Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-15
NEWPORT NEWS THE PLACE.

In our issue OF Sunday we printed n
\ letter from Mr. Andrew Carnegie 10 the
! Iron-Trade Review, I'm which the steel
| baron" called attention to the field
| which is open for a frst-cass ship-build-
ing yard upon the Hudson. East river. or
Lower bay, near New York" The reasons
given by Mr.. Carnegie why this country
should have the supremacy in ship-build-
ing arc sound. but he falls into error in
arguing that the neighborhood of New
York offers the best location for develop
Ing that supremacy. This latter fact is
recognized by no less high authority than
the Marine Journal. which is published in
New York city. The Journal. in noticing
Mr.. Carneges letter, does not hesitate to
say that as for New York, Il is not cor
rect that the ship-buildng and repairing
industry could be carried on there adj
vantageously in competition with New
port News, or Wilmington Del, or Phila-
delphia Pa, where labor Is cheaper and
land is cheaper. and other facilities are
apparent.
This is eminently true, and of the three
advantages over New York in the mat
ter of ship-bulding. Newport News
stands far and away at the head of the
list.
At Newport News Is already located
one of the largest and most thoroughly
equipped ship-building plants in this
country, and the industry is capable of
almost indefinite expansion there. What
Mr.. Carnegie says of New Yorks superior
facilities over any point in Great Britain
or Germany in the matter of shp-build-
ing, applies with equal force 20 Newport
News, and the latter has, in addition, the
advantages over New York of a milder
climate, cheaper labor, and many more
hours during the year in which 1t is pos
sble TO carry on ship-building in all Of
its departments and employ labor profita-
bly,. Rarely, If ever, is the weather so
severe at Newport News as to necessitate |
suspension Of, or even TO retard work in |
any branch of the industry. This, and |
other advantageous conditions for ship |
building that obtain at Newport News, are |
the battleships Kentucky and Kearsarge, |
which will be launched on the oath of this
month. and which could have been
launched two months ago had occasion
required. AS for launching room, there
is no place on the coast of the United
States that has more than Newport News
When a ship leaves the ways at Vir-
ginia's new city near the sea, II practi-
cally glides into a harbor that could
float the navies of the world.
No. Newport News holds out manifold
more inducement and promise than New
York to those who would have the United
States gain the ship-building supremacy
IF the world. Even Mr.. Carnegie, we
think, must, upon a little reflection,
,oncede this contention. In concluding
mis- letter, Mr. Carnegie says: Surely,
some one of the successful lake concerns
will consider the advisability of estab-
ishing a branch yard near New York,
branch which / predict, would very soon
grow to many times the capacity of the
original works. and give much higher
'eturn upon capital besides rendering its
originator famous" Surely, we say that
New York possesses these possibilities
or branch of some successful lake
concern, that concern would
'e wise in passing on by New York and
coating its branch at Newport News.