Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-21
SECRETARY DANIELS
BREAKS GROUND FOR
NEW SHIPWAY HERE
Event NJ a rk S Importsn,
Epoch in Development Of
Navy Yard-S ecure d
After a Strenuous Fight.

Secretary of the Navy Daniels turrsa
the first spadeful of earth marking ths
beginning of the building of the n.,.
shipways at the philadelphia Na,.
Yard shortly after noon TODAY. ~,
ceremonies of breaking ground" ws,.
SIMPLE nut Impressive. touch Of colo,
was added to the Scene by the pressno,
of a host of naval officers in fuu Sr...
uniform. Flanklng them were the nuh.
lie officials and an army of workma,
and spectators. A full marine vpsra'
stood at attention" during the dedIc..
ton
Prolonged cheers greeted the secrs.
tary of the Navy as he accepted tn.
silver spade from the hands of Can,ai,
Benson, commandant of the navy ward
and with a sturdy stroke tore up m,
ground. He turned and passed the spass
back. A salute was then fired
The event marked the beginning n,
an important epoch in the history NJ
the navy yard. From a repair ward Il
has now grown to be bona fide con.
structive yard. Upon these shipways
at first will be constructed vessels for
''o Hlted Stutes NaNF-colllerS, supply
ships and transports. Later it Is honed
the mammoth battleships which protest
our shores will be laid down.
Philadelphia's' navy yard has been lin.
deniably the foremost navy yard ths
country ever possessed. Its natural re-.
sources and location make it far SINE.
rior to all others. The beginning NJ
the shipways is looked upon as an ac.
acknowledgement of these facts by the
Nav Department.
The first vessel to be constructed at ths
yard upon the completion of the WAYS
will be the naval transport Maumee,
which will cost S1,500,000. The contract
for the transport was awarded early in
the spring following competitive bidding
by all the naval constructors of the va.
rious navy yards.
Hundreds of workmen will be given EN-.
ployment on the shipways and the trans.
port They will augment the vast army
already employed at the yard.
Philadelpha's Congressman, I.oguc,
Ware and Donohoe, were greatly pleased
at the start of the shipways. This is the
reward for their strenuous fight In Con-
gress. A bitter battle in opposition to
the shipways was fought by the Con-
gressmen from Virginia. They succeeded
in having the 100000 appropriation for
1t stricken from the naval appropriation
Representatives from this city.
Secretary Daniels arrived on the train
which reached Broad Street Station at
1853 o'clock. He was met by Com.
mandant Benson and his staff, Congress.
men Dunohoc, Logue and Ware. An auto.
mobile whirled the party to the navy
yard. where marine guard awaited as
an escort. The ceremonies took place al
once. luncheon in the sail loft follow.
ed the ground breaking.
Among the naval and marine officers
present were Captain w. S. Benson,
commandant; Lieutenant Commander W.
NJ. Hunt, commandant's aide; Lieutenant
George r. LandenberEer. Captain W. S.
Smith, Lieutenant Commanders w K.
Workman, r. r. Menner. r. S. Keyes;
Lieutenants l.. B. Anderson. f. c. Starr;
Naval Constructors l.. Snow G. a. Bis
sett Assistant Naval Constructors A. B.
Court. l.. NJ. Atkins, r. W. Weyerbacher,
Jr.; Ensigns S, J. ZeiGler, Il. NJ Pace
Paymasters NJ. r. GOldborough, W. s.
Zane, f. S. Stalnacher, w j. Hine. R.
II. Orr. j. o. Bell: Surgeons W. II. Belle
a. H. Allen. j. J. Snyder: Commander
F. c, Fenton, retired Commander Al
fred Kinds, Lieutenant n. T.. Welt
Major L. A. Jones, L. S. NJ. c.; Captain
B. T. Rittenhouse L. S. NJ. C., and
Il. S. Willing, L. S. NJ. C.