Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-02
Rome Makes a Splendid
Presentation of Claims
For Arn1Or Plate Plant
Manner in Which Her Case Is
Submitted to Anmor Plate
Board Would Have Done
Credit to Any City
By ROGERS WINTER.
journal STAT Correspondent


this city for the location of the armol
plate plant to be built by the United
States government for manufacturing
armor plate for ships of the navy wer,
presented Wednesday afternoon to the
armor plate board in a manner thai
would have done credit to any city il
the United States.
From the very outset of her campaign
to secure the armor plate plant, Rome
has based her bid on merit alone. She
has conducted her case on the principle
that she wants the plant to be located
in Rome il the authorities of the gov.
location. but she doesn't want it or ash
for il il they decide that some other
location would be better suited.
This has been the keynote of hel
whole campaign, and ii was the key
note Wednesday afternoon of the pre-
sentation of her claims to the board
appointed by Secretary Daniels Of the
navy to inspect the nineteen available
locations which have been tentatively
recommended
Nothing was offered but facts; only
such facts as had a direct bearing upon
the subject, and every angle of the sub
iect was thoroughly covered.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Cap
tain Commander Frank II. Clark, a mem
Der of the board, took occasion to say
to T. L. Grafton, secretary of the Rome
chamber of commerce, that Rome had
made the most comprehensive presenta-
ton of her case of any city in the whole
list of fourteen which have been WIS.,
tied by the board.
MEMBERS OF BOARD.
The armor plate board consists of
three officers of the United States navy.
The chairman is Admiral Frank +.
Fletcher, who is a member Of the gen.
eral board of the navy, and the man
who commanded the fleet at Vera Cruz
Then Captain Commander Clark, men
toned above, and Lieutenant Command
er Reuben Z. Bakenhue.
When il was decided by congress that
the government should build an armor
plate plant and make it's own armor
plate. rather than pay the steel COM
panies exorbitant prices. some zoo cities
applied for the location Of the plant.
All of these were eliminated except nine
teen. and Rome was one of the nineteen,
being the only Georgia city in the num-
Der.
Secretary Daniels of the navy APP
pointed the board to make an inspection
of the nineteen cities and recommend
TO him the one most suitable for the
location of the plant. The members OF
the board have visited and inspected
fourteen of the nineteen cities. The re-
manning five are all in the west.
Arriving in Rome Tuesday night, the
members OF the board spent a very
pleasant social evening with Rome citi-
zens and ladies, then Wednesday morn
ing they started on tour of the differ
emit sites which are offered by Rome for
the building of the plant.
Three splendid sites were offered and
inspected by the board. All are in a few
miles of Rome, all comprise more than
200 acres and all are accessible to the
railroads and the Coosa river. and are
situated on level ground in valleys.
Besides inspecting the sites, the MEM
bers of the board made a visit to the
famous Berry school and to Shorter col
Iege, after which they were brought
hack to the city and tendered luncheon
by the Rome Rotary club.
ATLANTIANS AID ROME.
Present at the lunheon were a delega-
ton OF Atlanta citizens who came up 20
aid this city in presenting her claims and
TO let Rome know that Atlanta is equally
as enthusiastic in Rome's behalf as she
would be if she was bidding for the To-
cation Of the plant.
The members of this delegation were
Ivan z. Allen, president of the Atlanta
chamber Of commerce; Walter G. Coop
er. secretary OF the Atlanta chamber of
commerce; w. b. Willingham, w. J.
Davis, B. NJ. Hall and Sam w. Wilkes.
When the luncheon was over the board
adjourned to the commissioners room in
the city hall and there the formal hear
ing was held, beginning about S:15
O'Clock and running until about 4:3o.
None of the speakers spoke longer
than six minutes. None of them made
the slightest effort at oratory. None of
them INDUCED in any compliments or
bouquets or laudatory remarks concern
ing Rome OF the armor plate board or
President Wilson or anybody else. They
confined themselves entirely to facts, and
presented these facts in <ne most direct,
concise and business-like way.
The members of the armor plate board
sat behind a long table. At the end of the
table sat Secretary Grafton of the Rome
chamber of commerce. who called up the
speakers one at a time. In the audience
were citizens Of Rome and visitors ad-
mitted by card.
I'VE will begin at the ground and
build up. gentlemen OF the board" said
Secretary Grafton, and called up his first
(cont4nusd on Page 9, Col So