The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-12


cessible TO. everything which Is needed to be
used for building a navy such as we should have.
We have channel in front of League Island OF
twenty three feet and more in depth. IL Is two
and quarter miles IN extent upon the Delaware
river. There is channel of some eighteen or
twenty feet in depth, and some hve.eghths of a
mile in extent on the Schuylkill, and also the
back channel, which is also Two and quarter
miles long, of some fourteen or sixteen feet deep,
which furnishes n great natural basin. ! am
speaking OF the depth OF the Snaane ,hiG at msn
Intended by nature for some such purpose as
this.
Now, the gentleman from Connecticut desires
that we shall go TO New London for this navy
yard, where we would have to blast out thou
sands and thousands of tons OF rock in order to
obtain basin. That, sir, could never be done,
and vet the gentleman talks about IL as the
place most suitable for building ships, but never
mentioning its salt water.
Besides we all know that we want iron and
coal for building navy; those are the great
materials to be used In the construction and for
| the motive power of iron vessels propelled by
| steam. And would you go to New London to
| be near supplies OF coal and iron? The gentle
man cannot show me any line of railroad or
| canal or any means of access TO II, By which
| you could reach those articles within one hun
| dred miles as near as they are to League Island
| He cannot have the hardihood to attempt
| seriously to convince any one that the location
| he would select is ia such close proximity to
| everything which enters into the completion OF
an iron navy as the point designated in this
bill.
| League Island lies at the mouth of the Schuyl-
| kill, at its confluence with the Delaware, both
Oh which rivers are nayleaoie by nature ana py
| art. There Is canal all the way down the
| Schuylkill, from the Schuylkill coal regions to
| within five miles of League Island, and the
Reading Railroad running along the side OF the
| canal. There is the Lehigh Valley Railroad,
| connecting at Bethlehem with the North Penn
| sylvania leading INTO the Lehigh coal and iron
| regions. There are also means of access from
| League Island into the same regions by canal
| tt0PWatpr navigation along the Delaware
| and Lehigh rivers.
And is timber any nearer to New London than
| it is to League Island? No, sir; the means of
getting timber to the former place are not so
| great. For the live oak OF the State OF Delaware
and the yellow pine of che Carolinas, what are
the means of communication with League
Island? Besides the Delaware bay and river,
| there is the Delaware Railroad, which now ex-
tends almost the entire length of that State,
AID before long will be extended into Virginia
along its eastern shore. And Will it be argued
OF League Island, possessing all these advan-
| tages, that New London is still nearer TO all
these materials than it? Why, sir anywhere,
in any direction, by any means of communica;
ton, canal, railroad, river, or bay, for any of
the materials which are so necessary in the con-
stIuction and repair of naval vessels, iron or
wood, League Island is many miles nearer than
Sir hope, believe that this House will
decide the question upon principles of Justice
and right. We are acting Tor the best interests
of the whole country. And we are urging the
| passage of this bill because We believe that
League Island is the best place for this naval
station.
1t seems that great many naval officers who
have looked into the matter within the last two
or three years have changed their minds mate
rally. / am under The impression that my con-
stltuent, Commodore Turner, was not warm
advocate of League Island two years ago. Yet
we have his letter setting forth the reasons why
it should be preferred, stating among. other
things its healthulness and its easy approach.
So, TOO, with Commodore Striblng, who, al
| though stationed at Philadelphia, was not at one
time favorable to League Island, yet he has since
written letter in its favor; That letter has
been read by my colleague (Mr. Kelley). This
is another illustration OF the change which has
taken place in the views OF prominent naval
officers one great reason being, no doubt, the
channel, basin that can be made three hun
dred and fifty yards wide, and deep enough to
float the naVies oil the world.
The gentleman from Connecticut refers often
to the mud of the river Delaware. Well sir, we
do not pretend to say that the bottom OF the
river Delaware is of rocks, and we thank Provi-
dence that it is not; Tor if it we're so, we could
not urge the adoption of League Island as the
location for the naval station. Sir, we have The
advantage OF the mud, if you choose. At high
tide we have twenty-three feet or more of water
in the channel OF the river Delaware; and we
have besides that six or eight inches of yielding
mud, which does not hinder the progress of a
vessel. The largest vessels of the navy and OF
the merchant service have come not only to
League Island, but to the wharves of the city OF
Philadelphia. / know that in one instance, a
few years ago, the ship Cathedral was unable to
get into the port of New York because she could
not get across the bar; but that ship was brought
in safety to our wharves.
And will state also that at one time project
was on foot to bring the Great Eastern to Phila
} delphla, party agreeing to undertake to accom-
, plish 1t; but the project was abandoned, ]
believe, in consequence of some hesitation on
account OF the insurance. There is an ample
: depth of water Tor any vessel. The records o
the Navy Department show that those drawing
the most water, and having the largest arma
ments, have not only been at the present Phila
delphia Navy Yard, but many of them were
! built there, and have with ease gone out to sea
through the Delaware river and pay. Vessels
: propelled by steam aIe not delayed. Six OF
i seven houIs will take them 70 the Capes and
even under the most adverse circumstances oi
wind and weather sailing vessel can make the
distance in about double that time.
Ihnty-hye or forty years ago the foreign com.
merce of this country was done at the wharves
OF the city OF Philadelphia. AT that time they
we're crowded with shipping from all parts of
the world. That was the emporium for the
China trade and the London trade. II was not
until the sagacity of Governor De Witt Clinton
suggested the construction of the Erie Canal
that that trade began to leave that city and go
to New York. The Delaware river now, as then,
is of sufficient depth of channel for either mer-
chantmen or national vessels. None of either
kind are constructed, or are likely to be con.
sructed, whether of iron or wood, which can
not navigate her waters. -
But, Mr.. Speaker, TO return TO the question of
detensibllity, which is in fact, the important
question. You must locate your naval stations
in positions where they can be defended at a low
cost. Where is the location that can be as easily
defended as the city of Philadelphia and League
Island adjacent to it? An enemy's ship could
not successfully make its way up that river. Its
very length is its defense. There are the two