The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-10-28
Secretary Meyers Visit
To Pensacola Navy Yard.


To Pensacola Navy Yard.
whether or not the navy yard In
this city will soon be rehabilitated de-
ponds In. a large measure on the I'M
pressions gained by Secretary OF the
Navy Meyer on bis recent visit TO TINS
city and TO the navy yard.
IL Is true that the navy department
cSnnot enlarge and restore the yard
20 a state Of usefulness without the
necessary appropriations from con-
gress and II is also true that II can
not demolish the buildings and enace
the station from the map. Unless
congress so orders there will always
be a Pensacola navy yard. but as the
secretary stated while on his visit to
Pensacola, "a dead navy yard is of no
advantage to city"
The naval department can decline
90 use a yard and as 1t has refused to
use the yard at Pensacola for num-
Fer OF years II becomes only a show
place for the town. The secretary Of
the navy remarked that a dead navy
was worse than useless as II gave to
.. city the appearance OF boom town
n which the bottom had dropped out.
There Is no doubt that the navy de-
pertinent will recommend that the
chief naval base of the Atlantic shall
be at Guantanamo. Cuba, and that
only one Gulf Of Mexico station shall
be maintained.
The Journal doubts and mas always
doubted the wisdom of making the
Cuban station the chief one and ex-
pending millions of dollars in for.
eign port. The secretary of the navy
says that this decision was reached.
by the expert engineers and naval OF.
fcers viewing the whole situation
from a military standpoint.
While this policy does rot seem to
layman as the best to pursue, we
might as well accept the inevitable
and understand now that for several
years at least. the naval headquarters
Of this country will be in Caribbean
waters.
Whether Pensacola or Key West
will be selected as the supplemental
station will depend largely on the re-
port OF the secretary and after that
bn the action Of congress.
Peusacolas harbor facilities, the
good condition Of the present yard
and its equipment. and the strength OF
her Notifications. are large assets In
her favor, but great deal depends or
what may be termed the within Of the
engineers In the navy department.
One thing Is certain. Pensacola had
Rotary. There can be no doubt tina,
he Ia making these visits withou;
prejudice and without bias and tina,
his sole purpose Ia to put the navy de
partment on business basis and al
The same time increase its efficiency.
The secretary is manifestly righ
when he SAYS that the United State.
has too many navy yards. There arc
Entirely too many In the New England
states which should. on account of tn,
wrctcehd climate in that bleak ant
dreary land. not have any. II Is poo
economy to spend millions Of dollar!
In dry docks and equipment for a nav,
yard in place where the climate pro
hlbits the mechanics from workin:
more than one half the year Nava
construction work. on account of III
nature. must be done out of doors yer,
largely and for that reason, an equit
able climate like Pensacola furnishes
the most economic site for nav,
yards.
The department is taking a step IL
the right direction when it decides u
maintain only two yards on the Pa
cifc coast.
II ia also probably working in tn.
right direction when IL assumes tina
the Gulf Of Mexico coast shall hav,
only one station.
The Journal believes. as do most o
The people. who have studied the stu
alton. that Pensacola Is the logica
spot for this station.
However, for a number Of years tn
government has maintained nothing a
the yard except what may be terme'
caretakers and during this period o
idleness. Pensacola has seen its mos
rapid and stable period Of growth ant
development.
Should this administration decline
IN utilize this point as a naval base
perhaps this neglect will not retart
the growth Of this city Of destiny ant