Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-21
SECRETARY DANIELS
BREAKS GROUND FOR
NEW SHIPWAY HERR
Event NJ a rk S Importan,
Epoch in Development d
Navy Yards ec cured d
After a Strenuous Fight.

Secretary of the Navy Daniels turp.,
the first spadeful OF earth marking IN.
beginning of the building of the MAJ,
shpways at the Philadelphia Nav
Yard shortly after noon today Tn,
ceremonies of breaking ground" we,.
simple. but impressive. A touch Of coin,
was added to the scene by the preserc,
of a host of naval officers in full drs,.
uniform. Flanking them were the NM
lie officials and an army OF workme,
and spectators. A full marine pua,s
stood at attention" during the dedis,.
ton.
Prolonged cheers greeted the sec-..
tary of the Navy as he accepted M.
silver spade from the hands of CaptaIr
Benson, commandant of the navy ward
and with a sturdy stroke tore up In
ground He turned and passed the spads
back. A salute was then fired.
The event marked the beginning N
an important epoch in the history n
the navy yard. From repair yard h
has now grown to be bona fide CON.
structive yard. Upon these shipway,
at first will be constructed vessels IA,
the United States Navy-colliers, supps
ships and transports. Later it Is hoped
the mammoth battleships which protect
our shores will be laid down.
Philadelphia's navy yard has been I'm,
deniably the foremost navy yard thu
country ever possessed. It's natural re-.
sources and location make it far supe.
rior to all others. The beginning q,
the shipways is looked upon as an sc.
acknowledgement of these facts by ths
Navy Department.
The first vessel to be constructed at thu
yard upon the completion of the ways
will be the naval transport Maunse
which will cost $1,000, 900. 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.
Philadelphia Congressman, Logue,
Ware and Donohoe, were greatly pleased
at the start of the shipways. This is ths
reward for their strenuous fight in Com
gress. A bitter battle in opposition Ia
the shipways was fought by the Con-
gressmen from Virginia They succeeded
in having the 100000 appropriation for
it stricken from the naval appropriation
bill, only to be reinserted by action of thu
Representatives from this city.
Secretary Daniels arrived on the train
which reached Broad Street Station al
1853 o'clock. He was met by Com,
mandant Benson and his staff, Congress.
men Donohoe, Logue and Ware. An auto.
mobile whirled the party to the nav
yard, where marine guard awaited Al
an escort. The ceremonies took place al
once. A luncheon in the sail loft follow.
ed the ground breaking.
Among the naval and marine officer
present were Captain w. S. Benson,
commandant; Lieutenant Commander w
NJ. Hunt, commandments aide; Lieutenant
George B. Landenberger, Captain w. s.
Smith, Lieutenant Commanders W. K
Workman. r. T. Menner. r. S. Keyes
Lieutenants l.. B. Anderson. F.. C. Starr;
Naval Constructors e. Snow. G. A. Bis
sett; Assistant Naval Constructors A. B.
Court. L. NJ. Atkins. r. w. Weyerbacher
Jr. Ensigns s. ]. Zeigler, Z. NJ. Paa;
Paymasters NJ. r. Goldborough, w. s.
Zane. e. S. Stalnacher w. ]. Hine, R.
II. Orr, j. o. Bell; Surgeons w. H. Bell,
A. II. Allen, j. j. Snyder; Commando
f. C. Fenton, retired; Commander Az
fred Kinds, Lieutenant H. E. Welt
Major e. A. Jones, U. S. NJ. c.; Captain
B. T. Rittenhouse. U. S. NJ. c.. and
Lieutenant E. S. willing, U. S. NJ. C.