Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-01-26
ASKS FOR A SITE
Mr.. Huntington Requested
to Donate Twelve Lots
FOR A SCHOOL BUILDING
Special Committee Waits on tho millionaire,
f;ut fie Does Not Give n Definite
Answer. The Dry Dock
Will be Built,

Mr.. Coils p. Huntington, who ar
rived in the city Monday night on a
special train from New York. spent
yesterday at the .shipyard inspecting
his plant. His private cars-.:Oneai1
ne. 4 and "Oneato No. 2''-were shifted
to the Shipyard from the Thesapeake
y ONTO station carly in the morning
MI Huntington did not stop at Hotel
Warwick as is his custom, but remained
on his magnificent palace car with Ibis
guest, MI. Schowein, vice president of
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
Although the rain poured in torrents
yesterday Mr.. Huntington donned his
macintosh and goloshes and visited
the different departments of the yard,
and 1T is understood that he was pleas
ed with the progress made on the bat
tleships .kearsarge, Ken lucky and Hi
NOS, which are now under course of
construction Everything about the
plant was IL. order-it always is
When he was not in the yard Mr.
Huntington WAS in his palace car re-
ceiving visitors. Last night ne was
visited by Il special committee from the
Board of Trustees of the city public
schools regarding "a site for the loca ton
OF the central school building. which
VIII be erected as soon as the bonds are
fioate,,. This committee was composed
OF Mr.. J. ]. ODomnell president of the
Common Council Professor II. H Epcs
Dr. w. f. Cooper and iDr. Carter Per
FsnS. They spent an hour in Mr. Hun
tin2ton'S car, but the founder of New
port News did. not give them a definite
answer The committee asked Mr..
Huntington to donate a block of twelve
lots as a site for the new building
No particular location was specified.
though the committee intimated that a
site near Mr.. Hunt.ngton's private
school was preferred. The millionaire
listened attcntivaiy to the committee
and stated that he would take the mat
ter under considera ten. but did not in
firEate when he would give an answer.
However 1t is thought he will deter
mine 1.-The matter before he leaves for
New York.
Just why Mr.. Huntington has made
a special visit to this city at this time
ds not known, but there is, reason TO
believe that it means something for
Newport News. Mr.. Huntington is a
sbusy man and he has no time 10 idle
away, SO when he makes a "trip it is
tor some purpose Questioned yester-
day by a reporter regarding his visit,
Mr. Huntington said:
q can never tell today what I shall
do tomorrow 1t is possible chat may
do sanething while am in The city, 1
BUT s. do not issow jIstaJv hat-at present. 4
ready the largest in America and ones
OF the largest in the world, must be 1
extended one day, and in purchasing
that half mile Of waterfront 4 simply 1
mad an eye 10 the future. Nay Sarc IS
already acknowledged to be the most
complete on this side and some day it
viii compare favorably with any the
world over"
1t looks as if the large dry dock will
be built; in fact, Mr., Huntington has
said so. When asked regarding this
Improvement he replied:
The dry dock VIII surely be built.
I tnl determined Oh that pjinr. ! shall
not use any of the addition property
above the shipyand Cor thai purpose.
hut will construct t at one corner of
the yard. This will be thu largest dry
deck in American wacsrs and Will be
capable of receiving the largest ship
atIoat.''
II IS understood the plans for the dock
have already been prepared, but the
Dimensions are not given. However,
it is said the dock will be large enough
to accommodate two first class battle
ships al one time. AT present the gov
ernment lacks the proper docking Ia
ciities AS evidence Of this it. is only
necessary TO state that the naval de-
partment was compelled TO send the
battleship Indiana to foreign waters in
order to have her bottom scraped. II
the large dock is built here ii is be-
lieved That number OF Warships VIII
be sent to the yard for their annual
overhauiing.
owing to the fact that Mr.. Hunting
ton who lis president of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company, was accom-
panied by the vice president of the com
Tsany. it was thought that probably ar
arrangements, world be made for the
building of,that much talNed-of passen-
ger trans-Pacific steamer. Here is
what Mr. Huntington said when asked
about it:
.Of course the ship will be
brrart-sone time; but it is too far ahead
for ME to speak with any degree OF
certainty. You can rest assured that
shall not be fost to the interests of the
shipyard.'
Newport News Shipbuiiding and Dry
Dock Company. and also of the old Do
minf1n Land Company, arrived in the
city at 9 O'clock yesterday morning and
spent the greater part of the day with,
Mr. Huntington and General Superin-
tendent Sommers n. Smith.
Mr. Huntington Will remain In the
city over today.