The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-01-23
FOLDERS ARE
BEING ISSUED
Gives Reason Why the Navy
Yard Here Should Be
Improved.

The Chamber of Commerce has had
printed and is distributing folders
setting forth in an excellent manner
reasons why the Pensacola navy yard
should be improved. These folders
are being sent to commercial bodies
in southern and western states, and
also given to business men to place
in their business letters. They are
as follows:
THE northeast coast has five big
navy yard: at Norfolk. Philadelphia,
New York, Boston and Portsmouth.
Each of these gets more work and
more money for improvement than
all the yards on the gulf combined.
although the nearest of them is l.
400 miles from the probable center
of future naval operations, the Carib-
bean Sea.
There is a navy yard on the gulf,
at Pensacola, less than half this dis
lance away, with land-lOcked mar
Dor adequate to hold all the ships OF
the navy, and fortified to resist any
attack This is the best haTbor south
of Norfolk, with 33 fet of water on
of Norfolk with 50 feet of water on
along the navy yard wharves.
"A crippled feet could lie in this
harbor. safe from attack. with Sc
cure line of supplies behind. 1t would
be in easy steaming distance of the
Caribbean, with a safe, straight pass
age This yard should be equipped to
do any sort of shipbuilding and repair
work, that such a feet might be
speedily refitted, and reinforced with
new vessels, if necessary
Tracks which connect with the
Louisville & Nashville railroad run
into the Pensacola navy yard. Water
freight lines pass in front of it.
Birmingham is go miles north. with
a direct connection. The trade cen
tiers of the west and south are in
easy reach. Material and supplies
| can be obtained readily, at a reason
able cost. Labor will remain, glad
! ", if given continuous work. Climate
and health conditions are ideal Work
may be done in the open all the
| year round. The government owns
more land and water front here than
| it can ever use. There is plenty OF
pure artesian water close at hand.
Work has been. and can be. done
at Pensacola at low cost; as low as,
and in many cases lower, than at
other navy yards. Both wood and
steel vessels have been built here to
advantage; a steel steamer for the
army at a lower cost than offered by
any Atlantic coast shipyaTd. Prop
erly equipped and given continuous
work, the Pensacola yard Will equal
or excel any in the country for econ
omy. quantity and quality of work.
And it's position makes it likely to
become, strategically. perhaps the
most important navy yard the gov
eminent owns.
The Guantanamo station can never
be counted upon as a dependable or
satisfactory base. Water for it must
| be piped eighteen miles The climate
lis hot and enervating. II is in dan
ger from earthquake and pestiIence
J No American workman Will remain
there long. Foreign territory is
around it and adjacent. It is sus-
/ ceptible to attack from the land on
( two sides. 1t has no protected line
of supplies.
"All the argument is in favor OF
/ Pensacola. Every consideration
strategy, economy. safety-demands
/ a first-class navy yard on the gulf
The stimulus to ship building anC
/ commerce would be of untold value tt
the west and south.
This development should be start
ed at once. You can help. Write &c
your congressman and senators and
tell them you want to see a first class
navy yard established on the Gulf Of
Mexico.
Let us know what action you
take
From Start TO Finish