New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-24
THE EEU-LoNDQE N4rT-rIBD.

I
To the ERiLor 0f me Trt6Uue.
SIR: The report Of committee, Admiral
Porter caa.rmsu. concerning u1vy-yaris Is queer
document Z, HDt only contraicts all former reports,
far NeHLoaGcui is concerned. but IN many points
cuUtr.a.t- I.,l The first reason gyel for the Jar
donmcat o. ty Nr"LJudon yard Is that 10 |oula not ne
,a ICE from, tt ai. utuu enemy Idls is m d.pect 0p2o-
-rop a. tire wgrle current oi military ana naval author
.ty f,au. the foundation of the Governments ~
cpdir-. OF recent date, Gems. George ". Cal
lana, George Is. Mcclellan, John ~ Din ana Others,
~ We'll as the D1gr1 OF officers who, IN l~j-, ana the
Naval Committee Of The House who, IN l-G4 reported in
favor af NrLou,ou rs possessing greater advantages
,or audvygard and nava! depot Than any other site
aud who testified the fact thai no harDor IN the
g. states more susceptible Of defense against the
entrance of e.t than LONDON" Bnt tLe committee
admit s before closing thcr report, denying what they
q tr>' asserted Jl AT the entrance OF the harbor
lna aiuug i5s good sites FOR lOrts and the
channel could obsructed by t0rpedoes, &c in such
uaurcras ,o prevent the OF an enemy II is
-rn-merc. that ~ place could be made deeus,h.e.
TIE uavy-ya.d miles above the mouth Of
the harhor
TIE second reason given is that "twoud cost large
amount Of money establish a hayward at New
London" which assertion they also show 10 be
Ua:oladoI.Au. TO level the land ana make the ground
suitable Cor landings. docks ships &C. and erecting
..,a wal VIII cosy more than the ordinary expense
u!eln- fro,l 1re amount OF work already performed"
Prouaoy there is no SPOT the coast whore greater
ficife, ezst FOR the cheap construction OF yard.
About syy ,s.tns o the land is nearly level PLAIN, 81
moderate elevation above tie river, and easily graded
solid foundation. are laid by nature tor the heaviest
structures vitnonr piling. The great advantages or
..fs Size have been mlly admitted By those best
Qualified Fl. judge. Capt.. Anmen. when cnlel OF burm
% v.. and docks. standing upou the site. said that
$500 600 vuuI go as fur here ~IUoDOOu at LEAGUE
i.r,- and Clinf-Elr1c.r " p. e Sanger present c,u-
rgrr-d ia opinion. )f the " mills" which the commit
tee say would have % BE- cut down. the board OF
eiyi engineers, VINO 1870 made accurate survey a2t
laid ont plan o. the yard, their report speak thus
Within tc limit %. tine -taIon, IA. eastern bound
dairy lodges Of -traticd granite are numerous. From
these queries, readily developed blocks Of grant" Of
any required dimensions may be- easily transferred 20
ne wal, er uUIIH,- b, OJhcr method can the ma
ri. Poe 1ccu,, 40 srp,i cost The -rAni;e Gravel
T.eir tDIG objection Although there il sufficient
M ~. E No., room rH Iuri far ve..el Wing al areiol
90 SWING, ana difficulty might Dc experienced even III
INIT thai tLa rHaLuI averages 600 feet where then.
would Ac Tie difficult, 81 running long NrsS. on IL
vessels Of te navy. the Dictator and others h!ye
been TUNED WIFE ease IN These waters ana Id hAI me
width of The c.anui The Thames adjacent 20 the navy
H. ' %r, ard is .it15r. and me cl.-Ii,rl j.
niicu wider Yet that ste commended tor nrtihs>
@Tt 12'" ,' Sl G'i Al ann T't o- I
WHAT. ilcs. n be Thames. below the yard aE' above
a. ,I SIIeiII navy Will, Al he & rio K yafI
vessels mast - nile ana A''L 90 WI th' IiNeI IoI
Tie committee give as another reason that there
no certainty that the channel OF the river al the navy
y1r,l Wuld no.. Hl Gp in course Of few years
me board %. Ulcers said, ~ ;c report. tac wat is
l, AND ni,,iici i, 70 Ice :ppreLcLdcd from deposits
at TIL piaC., are the lines u WhuNe> hdIe neeIi
cstssu.c ai.d tl- UuIit - md the BoaTd Of
C,vlI e.. iDecrs Who -p.ut several months at the ste
uhe committee spent Gai On hour. 'aid on TN, pon
From cu.ita before us exhibiting sogndlnES WIN an
=
non Of druosit- not exceeding one inch m four wears
tnis Iuiornauon had they chosen TO do so.
Again. the committee convey ihc Hrd ih"t tue alu vac
located ou tn, Thames under The Supposiiion that the
water was fresh. There Is truth In tins The board
Of Officers said IN their report tac Eattr II SAT ana
tue Naval Coh!Mi.rt lAS' a. = - -,
varying with the state Of the lYer ana ude. oca water
IOl2, Or about nan me san.s9 VI H's WI. m 5
which the French Government has iound 10 De ne pest
Charge bd,ns are lhr"srd Oi san "d'I' nv" "n y
brought fresh water from tAe mountains 10 MAKE INC de
sired pound once more me c"Hhii'ec Hay, Ih'
chances dIc mas Tor INC huIpos's u cI".,,,,"
harUur would be injured low sea "an alnlE to
IIsfly iney recommend that the naval station AZ
New London De turned over 10 tie lLghtnous" bOard
After tie board ,cers acting under me auLHnly Oh
Cong. cs~ had examined ana "ppT1 ca a., sl,t N
uayy-yard and naval depot and after the COMMITTEE on
Naval Alirs haG recommended ~ acceptance loI 'te
purpose Of Locating thcIea nayyNdIH CU 70, ~
cut to donate the site tine United states Tor Inc our
pose named, whchtnc Government accepted anIde'1ta
40 a
water front AT some OF The arEcsl vessels 81 our
navy are now lying, brick storehousss, dWe!lhS
hnfa for Tie resident civil engineer, ana several OtHc
nudInos and some 20 OF land nave been graded
u the proper level, III accordance with pah OF c y,fd
board of cNIl engineers anu approved az
WILMINGTON The Secretary oi the Navy III MS annual
,,e,.rt I,s repeatedly recognized the pledge OF the
'r1lmeur 10 It's Improvement Tor such Use.
And nov n Is gravoy recommended by committee Of
prbc naval officers that Con -ress shOulddclIbcrl;ely
i,r nm rift from Che purpose tie rist To which II
g. .n.rm1Iv dedicated and appropriate II u Use
nee concnpated either by the STATE Of Connecticut,
jouu,,d H. or by the Government, W1cI accepted
il The ste cannot be turned over 10 the Lighthouse
~ prrycr,d no II it, legitimate Use 10 would revert
II M 10 fhp STATE the original prcpretOis 0 me
iand ON the wAOc would seem tiat ,ne committee
rer though intended Ia De against tLt Nt"-LoHtoiI
STATION M I'D the light Of all the iacts, suohS argument
$500 80 90 h.
Aelg- York. Feu. -, 1877.