, 1870-01-21
WHAT hHIPs ARE FOR.

expenditure Of $500, 900 for tho Philadel-
phia League Island Navy Fara, criticised by
M1. Dawes in his speech in the House Of
Representatives, At Washington, On Tues
day, which We commend 10 some menber
who wiahes to Distinguish himself by SEN
sible motion; and that is to remove the navy
yard from Philadelphia altogether to some
place where nature has already. been at tho
expense Of making hsrbor. We know the
Philadaphians boast Of their tonnage, but
they are prone to keep ont OF sight the fact
that that tonnage is mainly in Aat-bot-
toned scows, in which the Pennsylvania coal
is brought to tide-water. For large por-
ton Of tho year Philadelphis is cut OF from
the sea, ana her navigation as effectuslly
shut up as that of the lake ia in Chicago
from November to April During the win
ter months aho is not seaport, aad eTen
in summer she is held to be 80 mora by
courtesy than practice. A navy yard from
which ships cannot get to ssa, for large
portion Of the year, is an absurdity; they
might, for that period, as we'll be on the
slope Of the Allegheny Mountains. And in
the warmar months, when the river is free
Of ice, ahips Of heavy draught are often
delayed for wHnt of wates to foat them.
But whatever may hare been the merits Of
League Island as narnf station during the
war, they have ceased to be available for
nny purpose now except to secure local pat
ronage for Philadelphia politicians. Anavy
gard is good thing to run as nuraerY Of
voters, and thst is its principalu use in the in
land town OF Philadelphia.
That nary yard should be on tho sea
coast md not in the interior may be ao-
cepted as seH~evident nautical truth. It
IL not very czeditahle to the intelligence Of
3 maritime nation that, after more than half
q centurys experience, such truth is not
considered ss completely established. A
chip On shore is not o useful machine. II
she is to be used In commerce, ths ahip
and commerce, it is true, can wait. But
II ehe is only war ship, to be used for de-
fence or offence, it is xngnifestly desirable
that she should be where she can inset
othe. ships On the sea in an emergency,
aud not be confined to the zuEn1 districts.
4 foreign feet approaching New York On
hostile thoughts intent would hardly be re-
tarded by the nRval vessels at Lsague
Islnnd in winter quarters and the Delaware
frozen fast in Ice foot or two thick.
Indeed, as hostile fleets when bent on mis-
chief are apt to consider the circumstances
most favorable to their own designs, it is
quite possible that ice in the Delaware
would be counted among the chances. Il
We had no Bea room upon our Atlantic
coast the case would be different. Then
the government would be compelled to de-
eide on what creek ut the head of tide
water he best place for navy yard could
be found. But as We ara under nc
such necessity, md as there are
plenty Of ports and plenty Of deep
water where fleets can 1ide dependent nei
ther upon tides nor frost, there would seen
to be no good reasou Why our naval stationf
should be where the building Of ships and
not the using them is the main purpose o.
The establishment of such stations. There
are things which it is handy TO have abou
the house, and things which are not handy
and chiaf among thasA -lntta1- Is = shin tha
IS rogt needed. Let us build our nava
vessels to go to SEQ, and where they can ee
to sea ut all times; and, as neither Of thess
| conditions belongs to League 1sland, j
! would be wise to abandon that Inviting
and salnsztous spot to the use OF the frog
and tadpoles, for which it bas suficisn
water in summer, and to the 1itue Philadel
phia boys, who find it good akating grount
in winter. Philadelphia is great and i'm
portant city, hut nsturo has denied it th
advantages Of seaside bathing and wate
deep enough and sslt enough to keep iron
freezing. II we must have navy yards, 10
Us put them On tho coast, and not in tn
rural districts.