The Pensacola journal., 1909-12-19
GLAD NAVY YARD
IS TO REMAIN
JACKSONVILLE PAPER AGREES
THAT WEST FLORIDA CITY IS
PROPER LOCATION-AND IT
WILL BE NEEDED AFTER CA
NAILS COMPLETED.

Says the Jacksonville Times-UniOu
writing editOTially:
We were much pleased with the
statement made By Secretary MyeT
that he was not in favor of abandon
ing any of the Southern navy yards
at least, not until after the compile
, tiOn of the Panama canal. This is
equivalent to saying that he is not in
favor Of ever abandoning them, for
the Panama canal will greatly in
crease their Importance
Still more gratifying is Secretary
Myers statement that he intends 10
continue the Pensacola yard as one
of the principal naval establishments.
This policy is indicated, not by par
tiality TO Panama, but by good judg-
ment as to the needs of the United
States.
If We consider navy yards merely
as places for the repair, or, when
desired, the construction of ships, We
believe that Pensacola would be found
to be the very best location in the
United States. a navy yard should
be located where it could be protect
ed by coast defenses, that IS to say,
on Iand-IOcked water OF great depth.
In this respect no navy yard is bet
ter located
Unless conditions have changed
from what they were a few years ago,
Pensacola has cheaper coal. cheaper
iron, cheaper steel and cheaper TIM
Der than any other seaport Of the
United States, and It is reasonable
to suppose that the labor cost of .
niece of work would not be quite so
great at Pensacola as at the large
cities of the North. Labor would
have cheaper fuel and need less of it;
cheaDer rent and a slightly lower
cost of living at Pensacola than in
the large cities of the North. and
would be less hinderod by the wealth
cr from work. WOTkingmen could
live better on a given sum than in
Poston. brooklyn or Philadelphia, or
they could live as we'll as the work
men of these cities at slightly less
cost. So here are all the elements
OF economy for naval construction or
repair combined at Pensacola to a
greater extent than at any other
port.
When we consider navy yards as
convenient places for the rendezvous
of ships and consider where ships
are needed. the Southern Yards show
their suDeriOrity to the Northern in
location. This is true C conditions
as they exist today, and viii be true
to a greater extent after the Panama
L We should become involved in
disrute with any European nation. II
would he settled by di0iOmats-nOt
bv warshiDs. IF we should become
involved in q dispute with nation
bordering on the Caribbean sea, II
would be settled by waTshiDs-nOt BY
diDIOmats If We were engaged in
dfsnurc with ENGLAND. France or Ger
many. and were TO threaten one Of
these nations with our teet-WOuid
lis prevent war or bring it On2
Every intelligent man knows that
such threat would end diplomacy
and result in war. The little nations
bordering on the Caribbean do not
understand diplomacy. but they know
the meaning OF a warshiD.
Of course. a large navy like ours
Is intended as a preparation for war
with a stronger power but II would
he as strong defense If it were in
the gulf or of the Southern coast
as if assembled in Northern waters
When American interests are lnvolv-
ID 10 the south Of Us. the crisis e
brought on by some sudden and un-
ev0ected act. With a great 7Cwer.
If trouble should come II would Ee-
cesSariI- come SLOWLY as q result of
some difference that diplomacy had
first tried in vain 10 settle. W.
~OuId have ample tine after warn
ing vas given 10 move our feet the
combined length of he Atlantic and
Es,H aO%sLS.