Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-31
SECRETARY LONG ~ THE CITY.
Pleased Win the Ship-ynrds-Nisits
old -. Johns.


Hon. John ID. Ions Secretary OF the
United States navy. arrived in Richmond
at 7.50 o'clock yesterday morning for the
purpose Of inspecting the ncwly-estab-
lished shp-yards.
lie came on the lighthouse tender Jes-
sam.ne, accompanied by his wife and
daughter ana Dr Uric. of the navy. The
arrival Of the DISTINGUISHED party was
unheralded for tie reason that the Sec
reiary wished bis visit 90 be as informal.
as possible. and when the tender came
alongside the "lyde-Llne wharf there
were scarcely moro than q dozen people
on the docks. Harbormaster curtis went
on board and greeted the visitors
The boat attracted good deal Of at
tcntim as Sc lay there during the morn
ing with the SeCretarys pennant flying
at Che f0remast, and "Old Glory at the
Flagstaff
is PATRICK HENRY'S PEW
The Secretary sent at once for a car
ricge. and. together with the other mem
beTs of his party. drove 20 the different
points of interest about the city. lie spoke
with "a good deal " enthusiasm of this
tour 10 Dispatch reporter Il stood
once more" ice sai8. Gin the pew where
Pauick Henry made his famous dccla-
ration. il is eight years since / was last
Z in IfclmOpd lut / make y point OF going
to Stfsuiv1s church and s~ndiug upon
ithat spot every time / c0nie. 70 The party
drove as FAR west as the Lee monument
which The Secretary admired very much.
'It is fine piece of work" he said, $50
natural and so strong and he enquired
who The sculptor was The Lee monu-
ment. the Secretary Thought was far SUI
pori0r 10 the Washington. monument in
the Capitol Square. The Hohdop statue
Doe thought particularly line and he
praised the jackson monument2Fry high
ly.
The Secretary visited Governor Tyler in
hiS office. lie was accompanied by his
daughter and the visit was entirely i'm
! formal lasting only lev minutes.
AT THE sHIP-YARDs
The drive was extended until nearly b.
ID o'ciock. when the Secretary made mis- aP-
Uearancc no the ship-yards. whore he Was
received by Mr. vs.. R Trgg. the presid ,nt
OF the company I'm the yards all was ace
tvty The men. who usually 80 To their
dinner at noon. worked ou in order tnat
I The Secretary might see the work in iic-
grese Som. time ago ID requstlun
was mad. for United states flag. but
it has not set come 90 hand and when
information WAS received that Secretary
Long was in town. Mr. Curtis began io
east about 10 SECURE % flag. One Was
borrowed from a schooner, pole WAS
hastily erected. aud whel the Secretary
crossed the bridge leading to' the yard
the Stars and Stripes waved ln The
breeze
The Secretary and ids party made
tour of inspection under The guidance OF
SIR. Tugg and the government officials.
who are overlooking The work.
Nothing escaped his eye, and Doe show
ga the deepest interest in an the work.
THE pneumatic process of ri"eiiug and
drilling seemed tO engage his attention
especially. Although the party reachs
the yard at the dinner hour, the men dia
NOT stop. putting on eating until the Sec
refary left
The Secretary was introduced TO an
the officials in the yard, and had plea
SAINT word or "a smile for each.
With a view of seeing how the voyage
had affected their weight the party got
on Oh. scales just put in position in tine
yard. The Secretary registered l'' pounds.
You have lost three pounds, remarked
dr. Uric. with smile.
Airs Long weighed l22 pounds, and Miss
Long 1W
PLEASED WITH THE WORKS.
Secretary Long was quite enthusiastic
over the result of his inspection. 70 a
Dispatch reporter. he said that he was
very much pleased that the yards mad
been established in Richmond and that
the government had given contracts for
boats 90 De built there "Such enterprise
and such contracts said Dee. ''will lead 10
the upbuIdng of the South. which is
something wc AN desire 20 see.
'The work beins done at the yards
here" he added, '1s excellent; the inspec-
tors tell me that it is the hest possible"
The secretary was gratihed and sur
pris.d az the progress made. He had en-
loved his trlp up the river he said. and
thought the James not only ,ery oedr;ilol
from scenic standpoint, but capable of
development for shipping purposes.
IL was nearly halt-past ] when the dis
tirguished visitors rc-embarked upon the
Jcssamine and "a few minutes later tie
boar left the wharf and headed down thc
river bound for the ship-yards at Newport
News. which the Secretary viii inspect
to-day