, 1889-06-06

! EnSinns t. Eufld Forts Co:nnaEain.-
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E.@Uir4EI, Ei;cHt Er,a-.

F--.s
e The 1aLat5au cover mont ha. Sd.
osi:eL .. ca.slc.raa from tn I.ar.
, a". torifies stating tl.t vor, q. .....
eli; Coast Def-nsas vI! be begun ls,
+ sts:uUer. The hara government has q.
''aya been heeu!y alive t, the inl: :soriauc.
} c, fortlfealioEs Oh ting Pacific coast, as
Peclai;y al aud about the Esqufllaa-.
terminus Of the Canadian Pacif, ran!
way, as we'll as the Arsenal OF tie British
navy on the Pacific. Last year the
! Brit:sh admiralty detailed an ofiicgr 10
make & caFef7l examination OF tie c5Bzg
Of British Columbia between Yaucgu-
vsC and E=qaimauIi, with the oLj-cf Of
aeeilipg upon sites for tle erection Of
batteries commanding the ertgaucos 20
Puses sound. AID protecting L qui-
rlaHlt. Recommendation we're made,
but nothing was done until lately, when
The British government, stirred up to
| activity by the renewal OF negotiations
by the government at Washington re-
ga:diHg The Bchrins sea question, de-
c!ded that the work Oh coast aefenses
should be bsguu at cEoe.
Hon. G.. Z. Foster, minister of fuance,
speaking to :. reporter to-day regarding
a statement published in q San Fran
cisco paper TO the effect that the British
government was contemplating a scheme
for the Transformation of the entrance to
Puget Sound into a second Gibraltsr,
sad the expression Second Gibralter" |
was toe strong, but it was the intention |
Of the Canadian and imperial authori-
ties TO make great improvements in the
dofensos OF The Pacific sea-board ports.
especially Esquimault IF tie Aneri-
cans object," be said, to our estab.ishfBg
batteries cJmmardinE the entrance of
PGget Sound, why let tlem build forts
on the opposite sid Of the sFraits."
A private letter from a gentleman in |
one OF tide departments of the govern
ment at Washington to Captain Glover
of the Wolcott. states that IF The pco-
pie OF Port Townsend would combine
aud push their claims for the navy yard |
there is no doubt hrt what it wonld be |
located on Port Townsend bay; Port
Ofchard has not been decided upon Ey |
any means, and both tie war and tie |
navy departments are in favor Of tins |
place as the best Mt which to project the |
entrance to the soand Nor is there any
Goubt il the people OF Port Townsend |
would ask for it they could tavc m ap- |
preparation this winter to begin work on |
the fortificatious at MGrrowstone pgin5 |
and Point Wilson"
We are authorized by Judge Svan 10 |
state that Senator Hale. chairman Of tie |
committee OF naval alfIirs has requested !
him to furnish Il copy OF the comnuzi-
e-;ion from the Chamber of commerce
TO The ngva! commission, which was
here III February last, and also TO fur
nisL map Of Port Townsend Harbor, !
and TO Indicate on it Tie proposed site
for cry deck with reasons for the same |
and give any additional information not .
IN that report, which the senator said !
was an able document. Senator Hale !
also stated to Judge Swan that il Is not |
the iuteptioRs of the government 10
construct navy yard to build ships as
they can be built moro economically by
contract with outside parties, but to To- I
cate naval station for repairs end sup
plies similar to the naval station at
Esfuimhnit consisting OF q dry dock
and warehouses OF naval stores; the nG-
val squadron, said the senators must con
centrato ~ Port Townsend harbor, aud |
We want them there and not in the
woods. He also remarked that Port /
Orchard Is q mere gut not worthy of coz /
sideration.
Judge Swan ia entrusted by Senator |
Hoar with an important duty, and if |
the Chamber Of Commerce Will take |
hold of this Eatter and work together !
as one man, and aid Judge Swan Z pre-. |
pairing his report we VIII have The naval |
station here and the fortifications also |
commenced just as soon as congress can |
pass the necessary appropriations.