Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-31
NAVY REPORT.
THE COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED
Make 4 SENSIBLE REPORT.
They Show the Utter UseIessncss of the
Several Navy Yards, Well as of the
Useless Hulks Called War vessels-They
Contend the Country Must Have Navy.
Western Associated Press.

LILO COuluISSlOA VI tuO navy dluB Cdllo a.
tention to the depreciation of the military
marine of the country a. a consequence of
the decadence of it's merchant marine, and
says: In 1860 the tonnage of the United
States engaged in the foreign trade WAS
2,546,2 tons, placing US second in the
list of maritime countries, and our fighting
ships commanded universal admiration.
Ia the twenty years just passed, while the
tonnage of our great commercial rival in
creased fifty per cent, our tonnage dropped
to 1 49,, $40 tons, placing Us third in the
list of@@maritime countries. Our carrying
trade has been wrested from US, and we
have net single fighting ship to bear our
flag upon the seas. The United States
would,
IN ANTICIPATION OF WAR
require five naval rendezvous, viz: on
Narraganset bay, Chesapeake bay, and
also at Key West, San Francisco and On
the lakes. With respect to the Mare is
land navy yard the commissioners say of
its advantages: It's, approaches could be
successfully defended against the attacks
OF powerful enemy. l. is far enough
| removed from The sea to be beyond the
reach OF the guns of the largest range or
any possibility of being captured by
coup dc main, yet not SO far as to make
it difficult of access. The adjacent
hsrbor is good and perfectly secure,
THE CHANNEL Is DEEP
and is never obstrucied by ice. The eli
mate is even and sal1brious the year
round, and suitable for outdoor work, and
dry docks or basins may be constructed at
| g reasonable cost. The yard is convenient
to railroad communication, which centsrs
opposite the shore OF Nopa straits, and On
the shores of the straits at Csrquinez,
about mile distant, is a convenient sup
ply of fine timber for wooden ship build
ing, practically inexhaustibie. There ID
no difficulty in our heaviest draught ships
going up to the quay wall at any stage of
the tide. The disadvantages of yards may
be summed up as follows: A fleet
at the Golden Gate could blockade ii,
the immediate approaches to the yard are
without defenses, though abounding in
the
FINEST TIMBER LAND.
California is deficient in supplies of
coal, so essential to the navy of the pres
emit day to its welfare on the ocean. Me-
chanics are scarce, and for any work be-
yond the current needs Of the yard, labor
will have to be brought from San Francis
co at no little expense and loss of time.
There are no private establishments near
er than San Francisco for repairing ships
and engines to supplement the govern
ment's plant. The supply of water is
limited. The commissioners recommend
the retention of this yard, as it is
the only one on the Plcifc coast
and fultills most OF the requirements of a
perfect site. They do not consider he
question of its sale open for discussion.
Concerning the naval station on the lakes,
| the commissioners say the great 1mpor t.
| ance of naval operations On the lakes were
shown
DURING THE wAR OF 1912.
The exposed condition of that portion of
our frontier, and the enormous amount of
property in those waters belonging to our
citizens, and liable to destruction in the
event Of war, admonish your commits
| sloners not 20 recommend the
abandonment of thu only naval
station, whatever it's dement's, we now
! hold In that quarter. The situation at
| Sackett's harbor Is good, but there are
about four acres of land only, and that
without plant or Improvements of any
value. There is no demand for it, either
for commercial or other uses. It's reten-
ton does not, therefore, involve any ap-
| probable expenses. The commissioners
recommend that the navy yard at New
| London, Conn, be abandoned and all the
rest maintained, and urge the importance
| of preparation IL time of peace for war.
| War, they cay,
| IS THE HERITAGE OF NAN.
| And for the people of the United States
this history will have been written in vain,
| should they dslude themselves with the idle
| hope of perpetual peace; and when war
docs come in these modern days 1t is swift
and terrible. Exposed ana unprepared
as we are such damage would be inflicted
! on US ere we have q nste OF warning we'll
| sounded, as would be beyond calculation.
| But unmindful of the great lessons of war
| we walt for the emergency of the hour to
| force US into measures which should have
been already matured, OF all the methods
which has been found most wastefuI
| THE PANIC CAUSED
by the Vergenus affair cost the country
| 100000 without any adequate return. It
is the popular belief that our traditional
| policy of peace is easily maintained by
reason of our isolation and freedom from
the entanglements which SO frequently
| disturb the relations of the. European
| powers, but this is delusion. 1--WE have,
| in common with all maritime countries.
| interests which We are in duty bound to
support, and the present disturbec con-
| dition of affairs on the Asiatio
! station, the construction of the Panama
canal, the Interpretation of the Monroe doc
trine into our poiieical creed, our growing
commerce OF the Pacific, AID the naval
strength developed by the rising powers
in South America, are each and every one
subjects of prolific questions and of seri-
GUS import to the people of the United
States. The government may any day be
called upon to take It's stand and carry
into practical effect the or bad, enlightened
| principles which have characterized its
foreign policy. To do this and exercise
the moral influence which belongs to the
United States of right, as one of the
weslthiest, and most liberal of
the members of She great family
of nations, certain reserve force is abse-
lutely essential. Now, the number, but
more particularly the condition of our
navy yards, may be regarded as part of
that reserve and as an exponent of oDr