The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-12
OUR NEW NAVY YARD.
THE GREAT AMERICAN
DEPOT FOR IRON N-CLAD5.
Speeches Of Hon. M. Russell Thayer
and Hon. Charles td'Neill.


The delegation from Philadelphia has already
occupied very large, an unusually large, share
Of the time oil the House on this bill; but it
should be remem bered that this question excites
very considerable interest in the city of Phlla-
delphia-an interest which has its foundation
notln any sordid OF unworthy motive, but sim'
ply in desire to promote the general welfare.
the particular enterprise which is now the sub
iect of consideration, the interests of Pniladel-
pha are coincident with those OF the nation.
Philadelphia does not come here for the purpose
OF asking q special favor at the hands OF the ma
tional Government She is not here SIR to beg
for measure which will conduce to her own
ACKNOWLEDGMENT She has offered this valuable
property 10 the Government under the convic-
tion that its acceptance by the government
would promote the welfare of the general Gov
ernment. 1t is true that some incidental bene-
FITS would result to the city oi philadelphia from
the adoption Of this measure. BY the removal
OF the existing navy yard IT would very largely
add to the commercial dockage OF the city,
1t would incidentally conduce to the benefit
of the city OF Philadelphia by eventually bring
ing into existence large amount Of property
which would contribute to the payment OF her
local burdens by the taxation OF property which
is now exempt from it. 1t would be a benefit to
Philadelphia by adding new sources of industry
and thrift to those which already engage
the labOrs and attention of the seven hundred
thousand souls that dwell within her happy
confines.
But those motives are not selfish. No man
can characterize those motives as unworthy.
They are motives founded in the public welfare
and benefit; and if the measure which is
the subject of agitation is found to be, as IL Is
alleged by those who are most conversant with
the fass. ole which will benefit the nation at
large, Tsuppose that no man will deduce any
argument against the expedlency of the adop-
tion Of that measure from the tact that the city
Of Philadelphia may derive an incidental benefit
from the establishment of this great work
within her borders.
sir disclaim, on the part of the city of Phla.
delphia any motives less worthy than those to
which | have referred. She has never, eiCher
by her Representatives or in any other manner,
advocated any national measure upon the foot
ing of her own private special benefit. Her
devotion to the national Interest is traditional.
1t commenced with the first inspiration of ma
tional life, and it has continued with unabated
Vieor and with unsullied purity through all the
chances and changes which have characterized
the period that has intervened between that
day and the present. No sir. Ispurn the i'm
putation OF any sel6sh purpose on the part of
the city of Philadelphia or her citizens in advo-
eating the passage OF this measure.
What originally, suppose, suggested the fea'
sibility and the deslrableness of this measure
was the fact of the insufficient capacity of the
existing navy yard at Philadelphia. The present
navy yard occupies an area of some fifteen acres
Of ground, space, which for many years past
has been found to be entirely inadequate for the
purposes of the yard. The city has grown COM
pactly down to the navy yard whereas when 1t
was originally. established the yard was at a
considerable distance from the city proper.
The navy yard nov, to certain extent OBJ
structs the growth of our city on its southern
line, for it cuts off the water front. Upon the
southern line of the city of Philadelphia this
property upon which the old navy yard is stu
ated has in process of time by the approach of
the city, which now completely envelopes it,
become of great value, and it was supposed that
it could be made of interest to the national Gov
eminent to remove the existing yard from its
present site to League Island.
The obvious advantage of such a removal
would be this:-In the first place, the Govern
ment OF the United States could sell the old
Navy Yard property for very, large sum OF
money, probably for q sum ranging from mil
lion and half to two millions of dollars, of
such great value has that roperty become. 1t
was proposed to apply the proceeds of that sale
to the improvement of the new yard at League
Isand and the city of Philadelphia, which
would, OF course, be proud to have a great first
class navy yard fixed at that point, and which
saw in the natural advantages of League Island
those features which are most req uisiGe for such
purpose, purchased League Island at an ex.
pense of some three hundred thousand dollars,
and offered 1t to the national Government as the
site CT new navy yard.
Now, sir, I do not know whether the fact of
the hberahty of Philadelphia in this respect may
not have led to some degree of suspicion in re-
gard to the measure which is before us. Perhaps
II League Island had been offered to the Govern
ment at price instead of having been pur
chased by Philadelphia at an expense of $500, ,0OO
and freely and voluntarily offered to the Govern
ment, this opposition might not have existed to
this bill. Suspicion, perhaps, may have arisen
delphia.
DuI hlr Jne CITY Oh fnllauelpula purCnaSeQ
LeaeueIsland'at great expense and they offered
II, and still offer II, 10 the General Government
as the site OF the new navy yard. The proceeds
\ OF the old yard, million and half or two nit
lion dollars which will be derived from the sale
of that property, will be sufficient to commence,
at any.rate, upon sufficiently great scale the
Improvement of the new site. And when these
advantages were combined with the natural ad-
tantages presented by the islandl ITSELF it was
Supposed by the city of Philadelphia that the
interests of the nation in this respect were iden-
tial with those of Philadelphia; It was supposed
INT the offer would be accepted with aacrity
on the part of the general Government; that
they would I OF turn their backs upon PROPOSE
nonobviously 80 advantageous to the general
government upon any suggestion of an Incl
denta benefit to the city of Philadelphia.
Now, sir, the question, as was said yesterday
by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. lie Blond,
who is q member OF the Committee on Naval
Affairs, is principally whether you will transfer
the existing navy yard at Philadelphia from its
present site to the site at League Island. If you
Oulld new navy yard elsewhere you must go
on with annual appropriations for the existing
yaro at Philadelphia, We have this year ap-
propflated $3.50, 600 to that yard and we shall
nave to continue to keep it up Nobody sug-
gesIs tnat we shall abandon Philadelphia as one
ol me naval stations of the United States
Heil now, sir, If you establish q navy yard
elsewhere there will be an additional burden
upon the country, Tor you will have to apDro-
pirate for Two navy yards instead of one: whereas
hyou simply transfer the existing navy ward at
Philadelphia nom its present location to ieague
Island, you simply keep up a naval station at
Philadelphia; and we, who hold the Durse-strings
OF the nation, may deal out our appro Driatione
as we please in the future. W
VIII not detain the House by detailed emu
neration of all the advantages which NAV he
presented In favor of this measure. But Il