New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-16
NEw-LoNDoN MAYNARD.

THE YARD EASILY PROTECTED IN TINE or WAR
SUFFICIENT WIDTH OF THE CHANNEL.
To the BdttOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: A writer in The TRIBUNE of the I'd
nst in an article headed american Navy-Yards, as
surncs TO know what yards the committee viii recon-
mend retained before the appointment Of that
committee by the Secretary Of the Navy, the names Of
only three as vet having been made public Where does
he get his information s the case TO be prjudged be-
fore inspect on This would reflect dishonor on the
committee. "The opponents OF NewLoudOn," lie says,
"caim cannot be made seryieeab ne they say 1t
cannot be fortified against ron-cad feet The op-
ponents OF Ncw-London then, know nothing about &c,
for competent military authorities all testify to the
with which 1t may be defended. Gems. Bernard and
Totten speak Ia their report dated May H. 1926 as fol-
lows: "New-LOndon HarbOr Is very important to the
commerce OF Long Island sound rs a port OF easy
access, having great depth OF water, never reez-
ing and being easily defended IL Is an excellent
station for the navy" The Board of Officers
appointed in 1852 by Secretary Of the Navy to ascer
tain the best site for nayy-yard for ironclads and
which reported in favor OF NewLondon as possessing
"greater advantages for nayyyard and naval depot
than any other so examined bv them" thus testify to
is defcnsbiity, the late Admiral 5. H. Strinsham being
chairman OF that board. In their report they say
"From the entrance OF the harbor from Long Island
Sound TO the site deemed most suitable for nayyyarl
there are on either side OF the river numerous points
upon which iron trets, armed with guns Of
the largest Calhtr be erected AT moderate cost ana
so arranged 20 render the entrance OF hostile SHIPS
In HE article before referred 90 the writer further
saws the channel Is narrow that long vessel can
only enter II ut certain stage OF The tide Tnen why
has every Board OF Commission which las eSauined
the site az NeE LondOn uniformly reported IN w. favor
What the facts The channel Ht me STATION u 90
and 75 wide OF 81 feet and In depth AZ low de
aud 800 feet Of "a feet an more drth aud there
Is depth OF 80 feet $50 feet In width u portion VI
the chanucl. Can vessel only go mp the channel
the largest vessels in the 800 feet onk was turned
around In 10 with two tug. The Minnesota ana tie
Dictator have both been tnrued around ~ THIS channel
with the greatest ease and with abundant ropn 10 spare
OF the tide or Is il true that some vessels when have
been sent 10 Newton have taken up the whole chan
such swell that the vessels sometimes driven from
their mOOriDgs The channe oil the river oiPoste the
wharf where the vessels have lain u 1000 Ieet
wide, OF l2 feet and more depth, ana : or
feet il al our Sound draw So that they were
not obliged TO come within thousand eSt alu more
even OF the UntSd States vessels. Mt tue slghtest
harm or Inconvenience is felt ut the Newondon Yard
The writer SAYS at New London there prtciptous
hills extending the waters edge We say thAt nearly
ali the land decided by the state 10 the Government
nearly level plain Of moderate elevation above the
river aud easy Of excavation ~ proved Dy tIe grId
ing winch has been already made aud which can be done
Tor 20 cents per cubic yard ahd IemoStu 70 e snoiS
where II Is all wanted 10 MI In against tbs quay wall ana
make the graduation complete aud lew acres OF lese
ON a part OF the site ~ excellent granite Just what Is
wanted walls, foundations, buildings, &c' nnd VIII
pr0yc "A saving OF immense sum In TIE construction Oh
me yard Hundreds Vcsscl. take refuge III the harDOr
of NeW- OndOn before impending storm, and There ~
room for thousands more The nav yyaid on the Ihanes
by fortunate location with reference 10 ls dceibe
OF NewY York and waters and commerce ana coasts
of the Sound. By its own intrinsic merit, depth
of wnter and solid land its freedom r. ~ Ice ana ease OK
country which II would be suicidal 20 ignore. D.
Nelc-LOHdon, Conn, sept z, 1875.