The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-12-06
NEW RECORD FOR COAST
Continued from Page One.)

the near future there must be
strong United States naval force on
the Pacific. This coast can be
successfully defended only by means
of such a force. At the present time
such force is impossible, as we have
not the necessary repair facilities at
the Pacific coast yards to maintain
the fleet The safety of the country
demands that two yards be provided
with the necessary facilities and that
trained body of skilled mechanics
be maintained. Are we TO have new
construction work in these yards 10
make them efficient and always ready
for the call from the fleet Will not
this question be answered by the re-
ply that we are able to give to the
question that is sure to come? What
is the cost of the navy yard-built
ships, and how long did 1t take the
the yard to build? How long would
it have taken and how much would 1t
have cost If built by contract? Shall
we answer facts and figures with ex-
cuses? Shall we say that the navy
yard-built ships are better than the
contract ships, or make some other
general statement that can not be
proven? General statements like this
have often been used in the past. but
they are not convincing, as the facts
are against them. Let us make no
more excuses: let us be honest with
ourselves and the people. Let us
search and find the difficulty and
eradicate il; let MS put the navy yards
in such efficient condition that we
shall show results instead. If we do
this, continuing shipbuiding pro-
gram in the navy yards is assured.
Are yon men of Vallejo interested
in upbuilding Mare Island? Are you
men of the Pacific coats interested in
the defense of your coast and your
country? Ii so, lend your efforts TO
improve the facilities of the yard and
Increase its efficiency. Give your aid .
and support to an efficient admins
tration. and support all changes
which increase the efficiency of the
yard.
You mechanics employed in the
Yard must forget the old days when
he navy yard were looked upon as
, harbor of refuge for loafers and in
Even now | am repeated
Y asssailed by business men with the
accusation that workingmen are not
TO do a fair days work in
he navy yards. What do you think
# that. men of Mare Island? What
10 you think of that. men OF the con-
itguction department? You know
hat it is not true. and | know that IL
S not true, but what does the bust
less world believe? \ bad reputa
ion is hard to live down, and IL Is
liffcult to persuade those who knew
he yards years ago that great
Ranges are taking place. We must
nswer these accusations with deeds,
lot words. For this reason we should
re pardoned for pointing with pride
o what the construction and repair
department. has accomplished in that
great ship in fourteen months. A new Il
ira is upon us, an era of efficient adj
of navy yards; an era in
which no excuse will be offered, and /
,ur answer will be results. Let all
If us. mechanics, officers and citi-
,ens of the Pacific coast, combine and
work together to make the two Pa
life coast yards the greatest and most
efficient yards in the country. Our
self interest demands this course.
sur duty to ourselves demands it. our +
luty to our country demands IT. be- /
the defense of the .
Pacific coast. the defense of our +
may depend upon the eff /
ficency of the Pacific coast navy /
Yards.