Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-12-13


water for the larger Glasses OF vessels
This opinion has not been changed by any in.
formation since obtained, Or by subsequent con.
sidegution OF The subject.
Shsr,!d it. however,, become the necessary %.
lcy of the Government to make great addition
10 It's naval force. it is possible they NAV ALI bc
found useful, especially Tor the repair; of the
smaller CLASSES of vessels and as dcro:s for MAZE
.ials for the Navy, collected from tie ,cn,guou.
country.
Whatever course may be pursued in relation
to these establishments, it is believed 80 be Of
the utmost Importance to the security and GENE.
RI! interests Of the Navy that other positions be
snnght for. possessing great advantages. and no,
Ii Bile to the objections which have been men
toned.
Few positions on our maritime frontier offer I'll
the requisites for such purposes. But where
these are found 1t cannot BE- good policy. to ne
glect the measures necessary to secure the pos.
session and improvement OF them.
The advantages believed 20 b. possessed bv inc
Dry Tortugas. in the Gull of Ne, leo. for such
an establishment, have heretofore beef represent
ed to Congress, and il is much TO be desired thai
the opinions o! Tie intelligent naval officers who
have, commended this position should be tested
b, the NOR" minute examinations ui Engineers
possessing the scientific know ledge necessary for
it. accurate determination.
Pensacola. as place OF depot and resort lol
vessels OF war requiring supplies or repairs, has
much 10 recommend Il, being contiguous to that
part Of he United States coast which, which i,
mag bc Presumed. twill long be necessary snoud
be guarded. particularly by that class of vessels
which can safely enter it. harbor, possessing
healthiul climate. and the country in its neigh
borhood Astounding with the best materials for the
construc ton u vessels Of war. But, as a place
OF General rendezvous for fleets or sauaLrons
composed OF ships of the largest classes. cannot,
In the present state of the entrance into IFS harbor
be regarded as offering the required facilities
From report made by the Departmental War
to the House Of Representatives on the 9Th Feb.
ruary. 1880. it appears thata survey was made
ofts habor during the preceding year. with
view of determining the pracIicabIitv of deepen.
H. the channel ct The entrance into this Larbor,
and thus adapting it TO the q cat purposes Of ma.
va! depot for tie United States Navy.
The result Of this survey was entirely favorable
to the expectation Of success from such an an
dertakine, and at an expense not estimated 10
exceed 100000. Whether tie work, If it
could be accomplished, would secure pcrma.
nent facility of entrance. unnfuenccd by the
operations of tie tides and storms. can only be
determined by the experiment. The object
however. is one of deep interest 10 those secons
of the United States embraced within the valley
of the Mississippi, as well as to those engaged in
conveying their productions to market.
The communication made by the Commission
ers o. the Navy, dated 10Th October 1929. and
addressed TO you, with the report Ola naval affairs
at tie commencement of the last session of Con
gress. afforded some ia relation to the iit-
ness of the harbor Of New Port. Rhode Island,
or some place in the MANGANESE bar, for a naval
depot and rendezvous for the United State Ma
Wy.
From this it appears that the general ad,anta-
ses of this harbor or bay, for such purposes. are
IN some respects. superior to any position If
the Chesapeake bay. In addition to The uir-
nation furnished by this document, il will be
found. on reference to the surveys of Captains
Evans and Perry, made by order of A., Navy
Department in 1915 and 1917, that the place.
referred to combine almost every advantage desi-
rable for such an establishment; especial, Il ia.
cility OF Ingress and eeress. with a sufficient
depth of water for ships Of the arees, Glasses. asd
Ut a capacity to admit the araes, fleets 10 ride
within their waters. in security from storms, or
Instructions from Accommodations Of ice: that is
Of convenient attack or retreat from an enemy;
aud that, from the number and nature of the
channels OF entrance and departure. feet could
rot be bockaded within it without an apple alton
II force incomparabIy greater thar the In
ended to be shut up; and that it is believed t" be
lefenslbe at an expense far less than that which
las been incurred for similar objects. In addi
ion to these important odsantases. il j, described
~ the officers above named a. admitting Of the
entrance of vessels with the wind blowing from
POINTS of the compass during the prevalence of
which it would be impossible to make Il port in
ny harbor on the eastern coast Of the United
states. This peculiar facility might, if the har
or vas properly defended. result i'll the security
i a fleet from the attacks of i superior enemy,
nd affords the strongest inducements to prOvIe
Or lis scientiiical survey. ard the deicrmnatloa
all the points connected with the subject.
II is respectfully recommended that an 'ppro'
Ration be made, authorizing such survey b. the
roper Engiseers, of the Lsrbor of NrwY"r, az
Their POSITIONS on Naraganset bay, with view
the selection OF site offering the greatest Cm'
er OF these advantages, and susceptible OF de
nee al the least expense To the nation.