The morning call., 1890-12-13
BENICIA'S PRIZE.
A Site Selected for the Ordnance
Foundry.
Report Of The Commission Appointed to
Choose The Location.
Many Natural Advantages Of the California
Town Over Its COmpetitorS-Ben-
eft to Be Derived.
Special TO THE MORNING CALI.

NAsHINGION. Dec. lZ.-Benlcla mas won
the battle. The ordnance foundry will be
located there. During the past week San
Diego men have been using their utmost
eRdeavors to secure the gun foundry. Puget
Sound and Galveston have been working
hard also. As the time drew near for a set
tlement of the matter the various cities,
Seattle, Tacoma, San Diego, Galveston,
indianapolis and Rock Island, realized more
and more what big plum it was, and they
redoubled their efforts. But Benicia had
the inside track from the very start, as tele-
graphed time and again exclusively by the
California Associated Press.
The indianapolis people paraded their
natural gas advantage, and Rock Island,
Galveston, Seattle and Tacoma sang thei1
own praise incessantly. but it was no use
BENIcIA's NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
The natural surroundings gave the prize
to Bencia beyond all doubt, and it only
needed the efforts Of Morrow and McKenna
to settle the matter. Morrow looked after
the matter in the Appropriations Commit
tee. and McKenna exerted all of his infu-
SHNS eNNoAo oSSuiih5 tuC 1Ouuuiy 1UI
Benicia. The commission first visited In
dianapolis and then Rock Island, whence
they went to Puget Sound. After the
commission had visited various sites on
the sound they seemed TO be very favorably
impressed with its natural advantages and
its W as thought possible that it might secure
the prize after all, but when the Commits
sioners had examined Benica, Puget
Sounds chances were knocked out.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
The report of the Commissioners is now
in the Presidents hands. and will probably
be transmitted to Congress in very few
days and possibly tomorrow. The report
says that gun-foupdries at other places than
at Watervlet and on the Pacific Coast will
be unnecessary. The report says, however,
that before positive action is taken Benlca' S
capability of producing steel forgings should
be settled beyond all doubt. The principal
reason assigned by the Commissioners for
selecting Benicia is her geographical situa-
tion.
AN IDEAL SITE.
Besides being good way inland, where
her ordnance works would be protected
from hostile men-of-war, she would control
the narrow straits in front OF her, SO that it
would be absolutely impossible for foreign
vessels TO pass. The depth of water, rolling
land, drainage and railroad facilities rem
dered the site admirable for the purpose. The
Commissioners say that the close proximity
Of iron ore and fuel and the abundance of
skilled labor were important considerations
in Benicia's favor. Besides the iron ore
clay and limestone, all of which are pre-
requisites for such a site. The Commits
sioners say that both indianapolis and Rock
Island were not suitable locations, because,
even if their bridges were capable of sustain
ing such great weights in transporting, the
matter of freight rates would still be an
important matter.
ANOTHER REASON.
The fact that extensive Notifications of
the Pacific Coast at various places are con-
templated is another strong reason assigned
in selecting Benicia. Watervliet will now
furnish the guns for the Atlantic Coast
and Benicia for the Pacific Coast. These
will be the only foundries of their kind in
the United States. The gun-foundry at
Waterviet is worth thousands of dollars an
hually to that thriving little city, and Be-
nlcia will derive the same benefits from the
establishment Of the Pacific Coast foundry.