The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-06-12
NAVAL STATION
ON BIG BOOM

the Lighthouse Station, was in a meas |
ure launched at the meeting Monday |
afternoon of the committee on naval |
base, called for the purpose of arrang-
ing a program for the visit of the board |
of inspectors OF shore stations, and |
Mayor Behrman, who attended the SEES
sion, stated that at the next meeting |
of the Commission Council she would |
have an ordinance introduced to ac-
quire all the land on the waterfront
between the Naval Station and the I'm
migration Station, to be used for the
purpose.
1t was an interesting meeting, and
brief statement made, showed that he
had gathered a world of valuable and
convincing data, to be laid before the
distinguished visitors who are to come
Friday, data setting forth the strong
claims for a continuance and enlarge
ment of the New Orleans Naval Station.
J. A Davis, the officer in charge of
the Naval Station, made a most impor-
tant statement at the meeting. He said
that all that was needed to make the
station at New Orleans one of the most
serviceable in the country was an addi-
ton to the pier space, that is, room in
which to accommodate the vessels form
ing the reserve fleets. Mr.. Davis was
direct and outspoken upon the advan-
tages of New Orleans as a fresh water
harbor, and said that the government
wanted fresh water harbors.
The board of inspectors of shore sta
tions will be here Friday forenoon. The
board is composed Of Rear Admiral ].
R. Edwards, chairman; Captain Har-
old P. Norton, Naval Constructor w. G.
Dubose and Captain George r. Evans,
recorder. The inspectors will reach the
city in the morning, and under the pro-
gram arranged yesterday will be taken
| to the Naval Station at 10 in the fore
noon, on the tugboat Samson. They
will return in automobiles, and at in
the afternoon Mr.. Ross will present to
them a statement from the naval base
committee, giving the reasons why the
station should be continued and made
greater and larger.
Mr.. Ross wrote the various coal in
terests as to their facilities and re-
ceived replies which told of the amount
of coal the several companies couli
handle in day. He wrote to the Sew.
erage and Water Board and will obtain
from that body a statement of the wa.
ter supply at the station. Mr.. Ross
inquiry brought forth statements as
to the cost at which provisions and
general supplies could be furnished the
fleet here and as TO railroad facilities
for handling freight; floating derricks
and labor available. The chairman also
showed letter received from the bal
pilots, giving list of ships of more
than twenty-seven feet draft that had
used the passes during the years 1910
1911, 1912 and 1913.
A copy of letter sent Hon. Josephus
Daniels by the chairman of the com
mittee was read. In the letter Mr.. Ellis
urged that New Orleans be made the
home port for the United States ship.
in Southern waters, that the dockins
facilities be improved and that provi
sions be made for taking care of the
ships of the lighthouse service at the
yards. Mr. Ellis told of the revenue!
that the station could derive from the
docking of merchant vessels and sale
that this revenue would easily amount
to $4,000 or 100000 a year.
, Mr.. Ross asked Mr.. Davis for hi!
, views in the matter, and Mr.. Davis sai(
that the board of inspectors had writ
/ ten him, asking him that he prepar,
t a brief setting forth the advantage
, and the disadvantages of the New Or
leans station, give the reasons why tn,
+ station should be continued or don,
: away with.
'The greatest advantage this station
has," Mr.. Davis remarked, is tn
fresh water; its greatest disadvantag
Is the lack of accommodations for lay
ing up ships. If this disadvantag
could be overcome the advantages owe
other ports would be great.
'Firts of all, we must have fresh wa
ter for our ships, and that we hav
here; and next we must have the spac
for laying the ships up. From tw
years experience in this port l thin
that New Orleans can we'll take car
of handling any problem of supple
for the ships, and, as l said before,
We had the laying-up space here tn
advantages would be great
Were we to link the upper whal
with the coaling wharf we would hay
= 1000 feet of space, but, as you know
:, even the second-class battleships hay
a length of 400 feet, and there woul
be room at the pier for only four {
> them. The monitors and other shiI