The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-30
TO BUILD TWO
BIG BAT TLESH|PS
The Government in Race With
Newport News.
ElCHT.HoUR LAW INVOLVED
Each Vessel 10 Be OF the Same Size
and Character and uncle Sam
vii! Build at Brooklyn
Navy-Yard.
ElGHT.HoUR LAW INVOLVED
tspecia, Dispatch TO The Times.o

Especial Dispatch TO The iImeS.)
WASHINGTON. D. c.. Dec. 1a.-Those
interested in the question of eight hour
labor will have a good opportunity TO
Judge Of the souadness Of the arguments
watch on the coming race between the
United States and the Newport News
6hipbulding Company. which begins in q
ehort while 20 see which can build the
better battleship and which can build it
the more quickly.
The Navy Department has undertaken
TO construct the Connecticut, while the
Newport News Company has received
the contract TO construct the Louisiana.
q sister ship to the Connecticut. In every
respect. down to the smallest detail
from the massive turrets with their great
fwelye-inch guns. down through their
steel decks to .Ae smallest screw or r!vet
which holds Il IN place. the steel plates.
which form the hottoms-these two ships
are exactly alike.
They were provided for at the last
session Of Congress. the one to be built
by the Navy Department and the other
by E private concern. The specifications
were drawn and u.us for the cons!ruc-
The Newport News Company bia lowest
and was awarded the contract at $780,
ooo. considerably less tiaan the limit of
cost placed by Congress. which was "a
2c0oo Forty-two months were allowed
by the Navy Department for completion.
The Newport News Company agreed to
complete the Louisiana in forty-one
months unde: penalty of $500 day for
the first month and $500 day there
after.
BUILD AT BROOKLYN.
The Secretary Of the Navy assigned
The Connecticut to the Brooklyn Navy
Yard for construction. He was allowed
Oh extra fund OF s175.no with which TO
equip the Brooklyn yard for the work
of building g battieship. and was in
etructed by Congress to keep an accu-
rate account of the cost Of inspec ion
and construction of vessels provided for
sa this act, whether built in government
yards or by contract and report thereon
to Congress at each session, the progress
OF the work and the cost thereof, In
Guiding inspection of all material going
snto the construction OF said vesse S. and
upon the completion thereof to report
g fun and detailed statement showing
the relative cost OF the inspection and
In government yards ana
by contract"
On the face of 1t this looks Ike 4
simple race between the Navy Depart |
ment and Newport News Company. but
the truth of the matter is that IL Wal
probably do a great deal TO test the eight |
hour labor proposition. as applied to he |
OF ships. In the go, eminent |
yards the iabcrers work only eIe.4- hours |
q day and are allowed fifteen days leave |
a year. In private yards 1t is different, !
as everyone knows.
1.-The government is greatly Handicapped /
In Its competition with the private con- |
tractors in the construction Of the !
Cannecticut," said a prominent official OF |
the Navy Department today.
In the government yards. you know. We |
must operate strictly under the eight |
hour system. Only a certain number of I
men can be employed in the construction |
Of q vessel al any one time. the number |
varying according to the stage Of the |
cork In outdoor work of this character |
Il Is customary to take advantage Of the |
Icng hours of daylight in the summer to
make up the deficiency in that respect
during the winter. At least that Is the !!
custom in the private shinyards. Unfor
tunately for US, we cannot follow this
rule. The law provides that our workmen
cannot be employed more than eight
hours a day where the private yards work
The r men ten hours. Under such circum-
stances it will be almost an impossibility !
,or. us TO complete the Connecticut in fol-
ty-on months, which is tn time within
which the Newport News company has
contracted to complete her sister ship.
the Louisiana.
FOR A BIG CRANE.
The greater part OF the $4,000 which
ras allowed Secretary Moody TO equip
he Brooklyn yard. will probably go or
me Of the immense Gantry cranes. The
Newport News company has Some of
hese cranes which cost them 100000
zach II is understood that Secretary
Moody has given Mr.. Brown. the inventor
# he Gantry crane. cart blanche to con-
struct one for the Rrooklvn yard The
est of the appropriation will be expended
or tools
Within two months The keel Of the
Connecticut Will he laid down in the
Brooklyn yard. and Of the 5000 en- ~.oves
Il the yard an average Of 400 men will
,e kept constantly employed on this ve~-
.el until she is COMPLETED The Newport
News company vii start upon the Louisi-