The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-25
NORFOLK MAKES REPLY
TO PHILADELPHIA CLAIMS
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. DE-
FENDS VIRGINIA CITY AS BEST
PLACE FOR DRY DOCK.

/ FLhOE FUR DIkI DoShs
| NORFOLK, VA. Dec. 2s.-That
| Philadelphia liz making such a desper-
ate fight for the big dry dock because
| Il needs the support of the United
States navy to keep Its harbor open
to merchant ships. was the gist 81
a statement issued yesterday by the
Norfolk chamber of commerce.
through r. l.. McColgfn, secretary and
business manager. Up to this time the
Norfolk business organization. which
boasts of membership of 1900, has
had little or nothing to say in regard
to the dry dock situation. because Of
its attitude in the beginning of leav-
Ing the interests of Norfolk as re-
CARDS the dock in the HANDS OF the
Virginia delegation In congress
Statements appearing in sono of the
Philadelphia papers, however, have
| drawn blood from the chamber and
| It has come out fatfooted end given
tho lie to the statements. which, 1t
states. are absolutely without founda-
ton.
No Norfolk Delegations.
Norfolk nns sent no delegations to
Washington. 1t has not been represent
a. the hearings OF tho committee on
naval affairs except through Its con-
gresham, Il. E Holland. 1t was at
tho request OF Mr.. Holland that the
Norfolk chamber of commerce has
kept out Of the fight, Mr.. Holland stat
| ing his belief that the sending of del
egations or the local agitation of the
dry dock question would do no good
with either the secretary of the navy
or the naval affairs committee.
In one OF the philadelphia papers
tthe Press) OF Tuesday, there were
shown pictures OF Norfolk's prese Mt
dry dock rs con trasted with the har-
Dor Immediately in front OF It. The
picture was labeled "Norfclk's Big
Dry Dock and Little Harbor." Under
the pictures was statement set in
bold face type which said that the
battleship Vermont. which was dis
abled at sea on tho return from the
European cruise, was delayed nearly
forty-e.ght hours in getting to the
Norfolk navy yard because of ship
ping in Hampton Roads and in the
harbor.
Ships Have Free Passage.
MIR. McColgtn stated that while
Norfolk has vast amount of ship
ping. both in its immediate harbor
and In HAMPTON Roads, 1t does no tand
has never interfered with the pas
sage In or out of the battleships either
by night or day.
LAS a matter of fact said Mr.. Nc
Colgfn. the Vermont passed UP the
river Saturday morning and was in
dry dock shortly after noon. which Is
borne out by the fact that an enter
prising newspaper photogra pher got a
picture of the ship in the dock, show
ing the injured propeller shaft. This
picture was printed in the Nirgtnian-
Pilot Sunday morning.
The Press also stated that the
three buildings shown in It's photo
graph constituted all the buildings
and shops at the Norfolk navy yard.
This statement on it's own face. when
made 10 a person WITH The slightest
sciutilia of intelligence, gives the i'm
preston that the person WHO wrote
it was either grossly misinformed or
was wtlifully circulating a u1tsstate-
mens
Norfolk Always Friendly.
at Is needless to comment further
upon such malicious and ill-founded
attacks upon Norfolk, city that has
always been friendly towards Phila-
deIphia, and IL evidently shows that
some or the people Of Philadelphia are
In desperate straits 10 secure an i'm
provement that has been recommend
ed for Norfolk.
There is no questioning the fact
that Philadelphia needs the assistance
open the Delaware river, Without the
naval establishment at League island
II would be hard TO convice the United
States army engineers that the ma
ton would pe justified In maintaining
sufficient depth in Philadelphia
waterway to permit heavy draft ves-
sells to enter The fact of the matter
is that Philadelphia needs the navy at
it's back to keep the channel open.
Ia Atn n A. N
philadelphia uses such discreditable
means TO further it's cause. The only
conclusion liz that those who give voice
to such statements are not truly rep
resentat!ve of the best interests OF our
sister city.
Comparative Distances.
ut Is tust exactly three times as far
from the Delaware breakwater TO the
| Philadelphia navy yard as II Is from
Cape Henry to the Norfolk navy yard.
and the expense of constructing and
maintaining a deep channel Ii natural
| Nv three times as great at Philadel-
phia as at Norfolk---and more because
| the Sitting up OF the Delaware river
offers q greater expense OF mainten-
ance than at Norfolk If both distances
were the same 1t Is plain. then. that
| the Philadelphia insterests realize that
| there will be a tendency on the part
OF the government 10 iiiaiHtnAH oAAy
as much of @ channel from Delaware
breakwater to Philadelphia as the
| commercial interests of Philadelphia
demand. BY Keeping the navy yard
| League island. however. 1t Is possible
TO get large appropriations from the
government to maintain channel to
a city situated so far inland as Phila-
deiphia-
Open Harbors Needed.
| I'm the days of lighter draught ves-
sells and little or no rail- transporta-
ton inland 1t was not only possible
but advantageous to use as seaports
cities situated far up navigable
streams. With the need OF deep. wide
channels. increasing every year. there
| is q tendency for shipping to use only
harpors situated close to deep water.
such an the New York harbor and the
Norfolk harbor. A city situated as
far inland as Philadelphia now finds
itself confronted with the problem OF
getting appropriations from the gov
eminent to maintain long and
tortuous channel to a harbor that In
the winter season Is choked with Ice.
THE government should take this
into consideration and not allow its