The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-31
THE NAVAL COMMISSION.
1t Recommends the Retention of the Navy
Yards and PreparatiOn for War

Yards and Preparation for War
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-The report of the
commission on navy-yards calls attention to
the depreciation of the military marine of
the country, and as consequence the deca-
dence of its merchant marine, and says: I'm
1860 the tonnage of the United States en-
gagged in the foreign trade was 2525, ,237 tons,
placing the United States second on the list
OF MARITIME countries, and our fighting ships
commanded universal admiration In the
twenty years just passed, while the ten
mage of our great commercial rivals
have increased so per cent, our
tonnage has dropped to 1852, $40, placing us
third on the list OF maritime countries.
Our carrying trade has been wrested from us
and we have not single fighting ship to
bear our flag upon the seas. The United
States would i'm anticipation of war, re-
quire five naval rendezvous viz: On the Mar
ragansett Bay, Chesapeake Bay, at Key West,
San Francisco and on the lakes"
With respect to Mare Island navy-yard,
the commissioners say of it's advantages:
Its approaches may be successfully defend
ed against attacks OF powerful enemy. 1t
is far enough removed from the sea to be
beyond the reach of thelguns OF the longest
range, or any possibility OF being captured
by coup de main, and yet not so far as to
make it difficult of access. The adjacent
harbor is good and perfectly secure in all
weathers The channel is deep and never
obstructed by ice. The climate even and
salubrous the year round, and suitable for
outdoor work. Dry docks or basins may be
constructed at reasonable cost. The yard
is convenient to railroad communications,
whi ch center opposite the shore of the Napa
straits and On-the shores OF the straits OF Car
quinese about a mile distant A convenient
supply of fine timber for building wooden
ships is practically ineXhGustible. There
will be no difficulty in our haviest draught
ships going up to the quay wall at any stage
of the tide
The disadvantages of the yard are summed
up as follows: "A fleet at the Golden Gate
could blockade it. The immediate APP
proaches to the yard are without defenses.
Astounding in the finest timber lands of Cal
ifornia, it is deficient in the supplies of coal,
so essential to navy OF the present day and
to warfare on the ocean. Mechanics are
scarce, and for any work beyond
current needs, yard labor will have to be
brought from San Francisco at no little ex-
pense and loss of time. There are no private
establishments nearer than San Fra ncisco for
repairing ships and engines to supplement
the governments plant The supply of water
is limited The commissioners recommend
the retention of this yard, as it is the only
one on the Pacific coast and fulflls most of
the requirements of perfect site They do
not consider the question of its sale open to
discussion"
Concerning the naval stations on the lakes,
the commissioners say: The great import
ance of naval operations on the lakes during
the war of 1912, the exposed condition
of that portion of our frontier,
and the enormous amount of property along
those waters, belonging to our citizens, and
liable to destruction in the event of war,
lContinued on Second Pase.I