Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-18
WORK ALREADY AC fUALLY
UNDERWAY AT SHIPYARD
News OF Governments Favorable
Action Quickly cireuIates Through
City, Much to the PubIic's Gratifi-
cation-Formal Signing Only Thing
Laeking-stiii After the New York,
With Prospects Bright.

Information was received mere
yesterday evening from Washing
ton that Me navy department has
awarded the contract for the con-
struction Of the 27,o00-ton battle
ship Texas to the Newport News
Shipbvuding & Dry Dock Com
pany, which was the only bidder
on the vessel when tenders for
her construction were opened on
December 1.
While no official information TO
that effect was -obtainabie last
night, il ia understood that the
navy department has not yet de-
eided upon the type Of engines
which are to be installed in the
Texas. Until that decision is
reached no announcement as to
which of the four bids submitted
by the local yard will be accepted
can be made, and the contract
Will not be actually signed, but II
is reliably reported that the de-
partment Is considering only the
-reciprocating and Curtis turbine
types for the ship and that in all
probability the latter type will be
decided upon. The tender of the
company on a ship with Curtis
turbines was $5,7oo,000.
Disposes Of Doubts.
Coming as it did upon the heels oil
a report circulated yesterday morning
that work on the Texas had suddenly
been stopped at the yard, the news
that the contract actually had been
awarded the yard yesterday was par
ticuIarly gratifying. Following the
announcement that the local yard was
the only bidder on the Texas doubt
as to whether or not the yard would
be awarded the contract was enter
tanned by a number of people. And
then when the local yard stepped in
and offered to build the New Tork
for nearly 100000 less than she
can be constructed in navy yard
and Secretary Meyer referred the mat
ter to congress. many feared that the
awarding OF the contract for the
Texas would be held up for several
months or more.
Reports that the contract had beer
awarded were In circulation here in
the afternoon and night and a mum
Der of business men and others who
heard the reports called the Daily
Press oy telephone to get official con
firmation.
Post On His Way Home.
General, Manager Walter A. Post
OF the shipyard. who has been in
for the past week con.
ferring with officials OF the navy de
partment relative to the contract, will
return home this morning. Mr.. Post
left the capitol city yesterday even
ing.
Work on the Texas win begin al
the shipyard in earnest tomorrow and
q large number Of additional! men
probably will be taken on at the plant
IN the Immediate future. Work on
the other two ships contracts for
which have been received this month
also is being started az the plant and
there is an abundance Of work on
hand.
Still After the New York.
With one bs:tleship contract in It's
pocket the local yard IS now max
iLg q strong fight 10 land the contract
for the Satiieship New York. That
the New York will be built at . priv
ate yard Is almos. a foregone conclu-
sion nov for a special dispatch 20
the Sez York Herald fror, its Wash
ineton bsreau says that Mr.. FitzRer-
aid ciIi not make a fight for the 81.
zoo 200 appropriation which Secretary
Meyer declares viii be necessary for
the building OF the New York AZ the
navy yard.
CONGRESSMAN fitzgerald Is the
,tauncheet chamnion Of the govern
battieship and n he has
concluded. IS Il Is said he has. that
he cannot hone 70 get CONGRESS IN
that extra million and
one-half " Is practically certain that
no fight for the appropriation win b.
made In congress.
The matter Is nov in the hands Of
ne house committee on nsval affairs
and the belief Il expressed IN some
1u1rters that the committee VII
10 corRrrss that the AFT
directing that the New York Be built