The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-26

Il Is not strange tina these old yards
are .ocated nearer isn desirable TO
the open sea and soaetimes in places
which are not reachd, by deep chan
nels.
Tn to June 80, IA. these three
yards had cost the Grernment. Ports
mouth. sil.2i2, 900; 3oston. s6,1S4,-
900. and Norfolk. $500. 900.
The Philadelphia ysd. built in 1868,
represents an expend ure of $4,000
00o, and the two fir class yards on
! the Pacific coast. Mre Island and
Puget Sound. respect ely s2o,15O,ooo
! and ss,66S,O 900.
The Washington ysd stands In a
class by itself. 1t Is rely not a navy
ward, but a gun factor 1t was built
in 1900 and has had ebended upon 1t
over $4,000. 900.
The second class yais at Charles
ton n9Oi) cost s4.6S2g %: Pensacola
us2s), s7.727. 900, and New orleans
uSIs), s2.729. 900.
Thus our navy yard exclusive OF
coaling stations and otter naval sta
tons on our continental .rritory. have
in the last l15 years est more than
sl34,25O, 900, and these re the prop
critics which a former Seretary OF the
Navy and some Of his herents are
urging should be abandned, because
the work which they ar accomplish
ing can be done more economically
in a few larger yards, as England and
! Germany are doing. II, machinery
~, cannot he idle without ding to de-
struction. and all these yrls become
a military necessity in cat of war. so
as explained ny Mr.. RooseLlt. the eco
nomic question To he determined vas
how to maintain them the least
outlay commensurate wit the best
military result. II must e remem-
bered also that the Caribbsn Sea and
the water approaches to Pnama may
easily he the arena wher our next
naval battles will be Tough
This is the way the del rtment Is
working out the problem. l,the first
class yards. except Portsmlth. have
been retained az they were the idea
being to At them. or some Of hem, on,
eventually with everything eeded &c
construct or repair any so of shiT
which the Government ma possess
] The Government can build NV almos'
as cheaply az any private Irds, anC
the chief cause OF difference the cos
OF labor, which Is so fixed bylaw tina
the national yards ray nowpay tn.
least average cost on similaiwork IL
the vicinity.
L. .-, .A.it,. ~Ll-l g.
strategic purposes: the apprNch to /
IL through "a difficult channl which
can be dredged and kept ! condi
ton only at heavy expense: 20 II 1
utilized as the place where most o
the lighter electrical suppllesfor tn,
navy. the small boats and quipag,
,are made and for the construCo or an,
repair Of submarines. one Of hich /
now being built there.
The Washington yard has for
long time been given over ntirel.
Ito the manufacture of naval Urnance
There they make everything. f,m tn
one FOUNDER quick firers, tn aero
splane guns and. in short. everything
for a ships secondary hatteryto tn
new fourteen inch fffty-fve slibr
gums which will outshoot arahinI
of their class in the world. Their
they make cases for fixed arnfuni
ton. and there they maintar III
t model tank where the nava ICON
/ ~structors make tests OF all rhe'. ne,
= designs.
= Puget Sound yard is regardd b
k the Department as well eauippd. an
3 well located; II Is needed there nd
gradually being developed.
- Mare Island ward has COM. nde