Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-07-16
ARMOR PLATE PLANT
Mr.. C. P. Huntington Says Ii
Will be Established.
WORK ON MORGAN LINERS
1t Has Been Commenced md Three Vessels
viii be Built. Construction Of the
Mamnouth Dry Dock
Begins.

MT Coils T. Huntington spent yes
terday at the shipyard inspecting the
plant of which he is the principal own
er His private cars We're switched
from the side track at the Chesapeake.
ONO depot to the shipyard early yes
terday morning before the multi-mil-
lionaire had finished his toilet for the
day.
In MIR. Huntingtons party are MIR.
=. Is. CIRCUIT. of New York president Of
the Newport News Shipbuilding and
Dry Dock Company; MIR. a. &. Hutch
1nson, OF New Orleans, one of the prin-
cipal owners Of the Morgan Line. and
MI. :. y. Miles, Mr.. Huntillgton's pri-
Vate secretary.
When asked IL there was any special
significance attached tn his mid-sum-
nler visit to Newport News. Mr. Hunt
1nston answered in the negative, add
ding that he simply came down, to look
around. Mr.. Huntington appeared to
be in good health and handled himself
with the agility of a man much young
err in years He was simply dressed
Regarding the much talked-of deal
With Sir William Arms 1rong. the ia
nous gun manufacturer of London for
the establishment in this city of an ar
NOR plate and ordnance factory MIR
Huntington said that while there had
been some neGotia tons between mse:f
and the distinguished Englishman it
had since been abandoned. Sir William
Armstrong valued his genius al 4 prs t
ty high figure. which he proposed u
put against Mr.. Huntington's wealth
and that was why the deal fell through.
However. Mr.. Huntington said he had
not abandoned the project. Other Esq
lish and American capitalists had be-
come interested in the proposed indus
time. he thought. when the work OF
building the plant would be com
menced.
Il am not so particular as to the gun
plant said he. but my present idea
is the armor plant We hope soon TO
have on this large water front above
the yard one of the largest industries
in the country. Only the Bethlehem
and Carnegie Steel Companies are now
making armor plate"
Work has actually been commenced
on the large dry dock, which Mr.. Hunt
inEton proposes to build al a cost of L.
100000, and it will be pushed TO compile
ton. AS has been stated in the Daily
Press, the site selected for the immense
basin tina t will hold two first-class bat
{ tleships at one time is located near the
dock now in use. The construction of
f the new dock means a great deal to
Newport News Besides what will be
earned by the laborers in building the
basin, employment will be given to
more men. as all Of the battlcships will
be sent here to have their bottoms
scraped and be repaired. The plans
for the dock We're approved by Mr.
Huntington some time ago. when they
We're submitted by the designer, Gen
eral Manager Walter A. Post. The ma
terial has been ordered and is expected
to arrive the latter part of this month.
Questioned about the building of TWO
steamers for the Pacific Mail Steamship
Line, to ply between San Francisco and
I1n1n Mr. Huntington rar,1i-I "a be
had assurances that the contract would
pr: let to his company, but he did not
know when the order for the vessels
would be given.
There was a rumor aiioat Yesterday
that a deal was pending for the sale of
the yard but it Was not confirmed by
Mr.. Huntington, 1t Mas said that Mr.
Huntington stated that the works rep-
resented $S.Oo0,Qo0 and that he would
be willing To dispose of the plant for
$40, 200, 900
Work has been commenced on three
steamers for the Morgan Line. This
information came from official sources
yesterday. President c. E. circuit
stated that the contract had been sign
ed with the Morgan people and The
price for the three steamers was in the
neighborhood Of $2.5O0.0Ou. These steam
ers are for the coastwise traffic. replace
ing the auxiliary cruisers Yosemite
Dixie and Yankee, Which We're -ormer-
ly merchantmen,
The steamers will he OF about 5000
tons each. 400 feet long. so feet beaz1
ana will have depth Of 35 feet. They
will have three decks, constructed with
watertight bulkheads. steel hulls and
: equipped with triple-expans.on engines.
giving them near4y 1900 Indicated
horsepower. The engine cylinders
will be thirty-two, ffty-two and eigh-
ty-four inches in size. with a working
steam pressure of 165 pounds. The pro-
pellers will be a singh. screw. eighteen
feet In diameter. Steam steering gear
Will be provided, also nre eNtingushing
apparatus and auxiliary engines for
handling cargo The ships w,l be
heated by steam and lighted by cleo
tricity. Each steamer viii be provided
with two steel masts. The average
speed will be seventeen knets per hour
when loaded.
As yet the contract for building Two
ships for the Cromwell Line has not
been closed, but 1t is thought thnt it
( Will be let in the course of a few weeks.
Mr.. Huntington was pleased with the
general appearance of the yard :z.d
complimented the management and the
employees i'll general.
Mr. Huntington will. remain in the,
city over today.
Funeral of Mrs. j. w. Ressic.
as The funeral of Mrs T w NTorsic