The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-20
SITE OF THE NAVY YARD.
ALGIERs, La. RECOMMENDED BY
THE BOARD.

The Place Opposite the Lower End of
New Orleans-An Additional Recon-
nendation That Dry Dock, Repair
and Coalin2 Station be Established
at Port Royal.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-The commission
APPOINTED by Secretary Whitney last Janu-
AIRY, pursuant to an act of congress, ito
report as to the most desirable location on
or near the coast Of the Gulf of Mexico and
the South Atlantic coast for navy yards
and dry docks" has made its report
to Secretary Tracy. The commission
visited and examined the following sites,
the advantages and Disadvantages Of which
are set forth in detail: Port Royal, 5. c. +;
Savannah, Ga: Brunswick, Ga; SapelO
Sound, Ga; Key West, Fla. Tampa Bay
and Pensacola Bay, Fla. Mobile Bay and
Mount Vernon, Ala; Biloxi, Miss. New
Orleans, La, and Algiers, La.
IN FAVOR OF ALGIERs.
The conclusion of the commission is as
follows: "After carefully weighing all the
advantages and disadvantages of Algiers as
a site for a naval station, the commission is
of the opinion that, while the spot is not an
ideal one no other place on the gulf COM
pares with it in advantages offered,
and that the advantages are
so many and so great, and outweigh
the disadvantages to such an extent that
the commission has no hesitation in recon-
mending the location Of the navy yard and
dry docks at the present government reser-
walton at Algiers, La"
WHERE IT Is.
The site selected is situated opposite the
lower end of New Orleans and embraces a
government reservation 3S4 feet front on
the river by 1850 feet deep. Additional
ground would have to be purchased. but
this, the commission says can be purchased
at a reasonable price. A dry dock here, 1t
is estimated, will cost $3.50, 900 and require
three years for its construction
PORT ROYAL NOT IGNORED.
As to Port Roval, the commission recon-
mends the establishment Of q dry dock, a
depot of naval supplies, and coaling sta
ton on Paris Island, at the site OF the pres
ent naval station.
An estimate accompanying the report
fixes the cost Of timber dry dOck, similar
TO those now building for. the government
at $615, 900, 70 be completed in three years.
INVESTIGATED TIE WHOLE COAST.
The board in its investigations examined
the whole coast line from Norfolk to the
Rio Grands. and in making & recommenda-
ton favoring Port Royal as a point for a
repairing station, they kept strictly within
the limits Of the law authorizing their
appoint nent Il is contsndsd here by Ger
tain parties that the board was appointed
simply % recommend naval station in the
South Atlantic or Gulf waters, and that
any reference TO Port Royal or any other
place as repair station was simply extra
Official
WHAT THK BOARD CLAIMS.
The members Of the board, however.
cain that they were ordered 70 investigate
the entire coast from Norfolk 70 the BIO
GraDde, and that as the result Of such in
vsstlgst5on they find that Algiers Is best
suited for the new naval station, but that
II would Be uuwise 70 abandon the govern
uent reservation az Port Royal, where a
repair and supply station should Be main
tanned The property al Algiers contains
crly twenty-five acres
PURCHASE RECOMMENDED.
Lis1t Kennedy, member Of the board,
said 70 It's NEWS correspondent that the
eitY If New Orlsans would be very foolish
If she did not forthwith purchase the prop
ertY necessary and present il 70 the govern
msst TIE commissions report viii have
20 20 70 coagress for final acton, and it is
possible that the rivalry Of other localities
may result IN the defeat Of the necessary
appropriation. Members of the board
think. therefore, thai the selection of
Algiers could be clinched by the proper
EcsrGl poncy or the city.
LEAGUE ISLAND AS AN INSTANCE
Instance is cited Of League Island which
was presented 10 the government, by the
city Of Philadelphia which thereby received
= naval station II the face Of otherwise al
roost insurmountable obstacles
The government reservation at Port
Royal embraces about forty acres. The
board thought that between Norfolk and
New Orleans there should be point where
vessels could be repaired, supplies taken on,
ETC., and hence their Recommendation,