Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-09-10
me posT-IMTElucEMcER PUB. co
cSaTIYiCAIIoNs ASD NAvs YARD.

Al one result Of the trip made on the
sssmer Geo. 4. Starr. las, June, by
Go. Niles, Senator Sherman. President
la.ms and their parties, We have the
snGklette following from the General
ossssnding the department:
aupoRs DKp'r on TIE CoLuMnEA,
VANCOUVER, w. T., July Z, 1885.
TO the Assistant Adj,aaat Geasrai,
Drss;or Of the Pacific, Presidio. Sas
Franeisco, Cal.-HIn: desire again 10
nj attention to the Importance Of the
iortifoations at the entrance OF Puget
eound.
Ia company with Colonel Mendell,
Major Jonss snd Captain Powell, of the
Engineer Corps, have recently visited
he principal points that havs hereto
fore been mentioned In several com
nunioations from these headquarters,
md sm fpily Impressed With shs neoes-
sty q The Government taking such 40
tisn As Wili secure proper dsfenee 20 the
ersat commercial interests Of Puget
Soand. These are certainly increasing
svery year. and have now reached such
naenitads as 10 become Of national in
ssrsst. Many reports have been for
vsrdsd and are now on file In this de-
partmept, and particularly in the office
of the Chief Engineer Of the Army.
Last year I detailed q board OF ex'
perpnesd officers, consisting Of Major
1psfs. Captain Taylor and Captain
u[ufrny, 70 examine the subject, and
tbsif report was forwarded TO division
hsadQuarters.
Many valuable points have been re-
served, bat regard the two main en-
frances TO Puges Sound as OF the first
Importance for present consideration,
viz: Admiralty Inlet and Deception
Pas. Suitable ground commanding
yhe entrance TO Deception Pass has been
roBrsDd by the Goyefnmens.s That 1T
Aniralty Head, Point Wilson and
0asrowstonsl Point has been reserved
only In part, and sufficient sum should
Be appropriated, In addition TO that re-
quired for defensive works, to secure q
permanent title for the Government.
One objection to any action being taken
toward the defense Of the Inlet has been
ths distance between Point Wilson and
admiralty Head, about four miles; but
this, 10 10 believed, can be greatly over
W8mS NV " su0 08u W A&o1S&1 etts@
ncss. recommend that the atteution
xConQress be called 10 this subject In
Ans for action daring the coming ses-
aou.
The British Government is nov ex-
psndina very large amount of money
10 completing the navy yard and dry
dock Al Esquimalt, near Viotsria, b. c.,
and has kept during the past ten years
from Q single ship Of war 10 q small
feet In these waters, and think 1t ad-
visable that our Government shoald
take an equal interest in the establish
ment Of naval station in this part OF
the United States. Several reservations
have been made on the Strait of Fuca
and Puget Sound for naval purposes.
what point is best suited for all the re-
quirements Of the navy could probably
bsst b dsesrmined BY board Of naval
Lake Washington, near Seattle, has
many advantages Tor saoh . purpose,
4 being 3 lake Of fresh water Of great
dspsh, and In oioss prsxipity 10 The
dep water Of the Sound.
request this communication be re-
tered 70 Colonel Mendsll for remark.
Very respectfully your obedieut servant,
NRIsoN A. MILKs,
Brieadier General Commanding.