Evening star., 1916-09-19
P. 7. Moran Cites Further
Reasons Why U. S. Concern
Should Be Located Here.
SCHEDULE OF INQUIRIES
ASKED OF Mr.. DANIELS
Would Enable Chamber Of Commerce
to Reply in Regard to Features
Desired by Navy Department.

Opportunity to present detailed argu-
ments why the federal armor plate
plant should be located in the Dis
trict Of Columbia is requested in let
ter received today by Secretary Jo-
sephus Daniels of tho Navy Department
from President P. T. Moran of the
Washington Chamber Of Commerce. In
this letter Mr.. Moran asks that a
desired by the department in assign
ing the location of this plant be sub
mitted to the local Chamber Of Com
merce, in order that the superior ad-
vantages of Washington may be prop
erly emphasized
That Washington during recent years
has demonstrated surprising manufac-
turing growth is urged In this letter
as illustrating the opportunities in the
field of manufacture here. To illus
trate this Mr.. Moran offers to compile
statistics covering the experiences Of
the Washington Steel and ORDNANCE
on the application for the federal ar
NOR plate plant location.
The matter of cost and diversibility
Of accessible markets is suggested as
first consideration in the selection of
the site. according to Mr.. Moran's let
ter. and he points out that Washington
is the one deep-water point on the At
lantic coast most accessible to coal.
limestone and pig iron deposits and
markets.
Letter to Secretary Daniels.
His letter to Secretary Daniels. in
part. is as follows:
"I have the honor to hand you, In ac-
cordance with your kind permission,
following my oral presentation of the
subject, some suggestions relating to
the availability Of the city of Washinton
as location for the proposed govern
ment armor plant as the expression on
the subject OF the Washington Cham
Der of Commerce.
while the gentlemen whom I had
the honor to represent feel positively
that the site rendered in the National
Capital has a preponderance OF points
in its favor, they realize that their
claims must and ought to be tested by
Investigation and comparison with the
advantages offered by other locations.
THE main purpose of this communi-
cation is therefore, to ask that an op-
portunity be given to the Chamber OF
Commerce of Washington to collate
and furnish detailed information on the
points deemed essential to a tavoraole
consideration.
Among these points. we assume.
would be the matter of cost of ma
terials laid down in Washington. In
volving as well the matter of supply
and diversity of accessible markets.
This involves, also questions of trans
portation by rail and water which. ow-
ing to changing conditions. cannot be
kept instantly available, but must be
collated to meet each individual case.
Requests Schedule Of Inquiries.
.1t is among the particular functions
of the Chamber Of Commerce to Sc
cure. arrange and furnish such infor-
nation in behalf of the city's growth
and progress, and we trust that you
will direct that a schedule Of inquiries
be formulated upon which we may ub-
nit full Information.
Further, the Washington Chamber
Of Commerce urges that the natural ad-
yantaees of Washington as location
for manufactures and for a plant of
This sort shall not be minimiZed be-
cause of the impression that wash
ington is not a manufacturing city.
AS a matter of fact. In its growth in
manufacturing, in new plants estab-
lishea and In increase of established
plants In the past few years Wash
inton has shown surprising manufac-
turing growth and one that empha-
sizes the existence of great natural
advantages % In this line. We submit
that the question of location should be
decided by a comparison of advantages.
point by point. between the locations
offered and that all factors should be
given consideration and not merely
whether cognate industries flourish in
the section considered
ION the question of advantages for the
location of the armor plate in Wash
ington, we present, among other mat
ters already called to your attention.
the following:
. Close to Coal Deposits
"Washington IL the deep water point
on the Atlantic coast nearest to coal
and limestone deposits. It is less than
fifty miles to the limestone deposits Of
the Harpers Ferry region, and only $50
miles to the Cumberland coal deposits,
with both of which Washington has
both rail and water connection.
washington is in direct contact with
all the pig iron markets OF the east and
south. and so placed midway between
them that full advantage may be taken
of favorable conditions in any of them
1--WE especially desire to present to
you the facts in detail with regard to
capacity for handling materials and
products by rail and water in any guam
tity and without delays. owing to the
choice of communication to the site pro-
posed and also to the fact that it is
directly connected by a double-track
railroad, used for freight exclusively.
with the great assembling and distrib-
uting yard at Benning.
I'VE would like time to secure an op-
portunity to present facts which the
experience of the Washington Steel
and Ordnance Company would furnish
and which are especially applicable to
the present consideration"
Calls Special Meeting Of Board.
President P. T. Moran of the Cham
ber of Commerce this afternoon called
snecial meeting of the board of d.
-.ctors of the chamber for Thursday
=. 12.15 pm, to consider the PROPOSE
tion of having the government estab-
t;sh ia armor plant here.
American Firm to Get r. r. Contract
cAIExIco. Cal. September 1s.-co1.
r.t.ban Cantu. military governor OIL
: o,ver California, confirmed today a re-
- that he would build a railroad soon