Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-01-04
The Naval Station.
THE INFORMATION WANTED BY THE
L. $. COMMISSION SOON To MAKE AN
INSPECTION OF ADVANTAGES FOR A
SITE.

THE INFORMATION WANTED BY THE
L. :. COMMISSION SOON To MAKE AN
INSPECTION OF ADVANTAGES FOR A
SITE.
The following letter, received last
week by Mayor Chambers, indicates
that the Commission lately appointed
to collect information and report upon
the best site for a navy yard north OF
the AID parallel, is about ready for
business. A committee of the Board
OF Trade and City Council will act in
harmony in presenting the claims of
Olympia for the location:
COMMISSION FOR SELECTING SITE FOR NAVY,
YARD on \. W. COAST, NAVY DEPT,
WAsHISGIoN, d. c., Dec. Is, 1855
To the Honorable, the Mayor Of Olym-
pia, ". T.:
SIR:-The commission for selecting
site for q navy yard on the Pacific
coast, north OF the 42d degree parallel,
expects to reach the neighborhood of
Portland about January 5, 1882 In
the examination which the commits
sion is instructed to make, informa-
ton will be needed on the various
sources of supplies obtainable, as emu
merated in the enclosed list of ques-
tons. 1t will greatly facilitate the
labors of the commission and confer a
proportionate favor if you would make
these questions known to leading man.
ufacturers or business men of your
city, and take such other steps as your
knowledge OF your city may suggest,
to enable such information to be fur
nlshed to us as early as possible after
our arrival. Very respectfully, your
obedient servant. A. 7. MAHAN,
Captain U. S..N. and Pres't Com.
INFORMATION DESIRED
A list Of questions desired by the
commission for selecting site upon
the Northwest coast:
/. From what source, in what guam
titles, and at what prices can timber
for ship building purposes be obtained?
3. Can lumber be obtained for
wharves, etc, that is not subject to
the attacks of the teredo?
3. What are the sources for supply
ing cast and wrought iron and steel
what quantities can these sources sup
ply, and at what price?
4. From what points can coal be
obtained, and at what price, and in
what quantities by day or month, and
what quality for steaming and manu-
featuring purposes?
D. Is there any limestone in this vi,
cinity? If not, from what point is
flime procured, and at what cost?
6. Are bricks of good quality made
here? If so, what do they cost? Ca.
pacity of works for turning out guam
titles?
Z. What other building stone is ob-
tanned in this vicinity?
s. Is there any hydraulic cement
made in this vicinity?
8. What machine shops are there in
this vicinity, and the kind and number
of persons employed?
10. What is the population of say
twenty miles radius around your city?
III. How many men are liable to
draft; j. e., between the ages of IS and
As years?
IL. Is there any authentic register
of the temperature, snow, rainfall, di-
rcction and force of winds ? If so
please furnish it to us.
Ii. Where is fresh water obtained
in the vicinity, and in what quantity
/ IA. Costs of rents and living for
machinists, mechanics and workmen ?
Is. What is the death-rate Of the
place, and the prevailing diseases ? .
16. What is the character of the
soil for building foundations in your
vicinity?
II. Will you give the commission a
list of the manufacturing establish
ments of the city, their value, and the
number of men employed?
Is. What are the means of commu-
nication with the East, the Mississippi
valley, SanFrancisco and Portland?
IS. What is projected in the imme-
date future in the nature of manufac-
turing establishments, railways, etc. +?
20. What are the present market
rates for articles used in the construc-
ton of buildings, and in iron and steel
ship-building?