Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-30
SITE IS SELECTED
FOR BOILER PLANT
Will Be on South Side of River
Extending Back to Seaboard
Tracks.
PALEN MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT
Plans Ready and Construction
Will Begin Shortly-Total
Cost Will Be S3,OOOOOO.

Having acquired title to the desired
property. +. i. Palen. vice resident OF
the Newport News Shipbuildins and
Dry DOCK Company. announced last
night that the United States Emcrs-
ency Fleet Corporation viii erect its
S30Qo,o 900 boiler plant on the most suit
able part Of the tract of land. decided
last week by the Richmond River Front
Land Corporation to the Old Dominion
Trust Company as trustee. lying on the
south bank Of the James River 20 the
southeast of The plant OF the Virginia
Carolina Chemical Company.
The Emergency Fleet Corporation
has made arrangements with the New
port News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
Company to build and operate the plant
to assist III the shipbui!d.ns program
by the manufacture OF Scotch marine
boilers
Mr.. Fallen. accompanied by H. D.
Hinman, representing the United States
Emergency Fleet Corporation. made
this announcement at the Westmore-
land club last night. following a tour
lies between the James River and the
main line of the Seaboard Air Line
Railway. The entire tract is 40276S
acres in extent. but NJ. Palen stated
that OF this only approximately forty
acres would be required for the con-
struction of the plant.
WILL NEED CITY WATER, STREETS
AND RAILROAD SIDIS(;S
X was pointed out that in selecting
the site ii had been prerequisite that
the property should be contiguous to
the river as we'll as the railroad. to
to-.
p!eted boilers 20 the plant at Newport
News and other seahoard points. and
that the only Improvement necessary
for the plants creation was the cxten-
sion OF the necessary street. water and
railway connections.
Richmond was selected fer the cree
ton of the plant" said Mr.. Palen. ION
account OF its accessibility and the PC
cul:ar advantages derived from the fact
that il is one of the great railway and
industrial ccnters OF the South
Another great point in its favor was
the fact that up 10 this time the great
war activities have rot coaEcSted its
housing and living facilities.
In spite Of the millions OF dollars
being expended by the government in
furnishing Newport News with ade-
quate facilities for the care Of work
men. the resources OF that city have
been taxed 20 their utmost. and IL was
impossible 10 erect the plant at that
location. Furthermore. there are not
enough workmen available there for
tie operation OF this additional plant
DESIGNS FOR Plant
ALREADY COMPLETED
The general designs for the r'ant
have already been completed by the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Company. and are in such shape
that the actual work of constructing
the factory can be begun at an early
date. The main building, which will
be 600 feet long. with a breadth OF
100 feet. VIII be of steel construction,
and in addition to this there will he
numerous smaller buildings to he used
rs "nices. power plants, storage ware
houses and general service structures.
ihcse buildings. together with the rail-
Way siGings and yard will cover APP
rToXimatcly forty acres. according to
ne present estimate"
II is expected that the plant VIII have
been completed and IN operation with
In nine months. and when operating AT
full capacity Will employ from 500 to
1000 men Mr.. Palcn felt assured.
however, after careful survey of this
city that the present facilities would
prove ample for hou:ing the addi-
tional populat ton that the erection and
operation Of the plant would mean
and would save the government an ex-
pend!turc OF. money for providing these
accomm oda tions.
MILLIONS ARE TO DE
EXTENDED At NEWPORT NEWS