The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-19
TO TAKE STEPS AT ONCE.
THE MOVEMENT TO BRING THE
NAVAL COMMISSION HERE.

The Advantages Savannah Offers as a
Location for the New Navy Yard
What Busine ss Men Say About It
The Navy Department to be Asked
to Include Savannah in the List OF
Ports to be Inspected - The City
Council to Act To Morrow Night.
The possible location Of the new navy
yard here is the talk of the city, and q
strong effort will be made to secure it, The
fact that Savannah was left out of the list
OF South Atlantic ports to be inspected by
the naval commission does not signify that
the station will not yet be built here
Savannah'S advantages are admitted to be
superior to those of any Of the other ports
that the commission has been instructed to
visit, and the people are the more anxious
TO fairly present them. The
port that is able to present to
the government the greatest advantages
| for site will be the one that VIII capture
| the prize.
Savannah is that port" said Capt. w.
| w. Gordon. Capt Gordon is satisfied that
! Savannah's advantages VIII command the
| consideration Of the naval commission. He
I
| mission here is for the mayor and aldermen,
| the board of trade, the cotton exchange,
| and the harbor Improvement committee
| to unite in request to the Secretary of
| the Navy. In order to facilitate action
upon such a request Congressman Lester,
| whose influence will be perhaps most felt, he
believes might enlist the aid of Senators
Brown and Colquitt in prosecuting the
| matter. Capt. Gordon considers it of the
utmost Importance that immediate steps be
taken and the request be hurried to Wash
| ington.
President Young of the board of trade
said: II think Savannah ought by all
means to make strong effort to secure the
| station. 1t certainly presents the finest
site on the South Atlantic coast. Taking
| into consideration our connections with the
western coal and iron mines, and tle
| amount of business that is done here, |
| have no doubt that it is the most advanta-
| geous site that can be secured" sir. Young
said that the beard of trade will hold a
meeting to-day and will telegraph Senator
Brown relative to the matter, and will use
every effort possible to bring the commits
| sion here.
President Bloodworth of the cotton ex-
| change, who was ono of the committee
| which met the naval commits at Charles
ton, said: cit will be the biggest thing yet
| for Savannah. and every possible effort
l
ers here and impress upon them the adyan-
| tages which Savannah affords.
Ex-Alderman d. r. Thomas said: There
| is no question about the Importance of the
station here. Savannah las decided ad-
vantages. She has the advantage of an al
ready organized city with large com
merce, besides having the advantage of
| fresh water.n
]. P. Williams, of ]. P. Williams & Co.,
said: II think that the navy yard should,
| by all means, be sought by the people of
| Savannah. In the first place, every facility
which can be offered anywhere, almost,
can be secured here Savannah, compared
with the other cities, is one Of the most
| healthy. The government should consider
that Savannah is a great commercial city,
and, lnasmuch as its prospects forecast a
| still greater commerce, it Will be the princi-
pal Atlantic seaboard. | think that a com
mittee should be selected from the city
| council, board Of trade cotton exchange
and representative citizens to present Sa-
vannah's advantages to the proper officials
| at Washington"
S. S. Guckenheimer of s. Guckenheimer
& Son, said: "There can be no question
about the great benefits accruing from the
| establishment Of the naval station here
| Savannah ought to have it. She will be
| able to show sufficient advantages. | think
| that the combined action on the part of the
| Gil and representative citizens, and a petit
| ton to the Secretary Of the Navy, delivered
| in person by committee of representave
citizens. will have the effect. If the object
| is TO locate the yard at that port which will
afford the best facilities, | think that Sa-
vannah is Enthusiastically entitled to it.n
Capt j. h. Withers said considering our
| vast facilities, it seems to me that we ought
| to be respected. | believe that committee
| from the board of trade, cotton exchange and
| council, with a request to the navy depart
meut will be the most effective meaus of
accomplishing what we are after"
| w. ID. Krenson OF j. D. Weed a Co said:
SIS Is Of the highest Importance that Sa-
| vannah should make an effort to get the
station. Her advantages are decidedly
| greater than those of either OF the other
| ports that have been mentioned. Besides
| having fresh water, @ is SO situated as to
admit of no possible bombardment. This
cannot be claimed for Port Royal, nor, in
| fact, any of the other ports"
| Joseph Ferst, of NJ. Ferst & Co., said:
| ut issbeneticial in every respect for Savan-
nah to try to get the station located here
| 1t is certainly to her interest When
| Savannahs advantages are presented they
can hardly fail to entitle her to consdera-
ton. Her facilities are without doubt
| superior to tho,e of either of tie other ports
mentioned Through a committee of repre-
sentative business men will be one means
of accomplishing our aims"
M Y. aud d. l. MacIntyre heartily
| favor any movement toward bringing the
commission here to inspect the,facilities
offered. We think it is OF vital Importance
to Savannah. The best way will be to send
q committee on to Washington immedi-
| ately, and if possible have the naval COM
mission include Savannah in its inspection
| trip. Savannah's facilities over those of the
other ports which have been included in the
trip should at least entitle her to visit by
the committee.
Mayor Schwarz said, ave are not going
to sleep over it, We are at work.
1t is probable that the city council will
take some action tomorrow night and in
conjunction with the board of trade, the
cotton exchange and other organizations
will secure an inspection of the port by the
naval commission.