Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-29
WARE WILL INTRODUCE
BILL TO BUILD NAVY
TEST STATION HERE
Congress to Be Asked to Locate
the Great Experimental
Station in This
City
EDISON FAvoRS PLA N

The suggestion that the large navy
plant and experimental station advocated
by Thomas Edison, chairman Of the Ad-
vsory BOARD of the Navy, be situated at
the Philadelphia Navy Yard was favor
ably commented upon by members OF
the clty's congressional delegation, and
Congressman Ware said tina. he would
introduce bill at the coming session Of
Congress looking to the obtaining Of ade-
quRtc funds to start the work.
Mr.. Edison, II is said. strongly ad-
vocates that the plant be built here be-
cause Of the advantages in obtaining
skilled labor, fuel and steel Secretary
Daniels. according to dispatches from
Washington, will recommend that 81 ,000,-
600 be set aside in the naval appropria-
tion bill TO begin the work.
81 am glad that Secretary Daniels looks
favorably on this city as the logical point
for the plant" said Congressman Ware.
81 will introduce n bill at the next ses-
sion of Congress asking for an appropria-
tion TO start the construction OF the
plant"
Congressman J. Hampton Moore ex-
pressed himself as favorable to the con-
struction Of the plant at the Philadelphia
yard.
"Thc Philadelphia Navy Yard is the
best suggestion for the proposed expert
mont station for the Navy Department"
he said. mir. Edison is entirely right
if he suggests that this port has advan-
tagcs superior to others. ! know from
recent conversation with Secretary Dan
iclS thGt he cntertains the highest opinion
Of tho Philadelphia Navy Yard because
Of its proximity to the labor market and
fuel supplies.
But Secretary Daniels and Mr.. Edison,
unfortunately, can do no more Just now
than make recommendations to Congress,
which must determine whether we shall
build battleshps, erect experiment sta
tions, armor plants, or any other of the
great improvements suggested
when Congress meets In December
these questions will begin to assume def
mite shape, but Philadelphia, as usual,
must be prepared to prove its claims
along with the other yards of the coun-
try.
'Rroolllyn, which is overcrowded; Nor
folk, which is eXpectant, and Mare
Island, which claims consideration be-
cause n the demands of the Pacific
coast, will all be in the running.
"In addition TO the navy yard prOpo-
sition, Philadelphia will also have to he
ready to promote the welfare of its
arsenals. propaganda in favor of in
creasing Rock Island Arsenal is already
being launched by the Illinois members
of Congress, and great claims are being
set up as to what Rock Island is pre-
pared to do.
I'VE claim that Rock Island is an ex-
pensive proposition TO the Government
and that the Frnnkford Arsenal is one
of the most economical. The desire of
the other sections of the country to figure
into national appropriations enters into
it ALL but. to the experiment station
for the navy, it would seem that the
advantages lie with Philadelphia because
naval experiments ought necessarily to
be held near the coast.
Personally, l believe the old fight
over the drydock will figure along with
the experiment station proposition. be-
cause Norfolk is insistent it should have
the next great drydOck, and the official
sentiment in Washington is favorable to
it, In the long run IT may be that these
recommendations coming from Mr.. Dam
iels, Mr.. Edison and others may lead to
compromises when Congress comes to
approprlatinE funds"
Mr. Ware is planning to introduce sew
eral bills in favor of the Navy Yard.
The 17OO-foot drydock bill, introduced by
Congressman Robert f. Lee last Con-
gress. will be reintroduced by the South
Philadelphia member. Mr.. Ware will also
ask for $6,OOOOOO appropriation for an
armorplate plant, and $5OO.OOO for a CEN
trail foundry at the yard for making
brass and iron castings.