The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-11

uOm new Englan and twenty Jour uOm Ieh'.
sylVanla. The delegation from New England and
the deli Pygation from Pennsylvania, so nearly
equal numerically, each had two members on
that committee Mr.. Speaker, the gentleman
whfI thus reflected upon you, ana who would
iw press the country with the conviction that he
py the victim of conspiracy, was added by you
TO New Eneland's two members, while you gave
PENNSYLVANIA only what your predecessor had
done-one member from Philadelphia and one
from the valley OF the Ohio. The gentleman, in
the midst of his whining over the wrongs done
New ENGLAND in his person, forgot that of mem
bers of the Naval Committee, as constituted by
YOU New England has one for every nine mem
bers while Pennsylvania has one for but every
twelve But the gentleman seemed to be DIS
posed 10 run anuck against the world. lie
seemed 10 have forgotten that parliamentary
propIieties were, or were likely to be, regarded
by anybody when he thus assalled you, Mr..
Speaker, for not having more promptly seen his
distinguished fitness for the Naval Committee,
and visited New London to invite him to accept
a place upon it,
of piling to render that island suitable for the
erection of buildings? Commodore Turner, who
has had charge OF the island, and who assisted
in building the fort6cations at Fort Mitilin, on
the south bank of the Schuylkill, half mile
from il on kindred ground, has assured the COM
mit1ee that piles could not be well driven to the
depth OF Thirty feet; that they would strike
heavy boulders at the depth of from twenty-five
to thirty ieet The gentleman has also been
assured by the officer OF the Coast Survey de-
tailed to supeTntend the boring of the island
OF fact, and with the results confirmed by the
statements OF the proprietors of the heaviest
works in Philadelphia, that League Island
would need no piling Tor any buildings or ma
chinery except under the trlp-hammer;
that YOU could build upon its surface
without driving pile, workshops or
machine shops as extensive or heavy as any
known within the limits of Pennsylvania. Yet
in view of these facts rung into his ears by honor
able gentlemen, he tells this House that League
Island is mass OF. mud upon which nobody
would think of building barn.
Now, sir, let us look at what is proposed by
the bill before us. | regret exceedingly that the
gentleman from Conf ecticut would not permit
the gentleman from Wisconsin (dr. Eldridge)
to offer his amendment. Sir, there is no thought
of malntsinIng the present petty yard at Phila-
delphia one day after the material there accu-
mulated can be transferred to League Island.
But on this point let the Secretary of the Navy,
the author OF this project, speak for himself. In
his communication OF May 8, 1864, addressed to
this House through the Speaker, he said:-
Having in view economy, as well as the public
necessities. have at no time recommended that the
number OF our navy yards should be increased on
that no time should be wasted in establshIng AT
proper place suitable yard where iron ships can be
made and repaired
Again, in his annual report of December 5,
at has never been the purpose of the Department.
in any of it's suggestions recommendations, to in
crease the number OF our navy yards. nor to alter
their local distribution. The yard which we now
have at Philadelphia is altogether inadequate to our
present or future wants 1t was proposed there
vicinity OF Philadelphia. League Island within the
limits OF that CITY, if adopted a site, must gra-
dualy absorb the WORKS at the present yard, which
would then be discontinued"
Hear his description OF what we want which
after ali is description OF League Island, and
all tie advantages which it embodles:-
"a navy yard, If we have for naval iron
work, should be establis he'd on fresh water, for
this is essential to the preservation of iron yes-
sells, which cannot be laid up ia salt water during
| is also important, for these essential articles
without exposure to an enemy by coastwse trans
poItation. The vicinity OF large city, where
Guilty. and the facilities OF markets and tenements
are abundant should be considered. foundation
| preferable to stone An extensive water frontage
must also be secured For such depot and estaD-
| lIshment, where costly machinery and material
would accumulate during years of peace, the advan.
| tages of an interior location are most manifest.
| These favorable conditions to be obtained
| where completely on the Delaware river;
and the position OF League Island, within the limits
of the city of Philadelphia, presents probably a
stronger combination OF the points that are neces.
sary than any other location"
But, sir, gentlemen say that the Secretary of
| the Navy is not a scientific man. Well, then,
| let us turn from him to one OF the most tho
| roughly scientific engineers ofthe country. We
| sent the Chief Engineer of the Navy Depart
| ment, Mr.. King, abroad to examine the naval
stations of other nations. We also sent him
| along our whole coast TO ascertain the capabil
| ties of our own land. What does he say on the
question? / ask gentlemen who insist on scien-
| tfc information to listen to Mr.. King, when, in
strucled by his extended travel and observation,
he says:-
For the location of such a yard we have advan-
taPes great rivers not possessed by any
European nation. In an entirely secure position,
| far from the sea- in fresh water and within easy
reach of iron and COAL iron yard may be erected
These advantages are weighty, and cannot be over
| estimated Still we have another advantage; the
rise and tall Of our tides being comparatively so
small, do not require basin accOmmOdati0ns-the
most expensive of European dock yard constructions
all we need in this regard beng position afford
| ing am pie wharfage room.
| Location does not belong properly to the sub.
jectmatter OF this report, but cannot be considered
entirely foreign it, because 1t is the first and most
important consideration. government officials in
| England and France were free in expires essing their
opinions TO me, that since the invention of guns
capable OF pIOpellng destructive projectiles several
| miles, and the construction OF armored ships, an
inland location tor great docky yard becomes almost
| imperative.
"The advantages OF fresh water for iron vessels to
| lie in when repairing and fitting out. is another
point TO be consideTed for 1t must be remembered
that the adhesion of barnacles OYsers, and musses
to the bottom Of iron vessels, while lying still IN
water, is rapid and excessive; in fresh water the
| iron is entirely free from them,
"Ihe Navy Yard in Philadelphia does not cover
as much ground as the basin wafer area in any one
Of the principal European dock yards; IT has only
| two covered building slips, with the necessary
| woodwork shops and steTehousCs, and is not pro-
vided with any stone docks or means of repairing
| steam machinery"
| I will not weary the House by laying before it
the volume of such information, but will pro-
/ ceed to show why think we ought not to adopt
| the substitute submitted by the gentleman from
| Connecticut. 1t is, to borrow a legal phrase, a
mere dilatory motion. 1t is entered for the puT-
| pose or delay, for the purpose of keeping the
| question open, al d compelling compromise
| between those who do not think we need addi-
| tional naval stations, and those who think we
ought to put one where my friend from New