The San Francisco call., 1908-12-06
Evans Address

Naval Constructor Evans. who fol
lowed Governor Gillet, said in part:
This vessel is the first large steel ship
built IN a navy yard on the Pacific coast.
The structural material for this ship was
received about the middle Of September.
1907 and work begun October L. The
keel laid October lS and today the
vessel is lying in the stream. Less than IA
months has elapsed since the keel was laid
on those blocks. Except for the machinery.
the vessel is practically completed, being
further advanced at the launching than any
large vessel previously built in this country
Except for the machinery installation this
vessel can be completed and join the feet by
January 1, 1903, which Is Is months after
work was begun. The completion OF the hull
and fittings OF a vessel of this size and type
in this time is a very satisfactory perform
snce. Furthermore. notwithstanding the
higher cost OF material and the higher wages
paid the Pacific coast. the Promethus
viii be completed at less cost than the sister
vessel building at the navy yard, New York.
new era is upon us an era OF efficient
administration Of navy yards; an era in
which no excuses will be offered and our
answer will be results Let all OF us. me
b chanics. officers and citizens OF the Pacinc
coast combine and work together TO make
the two Pacific coast yards the greatest and
most efficient yards in the country. Our
selfinterest demands this course; our duty
TO ourselves demands t: our duty TO our
country demands it: because-because the
defense Of the Pacific coast. the defense of
our country may depend upon the efficiency
Of the two Pacific coast navy yards.
John 0. Harron, chairman of the sub
committee on navy yard of the Cali
fornia Promotion committe, read Z
congratulatorv telegram from Secre-
tary of the Navy Truman II. Newberry
Walter Macarthur, editor of the Coast
Seamen's Journal of San Francisco
spoke of the work of the men who
built the Prometheus.
At 1880 o'clock an elaborate luncheon
was served to nearly 5000 visitors a
long. tables spread in three of the larg
est buildings in the navy yard.
The activities of the various CONNER
cial orga anizations of Vallejo and Sar
Francisco gave the formality of launch
ing q state wide Importance and man,
prominent state officials and other wei
known guests were in attendance
among them being the ranking officer
from Fort Mcdowell Fort Mason tn
San Francisco and Monterey presidios
Alcatraz island, Benicia arsenal AM
Yerba Buena.
Among the guests who were giveI
places on the large platform in the rea
OF the launching stand were:
Governor Gillett President Benjamin Id
Wheeler Of the University of California Secre
tary Of state C. i. Curry. President Rufus z
Jennings Of the California Promotion committee
President James Rolph Jr. OF the San Francisc
merchants. exchange, Mayor J. J. Madigan o
Vallejo, President D. NJ. Fletcher of the AIer
chants association Of Vallejo; Brigadier Genera
Frederick A. Smith. L. s. A.; Colonel w A
Simpson. L. 5. A: Colonel George r. Smith L
) A; Major George Z. Pickett. L. s. A.: Stat
Treasurer ". X. Williams. ex-Mayor w r. Da
Wis OF Oakland. President J. W. Sweeney Of th
San Francisco labor council: President J. f. Nor
gan Of the Honolulu chamber of commerce. Mayo
W. /. Crooks of Benicia, Mayor F. X TAYLOR q
Alameda, President g. b. Ochletree OF the Berke
ley chamber Of commerce. Adiutant General I
y. Lauck. President Arthur Briggs of the Cali
fornia state board Of trade; President Andrew
n Davis of the San Francisco merchants
association. State Engineer Nathaniel Ellery
Judge W. II. Morrow. Supreme Justic
=. NJ Angellotti- Supreme Justice Lucien shaw
Mayor Francis Ferrier OF Berkeley; Rear Ad
miral William Fl. Whiting. L. S y