, 1890-12-25
THE SOUND DRY DOCK
The Committee Recommend
~ Port Orchard.
IT CAN Be MADE IMPREGNABLE
Thought Seriously of Selecting the
Mouth of the Columbia
River as the Place.
Tspecial serv ice OF the REVIEWS Washing
ington Press Buroan,I

AhsN'h AiNha Duict'sl
WAsnISdToS, Dec. GAS stated sew
eral days ago, the commission to locate
the dry dock on the Pacific coast has
decided upon Port Orchard, on Puget
sound. The report was sent to
congress to-day. 1t says The COM
mission, after having motureIy con-
sidered the merits of the different local
tiles visited, is of the opinion that no
place In the Northwest promises the ad-
yantages of Port Orchard, and does,
therefore, unanim ously recommend
Athat the site known as Point Turner, in
/ Port Orchard, be selected for n dry dock,
y suitable for naval and commercial pur-
Jposes. The commission was also in
structed to ascertain tho cost, and the
commission had the ground appraised
and finds that the total cost will be
s3ll, 63s, the site proper of LAOS acres
costing S305, 533, and Lake kitsap,
thirty-soven acres, So 100. The COM
mission gives many reasons why Port
Orchard is selected. 1t Is claimed that
it will be supplied with railroads,
and that supplies can be easily trans
ported by water. The materials for con -
structing tho dock are close at hand.
Lake Washington, where SO many pco.
pie wanscd the dock, is regarded out of
the question, because the canal leading
to- 1t could be demolished by nm armed
cruiser, while Port Orchard can be made
impregnable. The advantages OF Port
Orchard for site are given In detail,
but do not differ materially from those
presented by the commission that de-
cided upon the naval station for the
same place. More attention is given to
other points examined, and IL Is shown
that the Columbia river might have been
selected, aud the commission says:
"The Columbia river is the only harbor
on the Pacific coast, within the limits OF
the inquiry, that presents any ad.
vuntages for the location of n dry dock,
Ms con mplated in the act creating the
commission. The sounds at the mouth
OF the river, AS approached, are suili-
GENTLY regular to make 1t not Il diiiicult
matter for the navigator to ascertain his
position, ana IN this respect navigation
is most superior to the entrance of the
straits of Juan do Fuca, where the depth
OF the water Is more and the currents
stronger The bar at the mouth of tho
river has begun to feel the benefits OF the
jetty, now under construction. II there
were a location on the Coumbia as well
adapted as the site finally selected by
the commission upon Puget sound,
and depth of thirty feot
could be maintained on the bar,
this feature OF the entrance
would not he regarded ms an insuperable
obstacle to the location OF u dry dock
Tor commercial purposes upon It's
banks" The commission, however,
say that the topography OF the banks of
the Columbia is very uniavorable for
the location of naval station. High
hills on the channel side, and Hat upon
the reverse, exist to an extent that
would make large appropriation neces-
sary to overcome the disadvantages.
The advantages of fresh water and the
consequent absence of the teredo are
great, but not, in the opinion of the
commission, sufficient to overcome the
technical and strategic advantages Sc
cured from a location upon Puget sound.
The conclusion of the commission
presents some interesting facts about the
Pacific Northwest ut has" it says,
"become greatly impressed with the
rapid growth of the Northwest territory
and its capabilities for future expansion.
Excepting those who. from residence or
interests, are acquainted with it's flour
ishing condition, its very remoteness is
good reason FOR the ignorance which
exists on this point. This growth on
Puget sound alone is represented by "A
tonnage of over 2000, 00o by the popu-
lous cities OF Seattle, Tacoma and Port
Townsend, and numerous small thriv-
ing towns, embracing an aggregate
wealth OF many hundred millions"
Then follows the important part of
the communication: "At present this
vast aggregate of wealth is wholly un-
protected from attack. In case of war
= Oh the Atlantic seaboard, our seaboard
and inland commerce can retire to n Sc
cure asylum of retreat, channels lead
ing to cities can be obstructed and time
gained for defense. This Is not the case
with Puget sound, which presents, un-
fortunately, a position peculiar to itself.
Its depth permits no expediont for TEN.
porary obstruction, its width permits
no perfect reliance to land batteries,
which, showeyer, nowhere exist, and
there are no rivers or contracted har-
bors up which commerce could take
refuge. unless we except Port Orchard,
'Ic oHly place on IuBet sOunu thut
could be expeditiously fortified. 1t
follows, therefore, that this vast
wealth could be destroyed or
laid under tribute by a comparatively
insignificant force under an enterpris-
ing commander, since for the present
and for some some time to come the
small naval force available will be re-
quired for the protection of San Fran
CISCO.
Under such conditions, although
these remarks may not be wholly peril
nent to this report, the commission feels
that 1t would be derelict IN its duty as
citizens If it failed to call attention to
the danger existing in permitting any
longer such valuable interests to remain
unprotected, a state of affairs which, un-
I'll remedied, should continue to be a
matter of fgravest concern to the whole
country"
For Land Surveys
Contracts were to-day approved ut
the general land office for the survey OF
seventeen townships OF the public
lands, aggregating 30l, $50 acres. This
sail for which application has been
made by surveyor general. The officials
oil the land office believe 1t advisable
that some authorized agent OF the state
name the general location of the lands
the state desires to seect. under the