Show 0 UTAH COAL ON THE COAST A special from washington to the sun of price utah says the decision of the secretary of the navy daniels to create the greatest naval base in the world at san francisco a plan that will benefit utah more than any other western state except california is due to no recent developments and was first conceived by theodore roosevelt as a preparedness measure naval experts have contended for many years that the united states in placing more of her fleet along the atlantic seaboard left the pacific coast open to attacks from european nations as well as asiatic powers of these experts those who raised their voices high enough to be heard met the fate of maj gen leonard wood preparedness under the present administration was frowned upon until the war was an actuality but as result of the war administration officials are inclined to look with some favor upon preparedness pa redness moves of this kind despite the attitude toward the league of nations the changed view of secretary daniels and secretary baker has been the subject of some terse and pointed comments on the floors of the senate and house during the discussion of the appropriation bills utah fuel needed it is virtually certain however that the pacific naval base will be established an and d as a result utah will be called upon to furnish coal for the entire fleet utah coal long conceded to be the best available for naval purposes already has won a large market on the pacific coast and with the establishment of such a naval base as is now proposed the demand will be increased almost a hundredfold it is said likewise utah because of her immense coal deposits will enter into consideration when a site for the new naval base is chosen next month when secretary daniels visits the pacific coast the question of transporting this coal will receive consideration As secretary daniels has already said it is not proposed to dispense with the mare island station it is certain that some other site will be chosen but even with secretary daniels this is reported to be only a matter of conjecture the coaling of the pa fleet will in this case as in the case of the selection of any other naval station be a problem for transportation experts and it is without question the consensus of naval opinion in washington that some site affording direct connection with the utah coal deposits will be chosen more to be mined another feature that may benefit utah as the result of the establishment of this base will be the opening of new coal deposits it is not known how great is the source of the coal which is particularly suited for naval purposes and the demand for this grade will undoubtedly result in the further development of the states immense deposits some of the finest battleships in the world will go into the pacific fleet among them the new mexico wyoming i new york arkansas texas arizona idaho mississippi virginia new jersey rhode island georgia nebraska and vermont in addition there will be a large cruiser force a torpedo boat flotilla of a hundred and eight with fourteen submarines two submarine tenders twelve mine sweepers and mine layers supply ships colliers hospital ships powerful tugs and radio repair vessels naval officers declare that when the atlantic and pacific fleets are brought together a thing that could be accomplished in two weeks if necessary for war purposes the efficiency of the navy will be increased to a much greater degree |