The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-19
CITY INTELLIGENCE.g !
ron ADDITIONAL LOCAL nms SEE oUrsrpU p,susi

"A gm me.1
hoOSiiTE OiTE OoUNcILs.-The regular meetings of these
OVULts We're held Yesterday afternoon.
chair. SPeIlnB was IN the
communication was received from the Mavor.
announcing that the government has torn sc
copied and received from philadelphia the gift of
League Island as naval depot
me @Ihe correspondence between the Mayor and the
VOmhlt'ee on this subject is us follows
OFFICE or THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
PHILADELPHIA, April 1S, 1867
10 the Select and Common Councils of Phila-
uelpnla.-Gentlemen l transmit herewith a COM
munication received from the Secretary of the
Navy, under date of April 12'h, 1867 and the Re-
PORT OF the Board appointed by the President of
the United States "tO consider the proprety of ac-
cepting League Island and adjacent propertv and
rlghts from the city OF Philadelphia for naval pur-
poses"
In presenting these documents to Councils, I
teel that the occasion is proper one for rendering
you my congratulations that n business which has
involved so much labor, anxiety and trouble to
the people of Philadelphia, has, with the excep-
to a successful close. When it is remembered
that Secretary Welles, aud his skilful ana INTEL
hgent Assistant, Mr.. Fox, for broad national
reasons, have uniformly and steadily insisted on
the selection of League Island the site of a great
naval depot, and that the ablest and most expe-
reneed men Of all pursuits and professions have
ume and again pronounced in favor of its superior
sulaoleness Tor all naval purposes, 1t is difficult
TO lea1Ze that years have been wasted in efforts to
induce the nation through its represen ati yes,
to accept it as gift. Had it been offered for sale,
and disputed question of price, growing out of
real or alleged exorbitance of demand, had arisen,
some color of apology might have been found for
this pTocrastnation; but, as it was proposed to
bestow 1t without any equivalent beyond the good
would do the republic at large, no such excuse is
admissible
The Board which has Just reported, with CEN
tire unanimity," in favor Of its acceptance,
was composed of gentlemen eminently quail
ned by education, tralning character, position
and opportunity, to render a sound, impartial
and decisive judgment in the premises. 1t COM
prised officers of the highest rank and the amplest
attainments in the naval, military, engineering
and scientific service of the United States. The
clear and lucid statement of the processes by which
1T reached its conclusion shows how thorouga
were its examinations and deliberations; and the
terse ana vigorous announcement of that conclu-
sion, viz: that sin respect to its geological, topo-
graphical and Photographed condition; in re-
spect to defence; in respect to the practical busi
ness and wants of navy-yards, docks, and dock
yards TOR vessels of wood and iron and in respect
10 its adaptation for all naval purposes whatever"
League Island abundantly satisfies every require
ment, furnishes a complete vindicaton OF the wis
dom and generosity of the municipal authorities
of Philadelphia, and the organizations which CO.
operated with them, in continuing session after
session, to urge reluctant or Indifferent Congress
TO perform its duty in matter in which, as this
report demonstrates, the interests of the whole
cerned.
formed me that "rhe Department is now prepared
TO accept the title to League Island" ana the ada
cent property and rights, provided for in the
act OF Congress, respectfully recommend Ooun-
ellis to take such action will most speedily pro-
mote that end. MORTON MOMIoHABL, Mayor.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, April 70, 1867.
Slr-ln accordance with the provisions of an act
OF Congress approved February lS, 1867 a copy of
which is annexed, marked A, the President of the
United States, upon the sth ultimo, appointed
Davis U. S. N; Brevet Major General A. A.
Humphreys, U. 5 A; Commodore james Alden,
U. 5. N; Prof j. E. HilgaTd, u. s. Coast Survey,
and Chief Engineer ]. W. King U. S. NJ, to con-
slider the proprlety of accepting League Island and
adjacent property and rights from the city OF
Philadelphia for naval purposes
The Board was directed should they determine
to recommend the acceptance of the property, to
infNr thp Dana ma mi in hair
opinion, of 'the opposite shore of the back chan
mel from the League Island shore" would be
sample to enable the government to have the sole
and exclusive use of said back channel and both
shores thereof"
After very careful examination of all the ques-
tons involved, both directly and incidentally, the
Board does not hesitate TO recommend the accept
ance OF League Island and adjacent property from
the city of Philadelphia, be held for naval pur-
poses by the government of the United States.
copy of their report is herewith inclosed
As authorized by Congress, the Department is
now prepared accept "the title to League Island,
In the Delaware river, and adjacent marsh land,
Including the whole of the creek known the
back channel from the Schuylkill to the Delaware
river and all the riparian rights and privileges of
SAID League Island, adjacent marsh and back
channel, together with much OF the opposite
shore of the hack channel from the League Island
shore" as is described in the report of the Board,
and which is considered necessary "to enable the
government 10 have sole and exclusive use of said
back channel and both shores thereof" as pro-
yided in the act of Congress, the same "to be held
for naval purposes by the government of the
Very respectfully, GIDEON WELLRs,
Secretary of the Navy.
Hon. Morton McMichael, Mayor of the city of
Philadelphia, Pa
a.
IPUBLIO-No. 30
An act to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to
accept League Island, in the Delaware river, for
naval purposes, and to dispense with and dis
pose of the site OF the existing yard at Philadel-
phia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in Oon-
Rress assem- bled, That the Secretary of the Navy
be and is hereby authorized to receive and accept
from the city authorities of the city of Philade-
phia the title TO League Island, in the Delaware
river, and adjacent marsh land, including the
whole of the creek known as the back channel,
from the Schuylkill to the Delaware river and all
the riparian rights and privileges of said League
Island, adjacent marsh and back channel, toge-
ther with 80 much OF the opposite shore of the
back channel from the League Island shore as
shall in the opinion of the Secretary OF the Navy,
be ample 70 eLaole tle goNeIhlheh. 5 " nave tue tne