The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-06
BIDST0 BE BMITTED
The Navy Department Much Pleased
With Richmond Plant.
WILL PROBABLY BE ENLARGED,
The Trigg Company Guided by Plans
and Specifications of the De
partmcnt Something AbOut
the Ships and Their Ar
mamcnt other
Details.

WASHINGTON, May 5-spccial--It Is
a reasonable prophecy that within the
next twelve months decided advance
in shipbuilding win be made in Rich
mond. progress in one thing at least.
being from the construction of torpedo
boats and dcstroyers Co more formidable
hghtcrs. The W r. Tngg Company will
exert every effort To- secure at least one
of the protected cruisers ON which bids
Will Dee asked In about two months. The
officials of tho several bureaus of the
Navy Department all manifest "a friendly
interest in the Richmond yard ana apprc-
Diato fully the great advantages offered
hy an inland yard. as easily defended as
Richmond in time of war. ana affOrdins
fresh water herthing places for ships out
of commission iu time of peace. Such "a
yard has been greatly desired for many
years and now that the enterprise is
actually in operation. no efforts Will be
spared 90 give it fair share in such
work as the department can give.
ENCOURAGE THE NEW YARD.
A prominent Navy Department official
said 90 me recently.
pauy is fortunately free of the impression
that they know more about how war
ship should Dee built than naval officers
who have grown gray I'm tbe service. The
result was they We're willing to submit
bids on torpedo boats and destroyers. fol-
lowing 20 the letter the specifications
and plans prepared by The department
thus practically going into partnership
with the department. And the govern
ment viii DO all in its power to encourage
The new yard
This he said. was without reference
10 the great advantages offered by the
location of fresh-water yard at Rich
mond
Secretary Long on IBIS recent visit to
Richmond expressed himself as greatly
pleased with the shipvard. and Senator
Daniel was also much impressed and Will
doubtless exert great deal of influence
ln its behalf
10 is believed that the Trigg Company
wiz get the contract for one cruiser, ana
probably two. That company will be pre-
pared Go submit their bids. it is under
stood. when the proper time comes and
there is no reason why the Warships
cannot be built roo the Richmond yards
in way that will Doe altogether salts
factory to the Navy Department
TWELVE BIG FIGHTERS.
Tho protected cruisers referred t0 Above
arc among twelve big fighters. the COM
etrucfion of which was authorized Toy
Congress bon the last naval appropriation
hII Provision was made for building
hv contract three srI-goins coast line
hatue-hlps. having displacement ~ l3.oo
foue. and fhrc. arm1rod cruisrs of l2e0
tons displacement. all carrying thc heav-
e-t armor ml the most powerful ord
a. D. Itf o. fr o.
protected cruisers of about on toms trial
dl~piatcm, nt THE wrangl" into which
both branches Of Congress got over the
alleged cXorb.taut demands Of armor-
plato manufacturers resulted in no pro-
vision being made for armor for the bat
t,ship- and lrmored cruisers IN con-
sequence they cannot hc built until next
lfar at che earliest
The "prot,etc1' cruisers. as the name
suggests. are to De- marmorcd In the
technical sense of, The word. only the
more vital spots being protected. The
VIII bc available after The
a0th Of next month and il will not Doe Il
great while thereafter when the contracts
vHl ho awarded
WORKING OFT DETAILS.
At present On, Construction Bureau of
the Navy Department is engaged in work
ing ont the details OF plans and speci-
Ucations $50 that everything may be i'm
readiness to- ask for bids as soon as pos
siblc after the beginning OF the fiscal
wear. July lst. Until the plans are pre-
pared it will not Doe possible 10 give the
dimensions and other details in regard TO
the cruisers. The appropriation bin pro-
NiIcs FOR six protected cruisers of about
% 500 tons trial displacement 10 De sheath
ed ana coppered and 90 have The highest
speed compatible with good cruising
ID sf
carry the most powerful ordnance suit
cd o. vessels of their class. and 20 cost.
exclusive of armament. not exceeding
llfl 500 each"
While not official figures II may be
stated as approx Nimatciy correct that the
protected cruisers wifi be about 800 feet
long by foriy-thrco feet wide with Il
draft of abou, lel4 feet The speed will
he about 1872 knots au hour. Each will
Dee shcathed with yellow pine and copper
od The batteries will Doe the same as on
ships OF the Detroit Marblehead and |
AiontgOmcry class. The length and |
breadth viii be almost exactly that OF |
ho protected cruiser Raleigh but the /
mistakes in the construction OF the latter |
Will De avoided. giving 25oo ions dis !
placement instead of nearly $500 of the |
Raleigh
The batteries of the Detroit Montgom- !
Main Eight 5-inch and TWO 6-inch |
rupid-nre guns.
Secondary O-poundcrs two i-pound- |
er rapid-.rc guns and two GatIins guns.
BUILT TO STAY.
When The Tree Ship-Buidng Company |
established its plant in Richmond. % was |
not with the idea Of simply completing
the first contract secured and ihca sus.
pending operations
The idea of lis founders was 10 make
Richmond a permanent ship-buiioing city. !
ana 40 endeayor 90 secure "a share g. tho
contracts for work given ont by tlc gov
.rnmont
10 has been demonstrated I'm the tin
NAT tho plant has been IN operation tha,
work of this character can be done IN
llichmond just as we'll a. iu any Othcl
portion of the United states.
RichuOnd's career iH his new Held hes
lecn slueularly successful. Not many
years ago ,hc Richmond locomotive ano
Machine Works built The machinery oi
he United States Batticshp Texas. an"
Though there were many sneers bccaus'
n the work having been done an g.