Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-25
RICHMOND RENEWs FIGHT
FOR PLATE PLANT
Files Supplementary Brief in Answer
to Objections OF General
Navy Board.
ATTACKS DEFENSE ARGUMENT

ATTACKS DEFENSE ARGUMENT
II Atlantic SeabOard Is Not Safe,
City'S Representatives Argue, Ma
ton Insistent on Defense Has
Been Deceived.
Continuing the EFFORT to secure for
Richmond the s1l,oOo.O00 armor-plate
plant soon TO he erected by the Navy
Department. a committee of citizens,
headed by Coleman Wortham. president
Of the Chamber OF Commerce. presented
to Secretary Daniels. in Washington,
yesterday n supplementary brief. citing
reasons why the new plant should be
located in Richmond. in addition to
those contained in the statement sub
mittcd last September.
Richmond respectfully presents this
request because the report Of the gem
cral board OF the navy has changed
the question OF the location of this
plant from one OF raw material. freight
rates. labor supply and geological
forma ton to one OF national defense
national safety and national efficiency"
explains the brief submitted yester-
day. IL the Atlantic seaboard be not
safe, a nation iusistent upon defense
has been deceived in its expectations
II the Atlantic scuboard be not safe
ii mus; DC rendered safe without
delay. And in this the entire nation
is vitality and immediately interested."
The COMMITTEES, composed OF Cole
man Wortham. :. Z. Morgan, w. II.
Adams. w. r. Reed and W. r. Dabncy
presented the brief to Secretary Daniels
To
were signed tn mans Of John krr
Branch. chairman of the general com
mittcc and of the armor-plaut commit
tee of the Chamber of Commerce.; X.
l.. Peters. chairman of the council
manic committee: Graham Is. liobson.
chairman of the committee of the Ad-
ministrative Board: II. Carl Boschcn,
chairman Of the committee OF the Re-
tail Merchants Association, and How
ard I. Colvin chairman OF tho COM
mittec of the Central Trades and
Labor Council.
NAVY DEPARTMENT
DEFINES CHANGER" AREA
After having rested it's case las, fali
with tho presentation OF a statement
OF It's natural advantages as a site for
the new armor-platc plant. Richmond
saw its chances practically demolished
by the ruling OF the general board OF
the navy, declaring il. with other cities
on the seaboard to be in danger of
capture in time OF war The principle
oi the board is that no depot or man
ufacturing plant for military supplies
should be established or maintained
east of the Appalachian Mountains.
west OF tho Cascade or Sierra Nevada
Mountains. nor within zoo miles OF our
Canadian or Mexican borders"
In answer to the objection. the sup
Elementary brief says:
The general board OF the navy
would not. We take it, bc willing to
admit the probability of the stimuli
tancous occupation of all this territory
by an enemy. hut where defense is
declared impracticablc. invasion il. pcs
sihle by "a combination OF enemies. and
conditiors might arise in which were
this principle sound, thiriy-thrce states
Of the Union might be occupied in
whole or in part by enemy armies"
In such Il case. tho brief points out
the enemy would be in possession OF
81 per cent Of the total area OF con
tincntal United States. in which would
be the homes OF 73.i per cent OF the
population. Remaining in the hands
OF the American forces would ic only
- per cent of the iron mines. - per
cent Of tRc copper mines. - per cen,
Of the bituminous- coal mines, per
cent of the anthracitc-coal mines and
IA per cent OF the notwithstanding in
dustrics.
OBJECTION 4 CONFESSION
COUNTRY Is Df.EE:NSELI:SS
1T would seem to follow" continues
the brief. that il this military princi-
pie he sound. and these States be oc-
cupied. that part of the country de-
clarcd probably safe from invasion
could not sustain and supply an army
and would not need navy. To that
extent, this military principle. il sound.
Is confession that the United states
are dcfensclcss against Il possible COM
bination or foreign foes. IL the mil
itary principle he not sound. then il
should not he applied to eliminate
Richmond from consideration as a site
for the armor-platc plant"
After declaring that Richmond lies
In section which must necessa rily be
defended il the country is to hope for
success in war, the brief says: "R!ch-
mond lies los miles inland from Chcs-
apcake Bay. and will shortly be de-
Tended. not only by Fortress Monroe.
but by the new forts to be constructed
at Cape Henry. In addition. the chan
mel Of the James River is readily oh
structcd. and can be so mined as to
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