The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-03-01
Hepburn Board Interested
In Naval Station Facilities
Shown New Piers, Machine
Shop, Quay Wall, Deep
Channels; Harbor De-
lenses Pointed Out

lenses Pointed Out
Three members of the Hepburn
naval advisory board. headed by
Admiral A. J. Hepburn. and other
naval officials. landed in a naval
amphibian at Trumbo Island TO-
day and inspected the facilities of
Key West Naval Station and Key
West Harbor defenses.
Considerable emphasis of Key.
Vests natural advantages and
excellent facilities has been laid
before the Congressional and Nav
al groups. There had been point
ed out Cd strategic position for
patrol work IL the Caribbean and
Atlantic, lar better than the loca-
tons of either Jacksonville or
Miami; CD natural facilities at
Key West Naval Station. supple
mented by u. S. Army Harbor
defenSes at Fort Taylor; 60 Key
Vests freedom from fog, with
Pensacola and Jacksonville re-
porting yearly much foggineSs
and Miami also reporting some;
(4 low-cost of improvement with
ramps, dredging, hangers all
Jumped under a 100000 bud
get. This is far below the cost
in either Jacksonville or Miami
Much Interested
That these facts were begin
ming to be recognized by the
| Hepburn board was evident as
Admiral Hepburn greeted the
Citizens committee and asked to
see the 'Old sub base. He was
informed that it was quite mod.
ern, with five new all-steel piers,
and new quail walls ready to dock
ships. 80
The naval group was conduct
ed to Key West Naval Station,
where a tour of the dOckage ia
cilities- was made, including the
entire quail wall in the Naval Sta
ton proper and the piers now be-
ing used as a Yacht Basin. They
were driven out on the Break
water pier at the sub basin and
there viewed the 20-foot depth
of water in the protected sub
base, saw the rolling main ship
channel going into Key West,
which can accommodate ships of
25-foot draft with ease and wero
pointed out Northwest Ship Chan
mel leading to the Gulf of Mex
leo and also glimpsed the excel
lent anchorages for large ships
in inner and outer Key West
harbor. A short review of the
large machine shop in excellent
condition, I6f the scores of build
ings, which could be used as
quarters, also included. -..-
Inspect Defenses
Next the group was taken into
Fort Taylor, where the coast de-
lenses of sand batteries and big
guns were pointed out, also
magazines, and other buildings,
which could be used as quarters.
From there the committee went
TO Trumbo and took off for Mi
ami. They will go there for a
short stay and will then proceed
to Jacksonville.
In the Naval group were Ad-
miral A. J. Hepburn, senior MEM
Der of the board; Captain Ralph
Whitman, Captain j. S. Woods.
Col. L. II. Watkins; Lewis Comp
toni assistant to Assistant Secre-
taEy of Navy Edison; Lieut.
Commander J. p. Whitney, tenn
porary aviation adviser of the
House, Naval Affairs Committee
during the Florida inspection;
Commandefi c. A. Trexel, Gee.
They were met by Military
and Citizens Committee of Lieut.
Commander Fort H. Callahan.
Lieut.-Co j. d. MacMullen, w.
r. Porter, John Gardner, Isadore
Weintraub, VIM. v. Albury, Bas-
com Grooms, B. NJ. Duncan, Earl
Adams, S. c. Singleton, who con-
Quoted them on the tour.
Another Group Arrives In Cars
Other members of the House
Naval Affairs Committee, who
came in cars, went to the Casa