The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-11
Pensacola Boosted by
Fletcher In Recent Debate
BY CONDO.

splendid harbors and where these dry
pie might be very we'll heard from on
the subject. do not think myself that
there is a finer harbor in the country
either at an Atlantic, Pacific or Cuff
port than the harbor of Pensacola
You can float the United States navy
in the harbor of Pensacola. A ship
can come limping over that bar and
into that-ehannel on the darkest night
drawing 80 feet Of water. 1t costs
practically nothing to maintain that
channel. There is no need of any ex-
penditure, not even Of $4,000 a year.
Mr.. Pomerene. Why would it not
be a good idea in view of what the
senator said about Pensacola harbor
to take one and one-half million that
goes to Charleston and divert 1t to
Pensacola?
Mr. Fletcher. I am coming to that
| in a moment. I should like to have
a million and a half appropriated for
| that purpose, if I could, but I am
| afraid I can not.
Mr.. Vardaman. If the senator will
| permit me, I should like to say when
ships float into that harbor they are
| in sight of one of the most beautiful
! cities in the world.
/ Mr.. Fletcher. 1 am obliged to the
senator for adding that. Not only that
but there was navy yard at Pensa-
cola. The former secretary of the navy,
Mr. Won L. Meyer. painted white lead
over it and sealed up the key holes,
| and closed down the navy yard and
| took away the dry dock that was there.
| I think, to the state of my friend, the
/ senator from New Hampshire. He took
| it to some place in the north.
Mr. Gallinger. No, we have not any
second hand navy yard or dry dock
Took Dry Dock From Pensacola.
Mr. Fletcher. It was splendid
/. dry dock. I think we paid $4,000
or 500, 900 to Cuba for that dry dock
land it was brought to Pensacola. For
1 some reason or another the secretary
of the navy decided that that was not
the proper place for it, and it is some
where in the north or northeast now
It really ought to be at Pensacola.
aside from that this question o
locating the dry docks where there il
| a naval base has been before a specia
committee known as the Helm com
mittee for some years. They have in
] | vestigated every port on the Gulf ant
the Atlantic.
Mr. Gallinger. I sympathize yer,
much with Pensacola having lost
dry dock It f1oated out to sea appar
], 1 entity either with help or without
: / help The proposition as far a
Charleston is concerned, is to use
Il dry dock where it can not be move
. out.
Mr.. Fletcher.I think it would be
= | very good idea to locate it to stay
: YOU do locate it at this time / tax
it this dry dock will have to stay. be
cause I think 1t sof the kind tha
can not be moved II will have 4
, fleet of water There is a special CON
n mission composed of officers of hig
D rank and standing which has made
e study OF the question of where til
: naval base really ought to be in TIL
!. country and that commission,
d seems, has reported that the bias
ought to be on the Atlantic, and @
a the south Atlantic.
Y Thought Base Should Be on Gulf.
!. "I was inclined to believe it ougl
q to be on the Gulf. because I rathe
If portion of the world would be in I'll
5 Caribbean. and the base ought to /
II in the vicinity of that region. or g
. near to it as our coast would affor
i At any rate the experts of the nsv
2, department have declared that tn;
! naval ba1e ought to be on the Atlant
h coast instead Of the Gulf coast. an
hey have decided it ought to be I