The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-13
MARE ISLAND.
Neglect Of the Only Naval Sts-
ton on the Pacific Coast.
Letter in T. 7. Tnsase.


the Hartford
Letter ia r. T. T1brBe.
g.x Fr.rcrsco, Feb fg--Mare
r.land navy yard. which i abcsst u
miles from San Francisco. ar1d can
orig he reached after passing all the
hattsries Co the harbor, this city, y
ous of the prettsest naval stations IN
ts,e southland one OF the most use
less II presents the spectacle OF an
establishment, NJ 10 do almost any
hind Of ship building and repairing
work. rE.stsng IN inactivity; every
seasosl seeirg the extensive plant that
rass millions become less valuable.
Far 10 wears no work worthy Of the
Mace or It's equipment has been done
but the lowest depth has been reached
during gleveIand's administration
Re neglect Of ali ordinary precautions
cosfix war vessels and monitors hare
been so seriously impaired in value
that il i doubtful whether they can
exvr be restored % their oId-fime
saicienev. while uncompleted work
has been injured by exposure 70
ressher and neglect OF ordinary pre-
eautions. This is the Judgment OF
the naval experts who have inspected
a. ysra and given their opinion
wIfh climate in which open-afr
vorx may be carried on the year
round. no ship building or repairing
i being prosecuted at Mare Island.
The great shops and docks are lying
idle. and every year sees . deprecia-
ton in their value. 1t has also been
shown that the government viii lose
The monitor Monadnock. which. In its
uuconupieted state, cost over 81 30 600.
While San Francisco is left defenceless,
without single ship or fort that could
psevent the entrance to her harbor OF
second-rate vessel OF any OF the
European powers.
rAERAGUI's OLD FLAGSHIP.
Perhaps the feature Of Mare Island
that most forcibIy impresses the Wis
tor with the element Of decay that
broods over the place is the dismantled
hulk Of the old flagship Hartford.
This neglected vessel, which is worthy
OF place by the side of the Victory.
the " Fighting Temeraire," or Of 'sOid
Ironsides. will probably he allowed 10
rot. This neglect of q vessel with q
record which should make il dear to
every patriotic American, Is the more
painful when IL Is remembered that
the man who carried the Hartford
through the battle smoke Of ticks-
burg. New Orleans and Mobile Bay
was the FIRST commandment of Mare
Island navy yard.
SKETCH or THE ISLAND.
The island, which Is called In Span
ish. Isla de la Yegua, was purchased
ty the government on January 4. 1883,
for SSs zoe. Ii faces the strait, Garqni-
nez, name familiar to all readers OF
Beet Harte, rs this ingenious but law
less romancer has placed here the
scene Of his story In the Carquinez
Woods" Harte covers the shore OPP
posite Mare Island with dense red
wood forest, whereas. the truth OF his
tory compels one TO state that netting
larger than the low, gnarIed. live oak
ever fioursshed in that vicinity. Just
across the strait Is the pretty town of
Vallejo, which was the scene OF the
disastrous ferryboat explosion nearly
one year ago. All about the hills are
rounded with ciumps OF the live oak.
that bear the strongest resemblance to
old New England apple orchards.
Seen at this season, when everything
IA brilliant green, the spectacle Is one
which Is very pleasing. later in the
year, when the dry season = fairly
begaa, everything takes on the tawny
yellow that marks the California land
scape for SIX months of the year. But
at any time the view from Mare Island
Is charming, because OF the graceful
sweep OF the shore lines aud the
beauty OF the clear stretches of water.
COMFORTABLE QUARTERS.
There Is little that is imposing about
the first view of Mare Island. because
the land is low lying, and even the
huge dry-dock is barely discernihle
frem the steamers deck. From the
boat-landing a broad avenue leads up
10 the commandments office. To the
right and left are machine shops and
ordnance buildings. storehouses, etc.
while along the water front on one
side is the receiving ship Tndepen-
dence. and on the other the aisman-
tied Hartford and the unfinished mon-
itor Monadnock. Walking up the are
nue., which N broad. well-kept, shaded
with acacia and other trees, one comes
to the coufnandant's Office and the
officers residences. The office has no
architectural features TO call for men
ton. but the houses of the officers bear
close resemblance To the roomy man
sions built by Philadelphians OF 30
years ago. They are OF red brick.
with green blinds, built in pairs. and
surrounded By large gardens filled
with roses and towering plants. On
the opposite side OF this avenue Is a
park. planted To cedar. spruce, pine
and ether ornamental trees. The ef-
feet of this row OF massive houses is
that of suburban street of some large
city, and the only martial afr is given
By the cannon that serve a. gate posts
and by the sentry who PAGES in front
Of the commandments house.
EARLY DAYS or THE SAan.
The yard is about two and a bali
miles long and one-half mile wide,
containing about 90 acres. 1t lies
higl sud dry for the most part. and
has a very equahle climate. I'm the
Odd los. books kept in the command
ants Office may be found some queer
entries concerning earlier days. when
ra-Fagyif was annoyed with squasters.
Here Is the first entry, III the neat
hard of the old hero. September 10,
ixi-Com4ander Farragut took
charge OF the island. and forthwith or
dered al of the squatters otf-Nara,
eaeert and Antonio pintro were their
ha'aeS. Weather clear And So the
heofd goes on, giving in minute de-
nj TIE heavy work necessary for the
aindat.on of the station. Farrarut
vas very fnethodical, for he never
hlsed to no;e the weather. Farssgnt
Sryed until Jaly, IsAs. other premi-
rent officers who have commanded
sae yard are +. o. selfritlge. r. r.
.Faven, James Alden. Jehn Rogers,
knap.
A Costly nHv-pftssK