Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-14

tho Chesapeake Bay and tho Potomac
River.
z. The channel from Richmond "a
indian Head Is rs we'll suited for the
government armor- plate barges as for
any other vessels. An armor plate can
De loaded on barge from the plant
at Richmond and unloadcd directly,
without transfer OF any sort, mt the
Indian Head wharf. 1t is believed that
the department engineers will find It
both convenience and an economy
TO have the plant 80 located. 1t is
also believed the engineers will find
1t advantageous to have tho testing
ground In such close connection with
tho plant that necessary changes in
the treatment of IL heat can be ordered
and undertaken Immediately.
3. The entire water route from Rich
mond to Indian Head is sheltered and
Is at no point exposed to ocean storms.
". Labor for the Armor-PInte Plant,
l. Richmond has a population of
arc forcign-born. and Is the center of
Il metropolitan district of 191 900 pcr-
sons.
2. The experience of Richmond man.
ufacturers has shown that this labor
is readily adaptable to mechanical pur-
when one Richmond plant taught 1000
men. In less than two months, to man.
ufacturc ammunition. Most of these
mechanics were from Richmond and
very few OF them had previous expert.
ence in this special work.
3. Richmond has not had "A labor
strike OF any serious dimensions in
more than ten years. and has only had
three small strikes OF all descriptions
during that time. The city believes
the Investigations of the department
Will disclose an Intelligent and content
ed working population. thoroughly ca
pable OF being trained in the techni-
cal processes contemplated by the de-
partment.
4. The department.. it is confidently
believed. will have no difficulty in pro-
curing any labor it may desire to sup
plement the ample supply of the Rich
inond district. one industrial estab-
lishment, recently opened near Rich
mond, procured 5000 laborers within
Il few months. As many as a thousand
operatives arrived daily during the
period whom the company In question
was most DESTROYS of adding TO its
force.
i. The department may wish to know
that in case its judgment dictates the
transportation 10 Richmond OF skilled
steel workers from other parts OF the
United States, Richmond is able to give
work TO such OF the female members
Of the operatives families as may de-
sire IT, The Richmond tobacco indus
try alone employs 10000 white females.
and is steadily increasing in number.
Other industries employ many thou
sand women in numerous lines OF man
GfaCtUriuC.
Y. Specific Locations nnd Cost Of Plant
in ltirhmOn,l.
]. Richmond's waterfront on the
James River. as shown by the contours
on Map /. stretches for six miles at
an elevation sufficient to protect the
armor plate from floods. but not high
enough 10 require extensive cXcava-
tions "a reach the level Of the river.
Below that point the character OF the
shore and its geological formation are
different and less satisfactory.
=. Tile accompanying geological map
constituting one page OF the brcG is
respectfully presented as showing the
strata along the James River. Lying
on the edge OF granite formation.
Richmond has stable foundations for
the heaviest manufacturing. Actual
experience has shown tina, granite is
reached at from ten 10 twenty feet at
most points around the city. TO this fact
particular attention is directed Tho
department will find at Richmond the,
usual combination Of a dccp-water
level and a granite formation at
depth that viii greatly reduce the cost
Of excavations and foundations.
?. Richmond does not presume to
recommend specifically any one of many
suitable sites near the city 10 the de-
partmcnt; but If the department desires
L, site of seventy acres. conveniently
located on the water front. and less
than TWO miles from the center OF the
city. with adequate railroad trackagc.
will be decided the United States. This
site il regarded by competent cnsi-
neers as ideal for Il steel plant. Your
petitioners are prepared to have exc
cuted a deed for this property.
ON Map |. constituting one page
Of thc\ hricD will he found the legend
available Sites" Attention is respect
fully directed TO the contours of these
sites and 10 their rrlalion 10 the geo.