Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-27
NAVY YARD HERE
FAVORED AS SITE
FOR SHIPBUILDINC
Special Boards Report to
Daniels Also Urges
Test Station
EXPECT GREAT ACTIVITY

The Philadelphia Navy Yard will berec-
ommended for the site OF the proposed
naval experimental station and for bat
teship building equipment by special
c0nmittee. headed by Captain Josiah S. Nc
Kean. which holds the opinion that League
Island is destined 70 become the greatest
naval center IN the world.
This information IL contained in the COM
pleted report OF the special board. which
will present 10 Secretary Of the Navy Dan
ftls the result Of its investigation on the
ndvlsability OF equipping the yard for bat
heship building and locating there the cx-
perimental station advocated by the naval
advisory board headed by Thomas A. Edl-
son
The special board viii. in the recon-
mendations to be submitted TO Secretary
Daniels, declare that
The Philadelphia yard, because Of
Its location and the advantages OF
the labor and material market, offers
the best reasons for Increasing Its
facilities.
1t should be equipped for the build.
Ing of the largest vessels, and this
should be done without delay.
There Is plenty Of land owned there
by the Government 10 afford every
accommodation for the experimental
laboratory.
Nearness OF the big shipbuilding
yards TO League Island will assure
sufficient skilled labor at all times.
This committee. which investigated
League Island Informally. made known its
Recommendations to naval officials last Mon.
day night. At that time 1t was thought that
II would be necessary TO announce the be-
ginning of work at Philadelphia under the
appropriation available without delay in
order to overcome the suspected combina-
tion among the big shipbuilders. The fact
that three private concerns submitted bids
which come within the appropriation, how
ever, makes IL possible for the officials to
award the four battleshps and twenty de-
stroyers to the lowest bidders
In order promptly to carry out the large
naval program authorized by the last Com
EresS, Admiral Strauss said yesterday that
u would be necessary for all private and
Government yards TO be engaged for the
next two years The private yards. according
TO reports. are congested with work II
becomes absolutely necessary, in the opin.
ion Of the committee investigating the con-
ditions OF the Government yards to equip
the philadelphia yard for battleship work
MAY RUSH EQUIPMENT
It was predicted by navy official whose
opsnion has the greatest weight with Secre-
tAry Daniels that the Philadelphia yard will
be equipped within the next three months SO
that IL can build at least one OF the battle
eruisers and a number Of the scout cruisers
According to this official who ex-
pressed surprise that the private bidders
asked such high prices, the Philadelphia
yard can be equipped and complete one of
the battle cruisers and one or two scout
cruisers as quickly as any private yard
The private bidders have not acted in
patriotic way" said this official. ''They
want to make their own contract and
modify the specifications TO suit themselves
In one instance, however II looks as IL one
nrm had gone out OF it's way and is willing
70 put aside private work in order TO help
the Government We are unable 10 tell
wnat VIII happen when the other bids will
be opened. and In justice TO the Govern
ment u Is necessary to have League Island
IN a position TO do some of the work"
NO BETTER LOCATION
Admiral Benson, chief of operations, who
was commandant OF the Philadelphia yard,
and Captain Mexican. his assistant who
also was at the yard for more than a year.
are advocating the immediate construction
OF docks at Philadelphia for battIeship
building. The former believes that Phlia-
deipha should be made the greatest ward
In the world that with its advantages
there Is no better yard in the United States
and with the Philadelphia yard SO euuipped
the Government will be able to rush its
naval program to prompt completion
The opinion OF these and other officials Is
that Secretary Daniels will accept the
Recommendations OF the special board and
authorize the use of So 00o, 900 In the next
few weeks TO begin tho work necessary 10 |
place the Philadelphia yard In a position TO |
compete with other yards and private con- |
Germs. Engineers say that at least Sc ,OOO,- |
900 will be required 10 put the yard In |
proper shape, and they favor asking Con- |
gress to transfer the entire item for equip |
ping yards TO the Philadelphia yard
Thomas A. Edison advocated the Phila- |
delphia yard for the location Of the ex- |
detrimental laboratory. and HIS advice will |
probably be taken by Secretary Daniels |
Therefore there is every reason to believe |
that the Philadelphia yard is at last to |
realize its possibilities and be made the |
largest yard In the world and the center |
for experiments in making the American
navy the most advanced and powerful OF
auy paffan = |