New-York tribune., 1900-12-30
TWO NEW SHIPYARDS.
THE PLANTS. AT RICHMOND AND EAST
BRAINTREE WHICH HAVE UNDER
TAKEN LARGE GOVERN
C,ONrT.T
MENT CONTRACTS,


leans in particular. nothing has been so striking
as the unprecedented development of the ship
building industry of the United States.
Immediately after the close of the Civil War
the attention Of investors, mOneyed men and the
political economists of the country was attract
ed TO almost all other branches Of enterprise
rather than TO that of the building of ships
ana machinery; but gradually, as wealth
increased. as the National development took
on phases. il was seen that ship
building must take a prominent position in
the country and the erection of the three
great establishments that enjoy the con-
hdence Of the world was the result. NOtwith-
standing the difficulties attending the growth of
a business Of the dimensions required for the
slilful and efficient construction Of a big man
tf-war the monayed men of the land at once
took the matter under consideration, and by
The time the first plans for a new Navy We're
elaborated the iron and steel mills of the coun-
try were prepared to enter into the evolution of
homemade material required for the Navy
l'Lich IS now rapidly growing up
THE TRIGG YARD.
one Of the recent and notable instances of
highly intelligent and energetic progress in the
sirection of hull and engine construction is the
'eEIarkabe establishment of the Trigg COM
Iany, at Richmond which is beginning to at
,Fact attention all over the world. At first there
was much amused curiosity that men could
have the audacity to attempt shipbuilding so
far in the interior of the South and above
ldewater; but the wisdom displayed in selecting
Tie site has been amply vindicated and frank
Iecognition is now given by capitalists and
technical authorities to the demonstrated fact
that natural advantages have been secured
which give the new concern immense practical
advantages over any shipbuilding plant in ex-
!stence, with enormous water power going
20 waste that can economically be converted into
electricity. that ideal metal working force with
Natural crydocks and with large city of me-
Aanics and skilled labor to depend upon
With an experience gained during the con-
Itruction OF the engines and boilers of the
7nited States steamship Texas, William r.
frigg, who was the principal agent in that ex-
client work for the Government decided to
rater the field of shipbuilding for the Navy,
with the result that within the last two years
there has grown up on the banks of the James
River a plant capable of turning out work com.
pairing favorably with the best in the country.
The new concern first appeared as a com
Ietitor for naval vessels in 1898, when the Gov
ernInent asked for bids for sixteen destroyers
and ten torpedo boats, easily winning two of the
first class and three of the second class on No
Nember III of that year Secretary Long signed
contracts with the Trisgs for the 2S-knot de-
stroyers Dale and Decatur, at 100000 each
figure $4,000 each below the next lowest
bid-and at the same time executed contracts
with them for the 26- knot torpedo boats Shu-
brick, Stockton and Thornton, at SI29. $50 each
From the start the young establishment showed
Its mettle with Vigor and skill that astonshed
Older builders. The destroyers were launched in
July, 1899, months ahead of the fourteen similar
vessels under construction at other yards and
within the year the three tOrDedO laatS were
afoat. Naval inspectors pronounced the finish
and workmanship of all five of these vessels
superior to anything the Government had ever
secured on the Atlantic Coast, and their tests
proved that they were more strongly framed
than the contracts required.
BUILDERS OF THE GALVESTON.
In December. 1899. the Trigg yard had suf-
hciently grown to warrant its managers in bid
ding for 3,JU0-ton protected cruiser and the
Galveston was awarded to them for Sl. .027. 600
which was again 10000 under the price of the
lowest bidders for six Identical ships This
year the Triggs abstained from competing for
the great l5,U0O-ton batteships and armored
cruisers. but they have announced their inten-
ton of taking one Of the large protected cruis-
ers next February, and their yard will be ready
for The heaviest battleshps afioat in another
year
the corporate limits of the city of Richmond
within less than half a mile of a practically un-
limited source of electrical power for the move