
l am informed that in the interest Of
his government he has, also person
ally inspected all Of the battleships
which have been built for the British
Navy during the last thirty years.
II their firm should conclude to take
hold of this establishment which l
have carried SO far along at Newport
News, it hardly needs my assurance
that the business of the future which
will be done there in the way of man.
ufacturing ships and guns will be on
the largest and most complete SCALE"