The New York herald., 1862-12-26
TIE GREAT RoN-ClA AD NAVAL DEPOT.
Synopsis Of the Reports Of the
Surveying Board.
The Majority i'm Favor Of New
London.
THE MINORITY FOR LEAGUE ISLAND
As., As.s -.

wAsnKaIos, Dec. 9, 1869.
Gwnl be RENE mbered that in March last and again in
June, the attention Of Congress called to the I'M
porsanee Of establishing naval dock yard, with foun-
dries shops and forges for the purpose supplying the
Of the country IN the naval arm Oh her defence;
and pursuance OF OF Congress the secretary Of
he Navy appointed board OF officers consisting OF Rear
Admiral strngham, Commodores Van Brunt and Gard
Captain Marston OF the Navy; Professor Bacne,
Of ths Coast Survey Mr. Sanger Of tho Bureau Of
Docks and Yards 10 make examinations OF New London
h.rbcr the waters Of Narraganset Bay and League
Island Board engaged over two months on the
duty and after rejecting Narraganset Bay, majrity and
minority reports handed in, the former favoring
New London the proper site and the latter in favor
League Island.
The Secretary Of the Navy, his last report 70 Con-
srcss gives considerable length some Of the points
under consideration refers to the report Of the board
OF officers for the details.
have been enabled, however, to obtain very fair
synopsis both reports and the question which
the whole country, IL will be found full OF in.
tsrcst
THE MAJORITY REroRr.
The majority report favor Of New London is based
upon the following points:
It's proximity to the ocean, and s easy 10 and
from the at all Of the being within an
hour and half seamng OF Montauk Point and also about
sqsal distance by the way Of Fishcrs Island Sound.
2. Its complete protection from bosterous gales and
rough sea- by the great breakwasers Of Fishers
island, Long Island, and other islands in the vicinity
g. Its capacity 10 receive at one time large number
OF vessels or any size.
T. It's depth or water.
g. Its Accessibility AZ all times.
g. The small rise and fall Of the tide, II being about
lhrre feet At New London.
Its genial being comparatively mild in winter
Its favorable situation being of the hcaNhisst
ports On the coast.
n liza n soft fresh r
purposes.
10. Its means OF defence by two forts erected
and having favorable points for further forthcations
IL. its connections by rail and steamboats, with New
England ship timber districts
IL IL ID situated n the midst Of hardy population OF
ls. ns proximity to the Salisbury iron mines.
a. The abundance Of building materials in Its imme-
15 rhe advantages Of cheap living good markets, &c.
deposits Of materials the proposed location being neck
OF land containing about sixty acres to which can be add
Cd any quantity Of land desired
H. The location furnishes good foundations, and
IS Flesh water in abundance in the vicinity.
10 The defensibty Of the harbor by ortncations at
various points in the vicinity
THE MINORITY REPORT.
Tho minority report is by far the most voluminous.
aAd b written with great ability and shows great 10,
search. II treats nrst Of the topography Of League
Island, and has its rejsndsrs 70 the majority report
Lsaaue aand situated in the Delaware river Il the
sol o broad street, Philadelphia IL Ia sepasetsd from
ths mainland by an arm Of the river Of two hundred feet
watA sad which not only contributes 70 the desence
g the navy yard site, but will for the provision OF
whars for small docks for depots Of timber and other
ns.eras Hence League Island has all The advantages Of
insnlnr situation from this passage without the disad
vansages 20 which an island At considerable distance
from thc main 10 exposed
Seet above moan low water and about two and half feet
belsw high The whole Of the island s sur
ssrsr all around BY dry stone wa-area four hundred
and ten The whole island used for farming
Ss % ns
fren within nine feet Of the surface, after passing
through the vegetable mould an aluviAl clay or sand
ness. Il tenacious will form, when excavated for
docks and basins, good material for filling In, to raise
fhe water perfectly fresh at League Island at all
periods Of the tide and under all its variations and those
shrsps Point (wnsrs salt all times) espe-
oial for iron vesssls 9he fresh water League Island
AAs little effect upon tho iron OF vessel, while the
sah water Of winthrops Point corrodes the material
more or less rapidly, even when coated.
% machinery near the sssshore and 70 this the works
New London would be exposed, while those at League
me water o the Delaware is noted for being very good
a.d generally used by outgoing vessels from Philadei
phia their voyages and they do not generally com
which is miles below League island
me ,entre supply OF fresh water at wnthrops Point
win have TO BE- brought from distance, and Is not
parable in quality with that at League Island.
The following the advantages possessed by League
e all kinds and materials, especially iron and coal-
One OF The first considerations in selecting for
navy yard for ronclads and iron vessels that shall
b abundant supplies Of native iron and coal and
League Island from It's nearness TO tho iron mines and
Iron furnaces OF Pennsylvania offers great advantages
On the score or ample, steady and cheap supply over
New London.
Iron and coal are always cheaper in Philadelphia than
in New London, which must be the from natural
laws location and the laws Of trade cost and
supply.
adequate many first class establishments being 325 600
sons ls60 6l and increasing nearly ten times what
Salisbury would barely furnish such establish.
nent and then II is too costly for ordinary work
The Of iron and coal the seaboard generally s
s cost in Philadelphia, with the freight 10 the place
added
rnere are abundant supplies Of good timber for ord
shpbuding within easy reach Of League Island. Phla
dephia large exporting market for ship timber and
will be by reference to the Board OF Trade that
the supply furnished Eastern markets this year
has been less than 275 900 feet board measure, u
white oak 600 Of white pine, and S44 900 Of yellow
New London the ocean, being only there aud
eighth miles from the mouth OF the Thames river and
easy Of access especially In these days, when ren
elAds may into harbo near the ocean and lay cities
under contribution. navy yard located at New London
would be entirely at the mercy Of attack from rife
projechss such would not be the At League Island,
near Philadelphia which seventy miles Hom the mouth
d the deiensbie rivers OF the United States,
and Is entirely from attack by rife prooctlcs
With rOn-cads harbor easy of access Is the last 70 be
desired for a great navy yard.
League Island has the advantage over winhrop,s Point
New London, in less exposure 20 violent winds and sea
An examination Of the mae Q. League stand, phadel
phia and Wnthrop's Point New London, will show the
relative 10 be three IN favor OF JelgHe Island.
three times covered by water at League
Island than OF New London, aud the distance OF twenty
three feet depth from lev water line ~ be two and
hall times lees at Leag1e Island than At New London
The holding ground Is equally good In beth harbors
There ample depth Of water al League Island for most
Of the vessels OF the largest class OF our navy.
The mean of the tide al League Island Is about
six feet, and New London two feet five inches. The
sx feet rise % tide at Philadelphia Is advantage