The San Francisco call., 1913-07-26

which you have to consider-ask you
to ponder in particular the location of
the great drydock and naval station
which rumor says the navy depart
ment Is about to recommend to con-
gress."
The speaker said that about San
Francisco bay and it's tributary waters
are many advocates of special locali-
ties for this drydoclx and naval sta
ton. But beneath the clamor of de-
bate is an absolute unity of thou ght
and of agreement.
TT is the bay of San Francisco said
Mr.. Whitton, that we lay before you.
When one sings Mare island and an
other Oakland and another Richmond.
they all think San Francisco bay. 1t
Is true. Mr.. Secretary. that all our
claims are fundamentally one claim and
the same claim, San Francisco bay
ANY SITE AVAILABLE
The speaker dwelt at length upon
the advantages offered by San Fran
cisco bay as the location for a dry
dock and naval station.
Here" he said, lis a harbor ex-
celled by none. 1t Is not only. an i'm
mense harbor, but a harbor of easy
and convenient anchorage practically
everywhere, with the rails of great
transcontinental lines coming to the
waters edge at many points. Nature
has landlocked it around with her
hills so as to render it impregnable
both in front and rear.
This chamber might justly press
upon your consideration San Fran
ciscos personal claims that this naval
station and drydock be located within
her borders.
But. Mr.. Secretary, the San Fran
cisco Chamber of Commerce has no
local interest of this city to press
broader one and we shall allow no
local issue to confuse it.
I'VE can not and we will not ask for
your favorable decision because it will
benefit us or any of us. We realize
that great national issues are wrapped
up in the decision of the government.
We desire to join with you In thought
and study for the common good. We
desire not to confuse your problem by
importing at this time or place the
sectional or local issue which is, after
all, the demand upon the government
to do that which will benefit the To-
cality rather than that which will bene-
fit the nation
CAROLINIAN BUILT OUR YARD
TT was James c. Dobbin, North
Carolinian who ordered Captain Far
ragut to build the Mare island navy
yard" he said.
If can get in that class l will have
to go some.
II am here in the capacity of a
learner. j wish l could have gone TO
Annapolis and learned about the navy,
but none told me when / was l6 that
was going to be secretary of the navy.
When took the Office ] decided to find
out what the navy needs, and 1 decided
! couldn't do 1t at my desk. ~
THE third day I was in my Office a
letter came to me telling me the Mare
island navy yard. was a second class
yard. I decided I wouldn't have any
thing in this country second class
He combed the files to find why Cal
ifornia and the Pacific has always been
a big factor in naval affairs, and he
found some, good instances. Ya$.7a
Along with his argument for pre-
paredness for war he constructed an
admirable argument for universal
peace that was eheered as long as his
announcements of big naval works for
this region.
LAUDS CAPTAIN MAYO
Complimenting Captain Mayo, former
commander at Mare island. whom Sec
retary Daniels called east as one of
his aids he said:
There is not a person on this coast
who believes more in your destiny,
your cities and harbors, than Captain
Mayo, who, by the way, will be Adj
miral Mayo in a few days"