Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-12-29
THE NATIONAL ARSENAL yoR IRON c1.ns

The NATIONAL ARSENAL FOR IRON CLANS
The burning OF the Nerc Ironsides at Leapue
Island, for want OF water tn extinguish the
names, has so palpably demon strated the n u
Illness Of that place for the proposed Nationa,
Arsenal for non-clads, that the proposition
% establish II there will probably be aban
doned. The Philadelphia papers state tina,
when the tide went out, the fire companies
abandoned the vessel to her fate, and returned
20 the city, as there was ne water to be an
tanned The truth is that Washington is the
proper point for the location OF the iron clad
navy yard, and its fitness for the purpose
would have long ago beer recognized but for
the scramble made by parties in the interest
or different localities to secure il for their
own advantage, without the slightest re-
gard 10 national interests. The contest ha,
been mainly between the advocates of
League leland and New London. II f.
an insuperable objection TO New London
that The water is salt there. aud consequently
unfit for storing Iron clsds, aud against League
Island II Is urged that it, is a low m nd bank
IN shallow water, where the cost of making solid
foundations, even for the commencement O.
operations, would be enormous, and when
Completed il would be Just about N seryiceab,e
rs the celebrated Memphis Navy Yard, ..buiI,
where the ground was 4 little damn and
never used 70 launch even a canoe The Navy
hard naroor at this point has already shown
us capacity and fitness for the storing of IRON
clads, having had a feet of them located here
fo1 long time. and the yard has all the ad
1unets and appliances required In connection
with their disposition here.
The New York Post, while demons,ratinp
the unfitness OF League Island for the posi-
tion, errs in holding that the arsenal sbouId
oe located upon an open sea front. 1t ID an
NJ sE z.tr
be stored IN fresh water, and thus the a-eu.
ments in favor Of placing navy yards upon
sea-f!snfs are not valid in this case The New
iork Herald points out the ad yantaees of
Washington for the arsenal very conclusive.
ly, as follows 30
We haYe received great many communi-
cations, pamphlets, and arguments ON ths ann
Jee. % ioeaune navy-yard for building and
repairing our lron-eiad war vessels Several
faces nave been urged, and, OF course very
strongly, bY the Inhabitants, property holders
and nterested parties of these localities. One
.Ists Lnis advantage and one another. saving
httle or nothing Of the disad yantaees. Con.
gressmen and the authorities OF the NAVY he .
pTIment have been bored To death upon the
SUBJECT New York would be the best plnne
undoIbte dly. If tue water OF our bavs wsre
not salt The city of Hudson, up the Nortn
.Issr, would not be q bad place, and the
wafer Is fresn there New London wants tae
yard, but the same direction as 10 saIt yvat.r
appiies 70 that city As to New York League
Island, up the delaware, has tbs advan-
tdss OF ifesh water and convenience 70 the
Soal ana IRON region, but vessels OF deep
oINuEbt cannon ascend so far up. and the Della.
ware IS closed up with ice part of the year
Inc proper place 10 Washington city, the seat
OF government There is a navy yard there
aHtaoy vessels Of the largest class can get q n.
the Potomac u seldom frozen to I'm uede ms vi
gaion- and II rs fresh water. Beside it is near
sy or quite as con yenient TO the coal an a IRON
regions OF Penns yfvania, Maryiand and Vir
einia, oy the baittmore ahd Ohio railroad and
canal ana by no other means OF comm n nir,-jon
rs Hnfiadeiphia II 10 the mir ersl regions 81
fennsyiyania- The greater distance from N.
sea Is also another advantage II would Ia
oetter protected near the capitol of the Renub
he from foreign enemies than elsewhere In
every point OF view then, and 10 end the from
oie ABOUT the matter arising from the rival
claims of the different places ana interes,ad
parties, The Government should decide ut ON go
10 locate the navy yard for iron-clads al w ash
Ington-' ... RI. : $50.