Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-11
WILL BID ON WARSHIPS
NEWPORT NEWS sHIPBUILDING
COMPANY WANTS MISSISSIPPI.
Cruiser Charleston and Battle Ship
Virginia to Be Launched in Next
Ninety Days.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.


NEWPORT NEWS. Va. January TO- 1904.
superintendent Walter A Post of the
Newport News Shipbu.lding and Dry Dock
Company will go to Washington next Fri
day to be present at the opening of bids at
the Navy Department at noon on that date
for the construction of the IS 600 ton battle
ship Mississippi. The local yard will bid
on one of the ships, and is almost certain
to secure the contract. This company is
already building one ship provided for I'M
der this appropriation, and hence is not abe
to secure contract for more than one more.
If the yard is successful in getting the con-
tract for one of these ships it will probably
be the Mississippi.
Preparations are being made for the
launching of the armored cruiser Charleston
on Saturday, January D. The Charleston
has been under construction here for the
past eighteen months. and is now well along
toward completion Miss Rhett, the daugh-
ter of the mayor of Charleston. 8. c., after
which city the ship is named will chr.sten
the cruiser. Charleston is expected to send
large delegation. The shipyard officials
are hoping for moderate weather on the day
of the launching. 8 extreme cold is as bad
as extreme heat. On September u last year,
The date of the last launching at this yard
the cruiser Maryland stuck on the ways be-
ca use the great heat melted the tallow on
the ways. 1t was several days before the
Frozen tallow will produce the same effect,
and if the mercury is very low next Satur-
day week the Charleston may also refuse
to slide.
The next launching will be that of the
battle ship Virginia, which is scheduled to
go overheard about March /. The entire
state is preparing to celebrate this event
and thousands of Virg.nians residing in
other states will return to see the ship bear
ing the name of the old dominion take her
first plunge into the water.
The officials of the shpbuilding company
are working for the passage of ship sub
s,dy bill at this session of Congress. The
need of such legislation is very apparent
here at this time inasmuch as the yard has
no merchant work on hand and no contracts
for the construction of trading vessels are
In sight. The Newport News Company
which is now recognized the largest plan.
In the country, is dependent entirely upon
the government for work. At no time since
its establishment in 1881 has it been in such
predicament as now. American steamship
lines are not building new ships and the
American shpyards are suffering. Relying
upon several new government contracts this
year. the local company has made improve
mentS to Its plant costing many thousands
OF dollars. If five new battle ships are pro-
vIoed for by Congress before this session is
over this yard will likely build at least two
Inc ho4ders OF the ssCOOo1 of the James
town Exposition Company's common stock
will meet in Norfolk next Friday afternoon
at 4 clock TO elect permanent officers and
to formulate working plans. General Fitz-
hugh Lee, who is now president, will not be
reelected. 1t is reported that General Lee
will request that his name be not cons,d-
cred, but in any event younger and more
active man will be placed at the company's
mead The name of Senator Marcus A
Hanna of Cleveland. Ohio, has been sug-
gested. if the distinguished statesman would
agree to serve, but this suggestion has met
with storm of protest, nearly every one
exclaiming that if Virginia cannot supply a
suitable president 1t is In no condition to
Eold an exposition. About 81 200 600 has
been subscribed TO exposition stock When
tie nlllion-dollar mark was passed prior to
January ] the company's charter was saved
as Well as an appropriation of $500 900 voted
to the company by the state. The first in
stallment of the stock is now PAYABLE and
ABOUT $4,000 has already been received by
the secretary, Gwynn T. Sheppard Repre-
sentative Harry l.. Maynard is working for
federal appropriation and hopes to secure
$j.oG0,GG3 from the government A number
or representatives have already pledged
their support The company which is to
hold the Lewis and Clark exposition at
Portland. Ore, in 1908 has offered to give
,0co to the jamestown exposition in 1901
il Virginia will give $4,000 TO their EXPOSE
ton IN 1905.
Trade conditions have begun to improve
IN this section since the jamestown EXPOSE
ton became assured. The niggardly sup
port of the fourteen transportation COMMA
MES Going business in this section has
created feeling of bitterness against them
in the hearts of the people, who believe that
they tried to kill rather than support the
movement
The John Smith Corporation" is the
name OF company organized In this city
and chartered under the laws of the state
OF Virginia to do business prior to and dur
ing the jamestown exposition This com
pany may run ferry line across Hampton
Roads and boat lines to Baltimore and
Washington II has subscribed to SIS, COO
worth of exposition stock. Its members are
Newport News property owners who have
dead property on their hands upon which
the company advances the money for the
purchase of stock. Several other compa niles
are In process of forma ton, and there seems
to be no doubt that the exposition will be
held
II IS not proposed to eclipse the St Louis
lair in magnificence, but II is intended to
give the world the grandest and most novel
u a filnr,i lar,e--