Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-11
NEWPORT NEWS.
The Batt'eship Kentucky Will Go
Into Commission Tuesday.
The Naval Examining Board Has Arrived
At Old Point-Reglstercd Vote OF New
port News is About 4,6oO-HoteI War
wick To BE Renovated Newport News
May Get A Silk nIilI.
Especial to virEinian-pilot.)

Newport News. Va, May 1o.-The
Kearsarge. which has been dubbed by
| some of the naval officers 1.-The Queen
| Of the Navy" will go into commission
| Tuesday. BY this ceremony the war
ship passes formally into the hands of
the government.
The ceremony over, the Kentucky
will take on her stores and supplies for
n sea voyage. She will then go out
into the stream and coal from lighters.
after which she will probably drop
down to Old Point, where she will re-
main several days for drill.
Just when the final test of her guns
will take place is not known. but ii is
probable that the date will be a COM
paratively carly one. The Kentuckys
crew will probably arrive here Tuesday
morning from the Brooklyn Navy-yard
They are now for most part, on the
training ship Vermont.
Rear Admiral Barker, stationed at
the Norfolk Navy-yard and command
ant at this station. will be here. He
will probably come over in one of the
government tugs, accompanied by sew
eral other officials. and, perhaps, some
of the ladies.
The ceremony of commissioning the
ship Is exceedingly simple. though COM
Drehensive. Captain Chester, the com
mander. Will have his men lined up on
the deck. General Superintendent Post
VIII formally turn the vessel over to
him and he will receive it, reading his
orders from the Secretary OF the Navy.
This he will doubtless supplement with
brief address, after which the flag
Will be hauled up and the band will
play 'The Star Spangled Banner" This
will be followed, most likely, by an in
spection of the vessel.
Captain Chester has been here for
some months. noting the details of the
construction of the ship. He Is one of
the most popular and one of the most
able officers in the service. During the
recent war with Spain he was in COM
rnand of the cruiser Cincinnati.
NAVAL EXAMINING BOARD.
The Naval Examining Board has ar
rived from Washington, and Is quar-
tered at Old Point
The board Is busy examining twelve
OF the cadets OF the class of 1898, who
are now aboard the New York and who
were taken from the Naval Academy
during the war with Spain before they
completed their work.
IMPROVING HOTEL
The Warwick Hotel. one of the land
marks of this thriving city. is being
thoroughly renovated from cellar to
roof. The building Is being enlarged
and entirely refurnishcd. The sum Of
$4,000 will be expended by Manager
Adams in these improvements.
NEW SILK MILL PROPOSED.
Secretary Huffman, of the Business
Mems Association, has received let
ter from Henry Leon. of Patterson, NJ
j., asking what inducements the city
can offer for the location of a silk mill
near here. He states that he will have
machinery ready by the middle of next
month. He asks q number of questions
concerning the city. and appears to
mean business.
LARGE REGISTRATION.
After the coming National election.
Newport News will no longer have to
blush for her small representation in
party councils.
The registration for this year, just
closed, shows the remarkable increase
of sixteen hundred voters, making the
total registered vote of the city about
1900.
These figures speak well for the in
terest in the coming great battle. when
this city will poll probably twice as
many votes as in 1895.