Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-21
NEW ERA DAWNS AS
SECRETARY DANIELS
STARTS SHIPWAYS
Official, in Breaking Ground,
De c lares Improvement
Means Vast Industrial
Boon to City and Yard.

Director of Wharves. Docks and Ferries
George w, Norris. with similarly coat
| ed spade, dug small hole In the ground
delphia Navy Yard at 1 o'clock this
afternoon.
| The ceremony, simple In itself, was tre-
mendousy impressive in its possibilities
! 1t marked the beginning of the construc-
ton of new shipways. which mean vast
| industrial boom to this city in general
/ and the navy yard in particular.
In the words of Secretary Daniels
| the building of the shipways and the
construction thereon of the new trans
port already contracted for to cost
S2,j000o0. is the least work to be done
In the near future, he prophesied, the
construction over the small hole in the
ground of the greatest drcadnoughls of
the world.
The shipways were piaced in this city,
| according to Secretary Daniels. because
the most skilled laborers of the ship
| building trades were to be found here.
This remark of the Secretary called
forth loud applause from the thousands
of employees of the yard who had as
sembled in their work-begrimed over
alls. with brawny arms and chests
barred. 1t made hit which later
brought forth three rousing cheers for
the Secretary.
In his speech Secretary Daniels paid
glowing tribute to Philadelphia, it's his
toriCal associations, its contributions to
the country's list OF heroes He said he
hoped in the near future an appropriation
would be made to raise the frigate Phila-
delphia now lying at the bottom of Tri-
poll harbor and that il would be brought
back to this city.
WATCHFUL WAITING LAIrDED.
In commenting upon the struggle now
rending Europe and President Wilson's
policy of "watchful waiting" Mr. Daniels
said
To-day We behold carnage and she'd
dinE Of blood in Europe. Those great
countries have quit writing history with
a pen and are using a sword; they have
thrown away ink ana are using blood.
Wisdom, foresight, patriotism and
great Americanism kept up out of a
war with Mexico. You will recall that
several months ago the press and men
In hlSh public stations were pleading with
the officials at Washington to send the
army and navy TO clean up Mexico.
Your sons and my sons were to he sent
to slaughter, while those advocating the
struggle remained at home. But we were
content"d with watchful waiting, while
short-sighted men camored for war.
You should be thankful that we had in
Washington a man Of the type of Lincoln
who possesses the divine attribute of
patience; a man who has said, I have a
passion for peace Upon several oc-
casions we could easily have made war
on that hapless country. But this great
Republic, conscious of its strength, said
We will help hapless Mexico and help her
md peace. Today she is coming into n
peace and pattering her nation after this
fYrN
thankful you did not have man on
horseback in the White House during
that trying period.
TOUCHES FEDERAL OWNERSHIP
The Secretary touched upon the Gov
eminent ownership Of various plants
which manufacture powder. armaments,
ships and other necessities esscntia! 10
the Government He said he did not
believe in wping out private ownership
unless it was found economically wise
to do So
I'VE have found it necessary TO en-
large our powder-m making plant because
We were being charged so cents a pound
for it, The enlargement of this plant
means that Ne can manufacture all OF
the smokcless powder We need,
When | entered office | found an
archaic system Of bookkeeping that made
the building of ships in navy yards an
duced by the system showed such an
overwhelming difference between the cost
of building them in our navy yards as
compared with private yards The over
head charges We're as high as 81 per cent
in some cases. l have kicked this system
out, and today when estimating upon
the construction of a battleShip. the cost !
Of m-ntanance of the yards whether the
snip is built or not, are not included as
of old This system of bookkeeping is |
fair to all, including owners OF private
sh!pyards. When / determined 10 build |
dr"adnoughts in Government yards 7 de- |
cided To build them in places where the |
accounts for the shipways here at this /
yard"
NORRIS PLEADS FOR BIG NAVY.
Director Norris was the first speaker |
introduced by Captain Benson, com |
mandant OF the Philadelphia Navy Yard. /
After sketchng the history Of the navy ,
yard and describing how the city gave /
the sround upon which it stood to the /
Government, he pointed out the wonder /
iul possibilities of this fresh water sta /
ttoD and concluded with a plea for a \
greater navy to police the seas as a 4
powerful nation like ours should police II |
in case Of necessity
Philadelphia station shortly before noon .
Congressman J. Washington Logue met /
him and accompanied him to the navy
yard In an automobile. As Secretary /
Daniels stepped from the automobile the
first Of the Begun salute was fired by
ships lying in the reserve basin. The
marine hand executed a fanfare and a
body guard of marines came to atten-
ton
The officials were taken to the site
OF the new shipways, $50 feet west Of
the large drydock. temporary stand
was erected adjoining the spot selected
for the ground breaking ceremonies.
Entering the stand the official party
faced army Of workmen and visitors.
The shpways will cost about 10000
II Will be so feet in length and Is4
feet in width. II can be extended to
greater lengths and widths without
much additional expense.
Transport No. I, TO be constructed on
the new ways, will cost about 81 $1,000 /
II will be is3 feet in length co feet ~
inches beam. 10 feet 10 inches draft, with
a displacement Of 1000 tons and speed
of Il knots, She will be ftted with
twin screw oil burning engines Ac-
eommodatons will be- provided for a
crew OF 2l0, 250o soldiers and SO horses,
with the necessary supplies for these