Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-11-14
AN ARMOR PLANT,
No Other City Possesses Equal
Advantages
IMMUNE FROM ATTACK
BY FOREIGN FOES

! Transportation Facilities Are Unes-
eeIled--iron 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 Government
armor plate factory. The enormous
prices charged for amor pate has
been a source of annoyance and enor.
nous expense for years. Factories
4 have apparetly combined to maintain
prices, as armor plate is 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 wocld wide trust.
II has been apparent for years that
the trust has sufficient support in
! Congress to prevent the building of n
Government plant Whether the pres
ent Congress can be controlled re-
mains to be seen The House appears
to be favorable to immediate action,
but the Senate may stand in the way.
The matter has reached that stage
where certain cities and communities
have begun to fle claims for tile loca-
ton OF the plant. which would dndi-
cate that there is nov a better pros.
pect for action than heretofore. SO
strong Is the belief THAI the move.
meht will succeed that Baltimore.
Philadelphia and Norfolk, as well as
other cities are making their adyan'
tages and claims known.
The objection to all seacoast cities
! is their, exposed condition I'm case Of
foreign war, 1t would be the height !
Of .fpllg to Locate a plrnt within reach
of . forsgn feet as i would , be the e
first attafksd Yith4 The he destruction e;5 gfda
OF the, plant, the Government would would
be practically at the mercy of for.
Leigh foe. The force CT this argument
must be apparent TO all f'iiis 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 ia.
yor. ,.,..
/ 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 fnes' quality is found
in the immediate vicinity and is album
dant. A plant located here would be
immune from attack. Labor can be
had in abundance, ard above all else,
the climate is the finest, insurlng the
health of the employees. lq< FiaN q
Some Of these reasons may be con.
sideted trivial, but close investigation
win disclose that they are not 'V.'F'' "a
Transportation Is an important FAC
tor. The main Zine OF the Baltimore
& Ohio is here the Pennsylvania is
here, the Western Maryland is near
and will soon be extended to this city,
so is the Norfolk and Western. North,
! South, East, West-svery direction,
is in instant Communication. sopr
Limestone OF the quality required Is
1 found here and NJ transportation
would be necessary. a.v. ,r..
Iron oresGs here, or il it was found
necessary to seek it elsewhere, it can
/ be delivered here as cheaply as any
where else,
Water of the purest quality, a elf
mate that is lifegiwng, community
/ that is not contaminated with vice,
where labor can find diversion; but
not OF a 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