The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-04-05


Visited Puget sound. the Columbia
river and other localities On the North
Pacific coast, 70 look over tfss ground
with view 10 the establishment OF a
naval station, have returned to Wash
ington city and made their report to
Secretary Tracy. Puget Sound Is,
In the Judgment Of the commissioners,
the right place for the proposed sta
tion. and the particular site recon-
mended BY them Il n Port Orchard.
directly opposite Seattle. Details Of
tine report are not jet made public. so
the relative estimates OF the commits
sien upon various other sites cannot
be known at present.
Those who have urged the claims OF
Lake Washington. OLYMPIA. Quarter
masters Bay, steilacoona. Port Towns
end and various other sites viii, Of
course, feel sense OF disappointment
Al the judgment Of the commission;
but In the recommendation OF Puget
Sound over the several Oregon COM
peting ports there IL matter for
general satisfaction. Seattle especially
may eongratuiats herself. for at Port
Orchard. shd6ld Il indeed be built
there, the navy yard viii be her smme-
diate neighbor, contributor to her
general industrial and business life.
II must not be supposed. however,
that this recommendation settles the
question. for the power TO locate the
station rests not with the commits
sioners, but with Congress itself. The
suggestions Of the commission may
rule. but this il very far from certain.
The records Of the government will
show two instances where the recon-
rnendations Of professional boards
have been passed over 10 one where they
have been adopted.
la the case oil Lake Washington
Congress will have 10 determine be-
tween conflicting expert judgments.
Both military and naval officers Of
nigh rank have heretofore urgently
recommended Ii as pre-eminensly the
site for navy yard, superior 10 all
others. II Is not likely that the opin-
ions OF such military experts as Gen.
erals Sherman. Howard and Miles, all
of whom have publicly declared for
this location at different times In the
past. viii be entirely overlooked
simply because there has been recent
report favorable u another place
Nor is il likely that advantages SO
striking as those Of Lake Washington
viii be overlooked by Congress itself.
independent OF recommendation
The advantages afforded by fresh
sater anchorage. By absolute protee-
ton from hostile assault. by source
of fuel supply impossible to cut OF. =
AL these advantages not avail
able At Port Orchard. or at any
place excepting Lake Washington,
must. Ina the conflict of expert opinion,
come In for very careful consideration
Another fact likely TO have weight
with congress- which may lie expected
to yies the matter in che light oil
broad practically rather than in the
narrowefprofcssEonal spirit Of the naval
service alone. viii be the relationship oi
the proposed Improvement 10 general
commercial uses. Location of navy
yard at Lake Washington would in,
vclye The connection 81 Puget Sound
and the lake by ship canal. . consid.
Grafton most important to onr general
shipping interests. II would give the
shirs OF commerce the benefits o.
fresh-waser anchorage. facilitate in
very important ways the business oI
transfer Of eargoes and make available
a large space for various commercial
uses. This work. namely, the CON
Stfnesian Of canal. must recommend
itSe1 90 csnEress as ere whose import
ance is worthy Of national aid. omit,
independent Of the navy yard. by 10
cation Of The yard ON lake Washing
ton, the two purposes could he eAsil,
ard naturally combined.
Ia view 81 these practical eonsiaeEa
tons We cannot feel that the chance.
Of Lake Washington are past az eves
very materially Iessenesi BY the recon-
mendasion inaae by the naval com
mission concerning the site a, Per
Orchard The FINAL decision snas
rest with Congress, and ID remains 4
be seen which viii haye most friend
in that body esrt Orchard or lax,
Washington.