The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-22
MAYNARD
AT NORFOLK
Extensive improvements to
Be Made There Shortly.
BUILDING OF WAR VESSELS
Thought that Government is Deter
mined to Resume Building Ships at
its Own Yards--New Launch
Ing Way chmoele Affair.
BUILDING OF WAR VESSELS
Especial to The Times Dispatcho

NORFOLK, VA. Oct. 21.--The govern
ment Is getting ready to build all the
ships necessary in It's own yards. Tho
experiences Of the last year with the
crippled yards of the ship building trust
has convinced the practical men of the
navy, the trained officers OF tho service.
that the government should be In posi-
ton to do Its own construction, as well
as tho repair works upon it's ships at all
the navy yards.
The old launching ways at this navy
yard, from which many a gallant ship
has slipped off into the waters Of the
Elizabeth, have not been used since the
construction OF the famous cruiser RAJ
leigh and the battleship Texas.
The ways have been practically aban-
doned for the past nine years, and 1t
was thought that there would scarcely
be another ship laid down on them.
This impression was strengthened by the
construction at st. Helena and Cedar
Grove, the government reservations on
the eastern side of the Southern Branch,
OF wharves and lie-up slips for the tor
pedo boats.
It was tho avowed intention Of the gov
eminent, when 1t purchased the Cedar
Grove tract to hold the water front un-
obstructed, in order that the launching
ways on the western side Of the river
might not be obstructed. The Improve
ments at Cedar Grove. however, are
Immediately opposite the old launching
ways and 1t would be impossible to
launch a vessel stern first at that point,
without danger of her striking the piers,
where the torpedo boats are tied up.
NEW LAUNCHING WAY.
This practical abandonment OF the
launching ways was significant Of the
Intention Of the government to adhere
pernlan ently to Its policy OF building all
warships by contract In private yards,
leaving only tho repair work to the
navy yards.
Just then however. the practical object
lesson Of the helplessness of the Navy
Department, in the face of complications
Involving the private yards, was given.
Naval officers were not slow to grasp
the full significance Of what such Sit
uation would mean In time of trouble,
and they at once remembered the navy
yards.
one result OF this Is that there will
be built at this yard under the estimates
that have been made, a la,nching way
to cost 100000. This will be the finest
equipment of the kind in the country,
ara will include overhead cranes for
handling materials. 1t will be built at
ar acute angle to the river, so that ships
will go down stream when launched
from it. Tho foundation will, Civil En-
gineer Thompson says, be strong enough
to support a 5000 ton battleship. The
naval officers are confident that the plan
will be approved and the government
thus made more independent of the pri-
vate yards.
It is stated to-day on the very best
authority. that there is an excellent
chance that the differences between the
government and the owners OF the
Sch,noele tract, adjoining the navy yard
and needed for the extension of the big
plant, may be settled out of court,
The case Is booked to come up before
the Federal Court during the November
term. Two condemnation commissions
having rendered practically Identical re-
ports. fixing the price Of the property
at higher figure than the appropria-
ton of half million dollars, made by
Congress for the acquisition of the prop
erty, the matter Is now to go to the
jury, whose verdict will. In all proba-
bility. be final
DR.. William Schmoele. one of the rep-
resentatives of the owners Of the
schmoele tract stated, this morning that
the government and the owners will. in
all probability, get together without the
necessity OF carrying the case into the
court.