The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-10-12
BLYTHE PRAISED
BY COL. BRANTLEY.
He Writes the Navy Department
Of the Islands Ad-
vantages,
FOR THE ARMOR PLATE PLANT
Nine Reasons Why the Plant Should Be Lo-
Gated on the Governments Bruns-
wick HarbCr Property.

The following are the reasons ad-
vanoed by Congressman W. G. Brant-
Icy il his letter 10 Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt, of the navy, for the selec-
tion of Blythe Island as the site for
! the proposed government armor plate !:
1st. Because Blythe Island or rather
about 1,l0O acres of the south end of
the island is the property of the
United States government, purchased,
1 think, in 1857, and If the armor plant
was located there, the expense of pur-
chasing site would be avoided.
ID. Because, by establishing the ar
NOR plant on the island the govern
ment would derive some benefit from
the $4,000 expended for the purchase
of that portion of the island owned by
the government, the government new
er having utilized the same.
Sd, Because as early as 1857 Com
modcres Claxton, Woolsey and Shu.
brick, after an examination of all the
harbors from Wilmington to Key
West, under direction of congress, re-
ported the harbor of Brunswick as the
best adapted of all of them for the To-
cation of navy yard, and, if adapted
for this purpose, it seems to me it
would be adapted for an armor plate
plant.
4th. Because, in the language of the
commOdOres referred to, the island is
covered and severy way convenient
for wharves, docks, etc, and for
nursery of the live oak. 1t is distant
from Brunswick two miles, and has
bold water within a few fathoms of
the shore"
5th. Because further, IN the Ian
guage of the report, "Brunswick is
the mest southern frigate harbor on
the Atlantic ssaboard. Placed near
the great outlet of the commerce of
the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico,
her position in state of maritime
warfare would be invaluable, since
the navigating interest of an enemy
must pass by her door"
9Th. Because it would seem to be an
advantage to locate the plant on the
coast instead of the interior, both on
account of convenience and reduced
frelghts, and If this be true, then
Brunswick, from its peculiar position
on the extreme western curvature OF
the South Atlantic coast, is nearer to
all interior points in the southwest,
west and northwest, than any port on
!
the Atlantic coast, either north or
south.
9TH. Because there are two lines of
railway-the Southern and Plant Sys-
tenn, leading directly from Brunswick
into the coal and iron fields of Tennes-
see and Alabama, putting Brunswick
in easy reach of the material needed.
Sth. Because the harbor Of Bruns-
wick is landlocked, the entrance being
between the islands Of Jekyl and St.
Simon, closely situated, and enabling
absolute defense of the harbor to be
made, and Blythe island Is removed
some twenty-five miles from the outer
ocean bar, thus insurlng complete
protection in time of war.
9th. Because the deep water chan
nels enable deep draught vessels to
enter the harbor. and with but slight
cost to go right up to the island; the
saiubriousness and equability of the
climate permit outdoor work to be
done with perfect comfort and con-
venience throughout the year. Be-
cause the absence of tresh.water in the
harbor, the presence Of magnificent
artesian wells in the city and cheap
ly obtainabls on the island, the ever
present heAlth-laden sea breezes, in
sure good health and exemption from
disease.