The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1917-02-08
NAVY YARD HERE
TO Be BOOMING
5000, 600 More Recommended
Besides the 100000 now
Available.

Complete restoration Of the navy
yard at New Orleans, with extensions
are the prospects over which Repres-
entatives of Louisiana were elated.
\ report by the Helm commission
on navy yards and stations now on
the desk of Secretary of the Navy
Daniels, recommends specifically, that
the plant equipment be restored 10
efficiency and placed in such cOndi-
ton that repairs can be undertaken,
when necessary upon such vessels of
the fleet as the eXigenCies of the ser
vice may make it desirable to assign
to this yard during peace or in time
OF war.
The report was submitted within the
last few days to Secretary Daniels.
Because ii indicates that time will be
necessary for a study Of conditions in
order to determine how the yard can
best be utilized in the interests of the
efficiency of the entire navy. big steps
will be taken at the present session Of
Congress.
Beginning with a statement that the
station at New Orleans is well located
so far as concerns immunity from at
tack by sea, depth of water and an
chOrage area in its vicinity. prOXim-
ity to large center of population and
source of supply, ample transportation
facilities by land and water and good
supply of labor the report continues
with a history of the establishment OF
the yard and its present availability
not only as repair station but as a
base for submarines, destrOyers and
auxiliary vessels.
1T has definite possibilities. hOwev-
err. as a naval station for the repair
and maintenance of vessels of the
fleet up TO the capacity of the floating
dry dock now mOored at the navy
yard. II also has definite Importance
as a base for submarines, destrOyers
and also for auxiliary vessels in time
OF war"
/ 1t is declared by the report that the
/ dry dock at New Orleans, so far as
/ its lifting capacity is concerned, will
accommodate IS per cent of all the
effective vessels which will be on the
navy list in 1921. Also it will be
available for the large number OF
American owned vessels which will
make New Orleans a regular port of
call and which could be taken over as
naval auxiliaries in time of war.
The Importance of New Orleans in
time of war as a supply center and
base for repair, the report says, i'm
pels the commission TO submit at this
time definite recommendation Cor The
improvement Of the station along the
lines indicated.
An appropriation of $4,000 is rec
commended to start the work of i'm
proving the yard This is to be il
addition to S250,750, now available anC
100000 already submitted in the esti
mate of the navy department and car
ried in this years naval appropriation
bill now pending.
The total expense contemplated tC
put the yard in shape is approximate
~ 100000. The industrial manager
of the yard in letter dated Dec. :
1916, which was approved by the com
mandant, estimated an additional eX
penditure of $626,530 as necessary.
!, The commission" the report says
lin recommending an appropriation IL
addition to estimates now before Con
gress, regards the work of construc
ton OF a wharf along the whole water
front as one of primary Importance
which should be undertaken withou
delay. Also that the most urgent de
ficiencies in machinery and powe
plant, shop and storage facilities
should be remedied."