The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-16
Disappointing News
From Washington.

=
The news contained in a letter from
Senator James p. TaHaferro to the
Pensacola Chamber of Commerce,
published in The Journal yesterday,
was most disappointing, TO say the
least of il. II may even be said that
all good Pensacolians who are devoted
TO the Deep Water City and are fully
aware of the unexceptional excellence
and fine location of this, the CULTS
prime harbor, suffer humiliation that
their plea for the construction of a
craving dock and for the general inn
provement of the navy yard has met
with such a cold reception by the navy
department.
1t is true that the full bitterness
of the blow was somewhat aIleyiated
by the information that, in all prob
ability, 100000 would be appropriated
for improvements to the government
building. and. of course, all are CRATE
full to Senator Taliaferro for this eff
fort in behalf OF the city. And it is
likewise impressed upon the public
mind that the senator will use his ut
most endeavor, even in the face of
determined opposition, to convince the
SECRETARY of the navy Of the extreme
IMPORTANCE of creating a first
class navy yard at this point, with
the hope that he will ultimately carry
conviction to the secretary and
triumph in his good undertaking.
: The people of Pensacola thoroughly
Bympathize with, and join in the Nsur-
prise" expressed by Senator Taliaferro
90 Secretary Newbury shat the gov
eminent should endorse a policy for
the 1rpbuilding of naval station in a
foreign country (Gnantanamo) among
a foreign people TO the disadvantage
OF navy yards already established ON
our own shores strategically situated
in the zone of the great commercial
highway that will follow upon the
completion OF the Panama canal"
PenSacoiians also owe a debt of graft
tude to their fellow citizen, Mr.. Nc
Gourin, for the able manner in which
he seconded Senator Taliaferro's eff
forts.
Let us hope that the endeayors OF
these gentlemen will cause a recon
sideration of the recommendation of
the general navy board which now de-
clares lit is not desirable to further
develop Pensacola, Key West and
New Orleans until Guantanamo has
been equipped with repair shops and
the necessary docking facilities for
docking battleships of the first class"
10 cannot help occurring to us that,
in matters naval as well as other
wise. charity begins at home" No,
not charity, but, in this case, real self
interest. For If there is any port
where thorough docking facilities may
be constructed and maintained econo-
mically and where such facilities APP
pear 10 the ordinary observer to be
called for in a most mandatory man.
ner 10 meet the future necessities of
the navy. that port is Pensacola Bay
feet protection and its commanding
location on the Gulf of Mexico.
Let US console ourselves with the
thought that the battle Is not yet alto
gether lost. The scale has been turn
ed an many a contest when matters
wore a darker and more desperate
aspect than in the present case.
Il Is. of course, impossible that
members of naval boards and navy
officers should be as keenly alive to
the peculiar fitness Of Pensacola as
great naval dockage and repair station
as are those who have given the best
thought of their lives to a study of
the city and all that it may be made
10 mean as the natural gulf gateway
for commerce between North and
South America But this plea made
by Senstor Taliaferro and Mr.. Nc
Gourir may cause these officers TO
have . second thought, and as such
thoughts, they say, are always best
Thoughts. it may be hoped they will
alter their determination. at least so
far as Pensacola is concerned.