Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-09
May Be Amended So as to In.
Guide the Whole Lot. ID
1T MEANS A BIe syrrrrARD.
A Great Enterprise in which eevss
raj Hundred Men VIII Ie Given
EmpIoyment-yot n Matter of spcc-
uIation--Bids for Battieshtps. ,SSs

Mr.. William r. Trigg aud assooiatcA
Including MIR. James n. Boyd and oshey
Richmond mon OF ample means ana ~
fiuence In the business world. will be
awarded the contract for the construc-
tio>N OF two torpedo-boat -destroyers and
| three torpedo-boats for the United States
Government.
This was determined upon by the Boasd
OF Naval Bureau chiefs I'm Washington
yesterday, and the execution OF the con-
tract is now mere matter OF detail
This contract will call for an expendi-
ture OF about 81 100000, and means the
immediate establishment In Richmond OF
an extensive ship-building plant which
will give employment to several hundred
men.
II Is thought possible that the Secre-
tary OF the Navy may. either now or IN
the near future, amend the award by
giving Mr.. Trigg his full bid of FIVE de-
stroyers and four torpedo-bQats
THE NEWS Is CONFIRMED.
The Dispatch received private advices
from Washington last night OF the award
having been decided upon, and this was
confirmed later by the receipt OF an AS
socIated Press dispatch. which says:
"The Board of Naval Bureau Chiefs.
which has been carefully examining the
large number of bids and plans submitted
by ship-bullders for the construction OF
torpedo-boats and orpedo-boat-destroy-
ers, has almost completed that work, and
within a day or two il is expected TO
report to Acting Secretary Allen a plan
Of distribution OF the awards.
According TO the decision OF the board,
w. r.. Trigg & Co., OF Richmond, Va,
will get one or two destroyers and three
or four torpedo-boats."
RETURN or MR.. ROYAL.
Mr.. William l.. Royal, counsel for Mr..
William II. Trigg. Mr.. james n. Boyd.
and the other gentlemen who will estab-
lish the large ship-yard in Richmond,
returned from Washington yesterday. He
went there TO meet the Hon. Con-
nally +. 1rigg, and together with him
try and Offset the opposition that has
been raised by competitors 20 the Rich
mond bids on torpedo-boats and tornado
boat-destroyers.
Mr. Royal is deeply impressed with the
interest and earnestness OF all the gov
ernment officials. and says he is entirely
restful, and has no doubt that they Will
do the right thing, and all expressed
great pleasure at the thought OF this
ship-buildlng being undertaken at Rich
mond, the strategic importance OF which
q h. Il
be considered by them was the time they
will get their boats. and this may lead
them to reduce the number OF boats 10 be
awarded 10 Richmond. as mas been indi-
Gated. which they hesitate the less 10
DO, as the price they pay increases as the
number dfmnishes, and thus injustice Ia
avoided, and there Is a certainty Of more
work ahead for all.
TO BUILD; NOT SPECULATE.
Mr.. Royal said he found that an effort
vas being made 10 discredt Mr. Tnggs
bid by the suggestion that he was a spec
Ilator and not a ship-bulder and that
he was going 10 sell this contract, II ne
got it. for $4,000. Mr.. Royal said he
denounced this as a falsehOod. saying
hat Mr.. Trigg had a number of the
sealthcst and most progressive citizens
+ Richmond taking part in the enter
rise with him. who are not only after
he profit in tho thing. but intending 10
uild up a great ship-building plant In
richmond. and that they would not,
hercfore. entertain any proposition ID
NY them out.
Mr.. Connally F. Trlgg is still n Wash.
lgton watching the case.
The Bid for Battieships.
The press dispatch from which tht
quoted above is taken con,
nues:
The board OF award IL now about q
urn its attention entirely 10 a close con.
Iteration OF the bids recently received
)r the construction OF three battleships
0 far the details OF these vessels have
My been examined In a cursory manner,
ut this superficial examination has made
appear that the problem OF selecting
he best designs is going 10 be much moro
fficult than was at first supposed. Tho
Ireau chiefs appear 10 have widely dlf-
rent opinions as 10 the respective merits
the designs. and IL is within the bounds
T possibility that the department viii
scide not 20 make the awards In accord
nee with the lowest bid. In such case.
ie Newport News bid. the lowest. would
thrown out and two of the three ships
ouid 20 10 Cramp the third going 10 the
MON Iron Works. one element in tho
,ard fayors a rejection OF all OF the bids
I'd the preparation OF new plans. but az
e adoption OF this course would proba-
n delay the letting OF contracts until
e assembling OF Congress, and thus i'm
.rll the effort OF the department 10 se-
ire further appropriations for shlpx at
e approaching session, IL is not likely