Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-11-15
AN ARMOR PLANT,
No Other City Possesses Equal
Advantages
IMMUNE FROM ATTACK
BY FOREIGN FOES

Transportation Facilities Are unex.
celled--lron Ore In Abundant Guam.
tity--Limestone OF Purest Quality
Every Possible Advantage With
No Disadvantages.
A bill is before Congress providing
for the construction Of a Government
armor plate factory The enormous
prices charged for afmor pate has
been source Of annoyance and enor-
nous expense for years. Factories
have apparetly combined TO maintain
prices, as armor plate lis practically
the same price the world over. That
being true, this Government, as well
as others are now and have been at
the mercy of the world wide trust.
1t has been apparent for years that
the TRUST has sufficient support In
Congress to prevent the building of a
Government plant. Whether the pres
emit Congress can be controlled re-
mains to be seen. The House appears
to be favorable to immediate action,
but the Senate may stand i'm the way.
The matter has reached that stage
where certain cities and communities
have begun to file claims for the loca-
ton of the plant. which would indi-
cate that there is now a better pros
pect for acton than heretofore. So
strong is the belief that the move.
ment will succeed that Baltimore,
Philadelphia and Norfolk, as well as
other cities are making their advan.
tages and claims known.
The objection to all seacoast cities
is their exposed condition IN case OF
foreign war 1t would be the height
of folly to locate a plant Within reach
of foreign feet as 1t would be the
first attacked. With the destruction
of the plant, the Government would
be practically at the mercy OF for.
eign foe. The force Of this argument
must be apparent to ALL This being
true. the only logical location is some
point practically immune from attack.
There are many such many that can
present strong arguments in their fa-
vor.
In the selection OF location, there
is no point that can present stronger
arguments In dts favor than Martins
burg. Its location is superb. Trans.
portation facilities are unexcelled.
Limestone, an essential, is abundant.
Iron ore of the fines quality is found
In the immediate vicinity and lis album
dant. A plant located here would be
immune from attack. Labor can be
had in abundance. and above all else,
the climate is the finest, insuring the
health Of the employees.
Some OF these reasons may be con-
sidered trivial, but close investigation
will disclose that the are not
Transportation is an important fac
tor. The main line of the Baltimore
& Ohio is here, the Pennsylvania lis
here, the Western Maryland is near
and will soon be extended to this city,
so is the Norfolk and Western. North
South. East, West-every direction
! is i'm instant communication.
Limestone of the quality required il
found here and NJ transportation
would be necessary.
Iron ore IFS here, or il 1t was found
necessary to seek it elsewhere, it can
be delivered here as cheaply as any
where else.
Water of the pursst quality, eli
mate that is lifegivng. community
that is not contaminated with vice
/ where labor can find diversion; but
not of hurtful nature. All OF these
reasons dmpel to the belief that there
is not another location that presents
so many enticing features, without
any of the objections that can be urg
ed against any other