Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-11-11
PROPOSED ORDNANCE Factory.
There Seems to Be Something More
Than Rumor4 AtlOa1

AHete seems to BE Something More
Than Runners Atloat.
There seems to be something more
th'n mere rumor i'll the statement that
there is a vast industrial scheme atloat,
! III which Newport News is Very mate
rally Interested. that scheme being the
building here of an ordnance factory
ana. perhaps. also an armor-plate plant,
TO be run in connection With the ship
yard. 1t is believed to be now positive
~ established that negotiations are
pending between Mr.. G. p Huntington.
owner Of the shipyard, and the three
English gentlemen who We're here With
him. Messrs. MacKay. Crossley and
Dunn. looking to that end.
1t was learned yesterday from
4 trustworthy source that the de-
tails Of the proposed deal are progress
ing to the satisfaction of Mr.. Hunting
ton and the officials of the shipbuilding
company and further that the parties
OF the first and second part are now
considering the terms on which the big
plant shall be established.
Two weeks ago Messrs MacKav
Crossley and Dunn and Mr. circuit were
in Washington for the purpose of learn
ing from the Navy Department what
assurances of assistance could be cx-
pected from the government should an
arn1"r-nlate and ordnance plant be
started in this countrySt to furnish mate
rial at fair profits. Il.
The Interview with the Secretary Of
the Navy. it is learned. was highly sat
lsfactory TO all parties and then Messrs
Alact>aN. Crosslcy and}Dunn decided to
come to Newport News to look the field
oyer and draw their own conclusions as
to its advantageous locality.
They came. the saw and the indca-
tons ere. they We're more than satisfied
with the outlook SO much so that thew
Went back tn New York with Mr.. Hunt
ir!st"n and the next few days will prob
AMY s." III" contamination of a large
industrial deal
II is not positively known whether
the foreigners propose to establish the
new enterprise here rs 4 separate in
dustry from the shipyard. using Mr.
:'nn;inE! ons ground or whether they
VIII invest their capital in the Newport
News Shirbulding and Dry Dock Com
rany. thus acquiring an interest and at
the same time furnish the money for
large extensions to the plant. making
what would be the one of the most COM
pletc sniphulGing, armor-plate and ord
| nance plants in the world.
From Information ga thered it is he
lieved The. latter proposition is the on,.
| now being considered by Mr.. Hunting
ton. II this deal is finally closed. the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Company will probably have {.
capital of about Sl5.000.000. The ship
yard now occupies a half-mle of waite,
| front and the other plants would take
W :, large portion of the additional
half-lnle recently purchased by MI
| huntington above the yard. Then too
| the shnyard is gradually being extend.
| ''tf to The north and if the way the
straws blow indicates anything it is that
| the next few years will see the bushes,
| mile of water front to be found any
where right here on the James River
n oil
| terprising foreigners who viewed the
advantages of Newpo. stss-'fTewsE'tlght- -er.
the spot contemplate the establishment
| here of a watch factory and possibly &
sugar refinery.
| AS far as the sugar refinery goes. it in
not probable that one Will be esta blished
| here in the near future, but the watch
| factory is Il possibility and as there Is
| another movement in the same drec-
ton distinct from the one mentioned
it looks as if Newport News will soon
| boast Of still another industry