The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-06-16
Tho Proposed Naval Station.
MOVEMENTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

.}ffa Il POI 10 lIl' : -
The Tyro left Custom House wharf yester-
day morning at about ten, having on board
Gen. Alexander, Capt. Smith, and Mr.. King,
the commissioners appointed to examine the
site offered at the mouth of the Presumpscot
for fresh water basin for iron-clads. Gen.
Alexander belongs to the corps of engineers
in the regular army, and served in the army
Of the Potomac. Capt. Smith is the officer
Mississippi, and has had good deal of expe-
rience with iron-clad vessels. Mr.. King is
Chief Engineer of the navy. The positions
held by these officers are such as to assure us
Of an intelligent and faithful report upon the
merits of the'site which they are instructed
to examine. s 2a sat aet
The Commissioners were accompanied by
Mayor Stevens, Alderman Holden, Giddings
and Jack, President Rice of the Common
Council, Councilmen Fessenden. Fuller and
Marr, and the City Engineer, Mr.. Goodell,
on the part of the city; and by Ex-Mayor
Mcclellan, Mr.. James E. Carter and Capt.
Charles NJ. Davis, from the Board of Trade
Messrs Ezra Carter, Jr. and Fl. 81. Furbish Of
the committee appointed by the Board of
Trade, were not present. Besides the official
delegations, Collector Washburn, Gen. Shep7
ley, Major Casey engineer in charge of the
work on Fort Gorges, Commodore Pope, in
charge of the light house establishment in this
district, Col Speed, President of the Presump-
scot Land and Water Power Company, Judge
Williams and others, accompanied the Com
missioners. The Press and Adrertiser were
the only newspapers represented. tr
As the Tyro rounded Fish Point, the plans
and drawings with which Col. Speed was pro-
vided, began to prove interesting The site of
the proposed fresh water basin is the low land
Immediately in the rear of the Marine Hospi-
tai. The proposition is TO construct large
basin here with docks on either side. The
whole Presumpscot river is to be turned into
a canal to fill this basin. At high water ships
will enter through the lower lock; the salt
water will drain witch the ebb, and all that re-
mains to do is to let in the fresh water to float
your iron-clad into one of the forty-six docks
provided in the plan. The scheme is beauti-
fully simple ard attractive-on paper. We
shall look with great interest for the report Of
the Commission upon its actual feasibility.
The steamer proceeded to the Grand Trunk
bridge over the Presumpscot. The stone dam
which is to turn the river into the canal, will
be short distance above this bridge. The
canal follows high water mark along the
beach, to point near the Hospital and above
the old Martins Point bridge. About $780,
600 have been expended upon the canal; it is
estimated that 900 win be needed to finish
it. The dam, which has not been touched, is
estimated to cost $4,000 or $4,000. When
these works are completed, the Presumpscot
Water Power will have been utilized and the
mills and factories will be next in order-witt
or without the naval station, which we are in
danger of forgetting.
From Presumpscot bridge the steamer re
turned to Mackey's island, then changing hel
course ran out around the Hog islands, and
reached her wharf by half past twelve. "
After lunch the Commissioners again visit
ed the site of the proposed docks, this time in
carriages, accompanied by many of the same
gentlemen who had Joined the mornings ex
pedition, returning in season to dine by inyi
tation at the rooms of the Union Club.
This morning the Commissioners go dowr
the halbor in the Mahoning. The cutter will
leave Custom House wharf at half nost nina