The Memphis Appeal

The Memphis Appeal favors having the Gulf Navy Yard at New Orleans, whereupon The Selma Times, always friendly to Mobile, says: "We beg leave to differ with our esteemed contemporary. Mobile or Mount Vernon, above that city, are the proper places for the new navy yard, and for the excellent reason, stated by The Appeal, that either of these places is within much easier distance of the iron and coal fields of the South, and the best ship timber than New Orleans."—Mobile Register.

Well, The Appeal is never fickle. It cannot, therefore, forsake its first love. It is for New Orleans not only for the reasons cited by The Selma Times, but for the additional reasons that at a navy yard in New Orleans every description of river, as well as sea going craft, could be built, and there would be no trouble in any vessel drawing thirty to thirty-two feet going outside when necessary. Yet, if New Orleans fails The Appeal would be glad to see Mobile get it. We have always argued and urged for Mobile as the only harbor Alabama has, and as a city upon which the State should unite to make it a worthy rival of New Orleans. And this could be done without injury to the latter city, for do not Boston, within six hours of New York, and Philadelphia, within three, maintain each a very flourishing merchant marine? Mobile has a great future if only Alabamians will unite to help her.