The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-24
TO SPEAK FOR SAVANNAH
THE COMMITTEE TO MEET THE
NAVAB COMMISSIONERS.

NAVAL COMMISSIONERS.
The City Prepared to Present It's Ad-
vantagese for the Location OF the
New Navy Yard-Gen. Alexander's
Views What He Says About the
Visit of the Commission.
The special committee having under con-
sideration the proposed visit of the naval
commission TO Savannah met in the mayors
Office at noon yesterday. TheSe were pres
emit Mayor Eehwarz, who presided, and
Aldermen Wells and Cam, Gen. E. P.
Alexander, President Bloodworth of the
cotton exchange. President Young of the
board OF trade ana Supt Fleming of the
Savannah, Florida and Western railway.
7The visit of the commissioners was fully
discussed. Gen. Alexander spoke in a
highly complimentary Way of the prompt
and efficient action of Senators Colquitt
and Brown in securingfthe order of the Sec
rotary Of the Navy ofhavs the commission
!. visit Savannah.
re PRESENT sAFANSAHs CLAIMS.
Mayor sehwarz, at the close of the meet
ing, appointed the following committee to
receive the comm4 sioners and present to
shem the advantages of Savannah for the
location of the navy yard:
The mayor and lboard OF aldermen, Con-
gresham Lester, Senator duBignon, Hon.
w. W. Gordon. Hon. Peter Reilly, Hon.
William Clifton Lieut.. o. M. Carter, Gen.
e. p. Alexande%, president Of the Central
railroad, Col. "A. s. Haines. general mana
ger OF the Plant system, Col. W. j. VIM,
city surveyer. Mr.. +. d. Bloodworth, presi-
dent of the cotton exchange, Mr.. John r.
a.-af s,Fa IL hoe al ~ feaA
Capt. ]. F,iWheaton. collector of the port,
Col. J. Il. Estill. Gazaway Hartridge. Esq,
Col. John Screyen, Capt. John Flannery,
Mr.. George P. Walker, Mr.. S. Quicken
helmer, Capt. Jacob Paulsen, Capt. J. d.
Johnson. Capt. d. g. Purse, s. L. Lazaron,
ESQ, aFd Mr.. Lemuel c. Downs.
Mayor Schwarz said last night that the
comm ssion is expected here the early part
OF this week
GEN. ALExANDER's VIEWS
GEN. Alexander, who takes decided in
terest ia the visit Of the commission, said
to q MORNING NEWS reporter yesterday
regret that previous engagements will
caal me from the city during the time
which the visitors are expected here, but
Certainly have the interest of the move
xneut at heart. The visitors should be i'm
pressed with the business Importance of this
city, and il / may be pardoned the sugges-
ton, it should DO more of business recep-
ton to them, and nosso much Of an effort to
impress them with the hospitality for which
Savannah is noted Doubtless they mean
business and would prefer to dispense with
any undue effort to show our welcome
What they are coming for is to learn what
claims Savannah can present for locating
the navy yard here, and this is what we
want to do. ] think the city council ought
to make a formal tender of as much land
70 the United States as Is wanted, and at
nominal price-say 81 an acre. This action
might be properly taken by the council pre-
vious 70 the visit OF the naval commission,
or at least as soon as the commissioners
reach here.h
TWO SITES SUGGESTED.
Gen. Alexander went into lengthy re-
view OF the situation covering much of
the ground that has been covered in inter
views already priRted in the MORNING
NEWS. IF Hutchinsons Island is adopted
for a site, he said, sit will be very easy to
extend the Central railroad track across to
the island above the harbor limits and run
fhe track down to the site of the navy yard,
putting o draw bridge over the channel.
have spoken of the location on Hutchinson's
Island first, but think it very possible that
a careful examination might find an equally
available site east Of the city, between the
Savaunah, Florida and Western wharves
and Fort OgIethorpe, which could be
reached by extending the track of the Sa-
vannah, Florida aud Western railway.
Excellent foundations can be secured
anywhere in this vicinity by piling, as
there Is q substratum of sand from 10 to 20
feet under the mud everywhere which is
easily reached. The Central railroad cotton
compress, which Is one Of the heaviest
pieces Of machinery used, has foundations
made ia this way which have stood per-
fectiy. and the piles once driven are indie
structible. The advantages of locating a
navy yard near city Of somuch commerce
and population, and with such extensive
manufactures and workshops, are too ap-
parent TO do more than refer 10.
THE ADVANTAGES OF AN ATLANTIC STATION
81 am quite sure location Of the navy
yard on the South Atlantic coast is prefer
able to one on the gulf. In case of war the
Atlantic coast Is the most exposed to foreign
attack, and with its numerous large cities
close to the ocean, offers the greatest in
ducements to a foreign enemy to strike at
A few gulf ports are comparatively much
easier defended than the Atlantic ports,
and oven a successful attack on any one of
them would infict comparatively slight
injury compared with what would result
from a successful assault upon
any OF the northern ports,
consequently, Savannah being so
much nearer the vital parts Of the country
than the gulf, naval establishment here
could render more prompt and efficient as
sistance to the defense of the most impor-
tant cities of the country; at the same time
Savannah would be near enough to con-
tribute largely to the defense of the gulf If
it were threatened. In short the strategic
position Of Savannah, lying about half way
between New York and the gulf, and at the
re-entraut angle of the coast, and being the
nearest poinr to the coal and iron lands Of
Alabama and Tennessee. seem to me to
adapt this city admirably for the purpose
wanted.