Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-23
snrp-Bi-ILDrNG HERE.


ness promise here is the ship-buiI1ing
enterprise OF the Trigg company. From
this BEGINNING we may hope that Rich
mond will develop into n ship-bullding
centre OF Importance. The United states
Government understands the advantage
Of having well-equipped yard far enough
from the coast 10 be safe from the incur
sions of any enemy with whom we may
engage I'm war. As for the depth OF water
I'm our river. II is not In question IT all In
the fuhlment Of the present contracts;
but IL would be involved should we UNI
dertake TO build vessels OF much larger
size. We may, however. expect the CO.
operation Of the General Government and
| Richmond city In carrying out the plans
of the United States engineers for 1eep-
! enlng the channel, and thus we may
readily secure depth which would re-
move the only obstacle in our way TO
success. What has been done in improv-
ing the navigation of the Clyde may be
done to improve the navigation of the
James.
As we have said. we do not need deeper
water 10 float torpedo-boats or torpedo
boat-destroyers and by the time we ret
| ready to build larger craft doubtless We
| shall have the requisite depth in our
| rivef.
| Richmond is not without n record as n
! shp-building city. More than fifty years
ago General Joseph r Anderson, Of the
Tredegar Works, built a steam revenue
cutter for the Federal Government This
vessel was named the James X Polk,
and was launched from ways on the north
side of the river, not far from the old
brewery building.
At the outbreak Of the civil war a large
vessel was on the ways of a ship-yard on
the south side of the river, near where
the fertilizer-works now are. 1t vas in
tended, we think, to be one Of fleet to
ply between Richmond and foreign PORTS.
Some Of our older citizens remember
the curious circumstance that when work
was discontinued upon that vessel its
timbers were covered with rock-salt to
preserve them. Later on, when salt be-
came a very scarce and valuable article
here, much of that salt was brought TO
Richmond in drays and ground to the ie-
quisite fneness and sold at a good price
for family use.
In the spring and summer OF 1867 ar
rangements were made here 10 build
number OF ironclad gunboats for service
on the James. The keel first laid was
that OF the Richmond, the cost of which
boat was betrayed, mainly, by public
subscriptions. The women of Virginia
and many Of other States were active In
the work Of raising funds. Hundreds oil
them also gave to the cause their Jewels
family plate. and heirlooms of value.
Fairs and bazars were held, too to OBJ
tain money for this purpose, and in a
remarkably short time the Richmond was
afoat and armed and armored 'or battle
A new Virginia was also built in this
city. Indeed, a squadron of ironc'lds
was constructed and fitted out here.
Nearly all the work was done in Rich
mond. much Of it by the Tredegar Conn
many. These boats did good service as
long &c our forces held Richmond. ana
were blown up with numbering
sound by their crews the morning OIL
the evacuation. The noise of those eX-
blossoms. together with that of the pow
der magazines, was heard distance OF
forty miles from this city.
Some years after the close OF the CIVIL
war home company was organized TO
build steamship to run between here !
and New York. This vessel, tco, was !
named the Richmond. The ship yard |
which was equipped for that purpose was |
located on the north side Of the river |
short distance below the ship-locks.
In due season the Richmond was |
launched and put TO work. but was ac-
quired (perhaps before it was fnisaed) |
by the Old Dominion Steamship Com |
pany. and is still in use by that corpora
ton.
So we see our city is not without eXpe-
rience in ship-building. And it should |
not escape attention that in the past we
were not anything like so well equipped /
for work of this kind as we are now
There are here now several iAaat iron
WORKING eSldDllSHHlcIlS am oOhiS ~ AhO
best of modern machinery, which can be
utilized, If needed, to supplement the
plant which the Trigg company is estab-
fishing on the dock near Seventeenth
street.
The men who have undertaken the new
enterprise, from which we expect so
much, are energetic, capable, and re-
sourceful Their aim is to establish here
permanent plant, and to this end they
are working with might and main. 1t is
needless TO say their public spirit is ep-
preciated, and this, we think, will be de-
practically when The Zine
comes to consider what part Richmond
should take in providing for deepening
the rivers channel.
The NpU York TrihuOe in an article |