The times., 1898-12-06
TO BUILD SHIPS and GUNS
A Mammoth Enterprise Pro-
jected at Newport News.
BRITISH FIRMS INTEREST
Coils T.. Huntington Confirms Pre-
vaiIing RepOrts-WOrk for Thou
sands-PIeased With the Outlook
The Manufacture Will Be ON n
Large Scaie-The Most Complete
Equipments.

New York, Dec. Soils p. Huntington
confirmed today reports that the English
firm of vickers, Sons & Maxim had been
negotia ting for an interest in the Newport
News shipbuilding establishment. in
which he is heavy owner, lie said that
the deal had not as yet been closed. He
denied that there was any intention of
selling the yard outright to the English
interests. and ne intimated that he would
continue to control the business.
u have been in negotiation" said Mr.
Huntington. with the Messrs. Vickers,
Sons & Maxim, ana have thought OF TAX
ing large interest in the plant and Of
establishing at Newport News, in con-
nection with the shipyard, very ex-
tensiye plant for the manufacture OF
guns. If these negotiations should be
carried TO a conclusion. there would be es-
tablished al Newport News a new indus
try. which would greatly benefit that
city. furnishing work and support 10
thousands of people in addition to those
there now. But the yard would con-
tinue to be an American enterprise. as
do not propose to sell my holdings out
right. but to retain a large interest /
would ike. however. to lessen my cares
and responsibilities and let others take
IN and carry on the work that / have
started. Mr.. Crossley Mr. Dunn and Mr..
Loew came over from England to look
about. and while here examined my ship
ward most thoroughly. ! learned that
they expressed themselves a. very much
pleased with it. and I do not see how II
could have been otherwise, for not only is
Newport News the best location for a
great shlpysrd interest. but the Newport
News plant is one OF the best shiphuild-
ing Yards in the whole world nave
wanted TO get these people to take large
interest. because / was anxious 70 see a
great gun manufacturing establishment
put nm al Newport News, and my impress
sion is that my English friends Will ma
:, very greatly to their interests TO com
plete the negotiations. | think. too. II
viii be a good thing for our Government
.As for the shipbuildins part OF the
proposition, ! believe We now nave at the
head of our various departments as good
as practical and as successful shipbuild-
ers as there are in this or any other
| country. II this new element should
come into the ownership they will have
| nothing to do in the way OF increasing
the capacities and facilities of the New
| port News shipyard. as what has been
| done and what is now under way VIII
provide the yard with the most complete
equipments for rapid and heavy WORK
| that could be devised
I'VE have started our new dock ahc
| the work is progressing finely We nave
| already driven, l believe, something hkt
10. 900 piles and are excavating the ground
| rapidly. There Is quite hole to be dug
| "Of the gentlemen connected VIII
| Vickers. Sons < Maxim who visited INT
| ward Mr. Crossley is man OF large
| means and great experience in the build
| ing of ships, and Mr. Dunn probably
| stands at the very head of naval experts
| If their firm should conclude to take hol'
| of this establishment, which l have car
| ried SO far at Newport News, II hardl!
| needs my assurance that the business
| the future which will be done there II
| the way of manufacturing ships will b
on the largest and most complete scale