The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-12
The Proposed New Naval Depot.

The PROPOSED NEW NAVAL OepOCs
Somebody who signs himself "Ironsides"
has sent to the Army and Nauy Journal a
| long communication in relation to the various
| sites which have been proposed for an IRON
clad naval station, discussing the relative mer-
its of these different places, and urging the ac-
ceptance of League Island in the Delaware
river, as Offering greater advantages than any
other. The Washington Chronicle in repub-
fishing the article, speaks of it ass coming
from a source $50 distinguished and disinter-
ested" as to entitle it TO much weight with
Congress. As we are not informed who the
writer may be we are unable to judge OF his
degree of distinction, or of his probable disin-
tefestedness; but his communication plainly
shows him to be either grossly partial in the
view he takes, or very greatly lacking in in
formation on the subject he undertakes to dis
cuss. That this is so we think we shall be
able to convince our readers in very few
words. r.. 81 sssdl b,l. Ca sai, .a,5
New York is the first site of which "Iron-
sides" proceeds to canvass the merits. He OBJ
jects to this spot as being too small, as offer
ing no waterfront, and as having swamp
enough to require half Brooklyn Heights to
fill it up. - ,.or,eL FF .l
3The next in order is the navy-yari at
Charlestown, Mass, quite neat and well-ar-
ranged little place for a private establish
ment," but too small for public uses, and in
too exposed a position.
sKittery nayy-yard in Maine is not worth
passing notice. r
Portsmouth harbor is not defended, is one
of the most accessible on our coast, and it
would be mere amusement for an ordinary
force to enter and burn it down."
"Mare Island, California, is the only piece
of land on which we could build proper ma
Wy yard, }" but its remoteness from the Attain
tic coast is sufficient objection to it. ad
Philadelphia yard is described as ssimply
caricature," and "that two penny place, New
London" dismissed with a contemptuous
word. sl afa 56 80
The writer then proceeds to press the claims
of League Island, as spot against which "no
man of sense and experience can urge an OBJ
lection" forgetting apparently the very serious
objections which have been urged by men of
acknowledged sense and experience. In the
enumeration of the various sites proposed for
this great national work, the writer entirely
ignores the fact that the attention OF Congress
has been called to an advantageous spot at the
mouth of the Presumpscot river in Portland
harbor, and his communication does not con-
tain the slightest allusion to Portland, or to
any of the steps which have been taken in ref.
erence to this place. Such an omission as this
can only be accounted for on the supposition
that he is ignorant of proposal which has
been formally introduced to the attention of
Congress, or that he is unwilling to trust a
comparison between the advantages offered
here and those which may be claimed for
League Island. The result of such COMPARE
son could hardly fail to be conclusive to any
impartial mind.
The entrance to POI tland harbor is narrow,
easily defended, and as safeas the Delaware riv-
er. The distance of the proposed site from the
ocean is too great for the works to be injured
by projectiles thrown from outside the harbor.
There is abundance of land which can be OBJ
tanned at very low rate. The soil isunder-
laid by lodges OF solid rock, which would not
only save the immense expenditure for filling
up and piling required at League Island, but
would greatly reduce the cost of constructing
basin and docks. The great labor in dredg-
ing out the channel which would be required
in the Delaware is wholly unnecessary here.
The water is II feet deep at low tide, and %
feet deep at high tide, as shown by the U. S.
Coast Survey. The water in the proposed ba-
sin would be from % to 20 feet deep, suffi-
Gent for docking vessels of the largest size.-
In addition to these advantages are many mi
nor ones which can only be appreciated 10y
those who have examined the proposed site,
and also the very important consideration that
materials and men for building, repairing and
manning government vessels can nowhere be
obtained more abundantly or more cheaply
That one who undertakes to discuss inteli-
gently subject of such vast national interest
should, either through ignorance or prejudice,
overlook point of so much Importance. is
certainly surprising. 1t is to be hoped for the
benefit of the country that Congress, whose
attention "Lronsides" so urgently solicits, may
not be equally blind. a} - l