The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-22

son for this belief is that Mare
island, which Is in close proximity
TO San Francisco, is the only
navy yard Of the United States on the
racine coast. and that there is not dry
dock on the whole Western coast south OF
can francisco capable of floating a
snip OF more than 1900 tons. In
terviews with prominent shipping OWL
efs SHOW that in the event Of
war with Chile there are
nun Der OF good vessels on the coast that
could be converted into troopships or
transports. Captain Goodall, agent for
the facific Coast Steamship Company, the
Union facific's line Of steamers and other
vessels, SAYS:
The government already hss the measure
Menis and al other necessary data concern
ihs. our vessels, and plans were long
ago made for the conversion Of cur
steamers into troopships whenever tbs
might be necessary. In three days
time our firm could furnish transportation
ioi io'9O men. We could put into readiness
within that time the steamers Santa Rosa, Queen
eno City OF Pueblo, OF the Pacific Coast steam
snip line, and each weasel will accoIaEao-
Cate 200 men, with Announcements and
sne necessary munitions OF waF.
Inc steamer George W. Elder, OF the
steamer AIki, now IN the ALASKAN trade, and
which Was chartered by the government az
transport for revenue cutters during the past
season in Boring sea, could BE
docked here inside of q month really
for 100 men. The steamers San
Mateo and Costa Rica, owned by the Pacific
Improvement Company, would carry $3.50 and
1900 men respectively. There several other
vessels that might be named, and am satisfied
that within week the shfp-owners OF This
Coast could have transportation ready for 1000
men.
General Agent Center, Of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company. said:
The Pacific Mail steamers on this Coast are
nine In number, all frst-c'eSs vessels. They
are: The City OF sydney, City Of New YORK,
San Bias, City G. Pekin, Fan Jose,
Acapulco and Coiima. All these YES
sells could 10 msdo available for cruisers If
necessary, merely by strengthening the decks
for guns. This could be done IN e few days.
They are all engaged In passenger tratic, but /
believe four or five OF taem could BE- brought
together inside oil two weeks.
John d. Spreckels, OF the Oceanic lire.
says:
We have four steamers, the Zealanfia, Aus
tfaiia, Aariposa and Alameda, which eeuid be
converted into armed transports in short
be fitted up in ten houS. Upon pinea. I eou.d
furnish any two OF tie ether three hosts
within twenty-one days time. Eaen
boat VIII carry upward Of 2.e.0
men with munitions OF war The MsTipnsa and
Alameda are capable OF Masking over seventeen
knots an hour. and when AIMED could d. good
service as cruisers. The Zsalagdia and Austria
lila can make between fourteen aud fifteen
knots. The government, continued Nr.
bpreckels, has made TN offer Tor he
tug boat Fearless, which We are
having built at tho Union Iron
Works, and which, when completed, will
be the largest vessel of its kind In the word.
Admiral Brown and other naval officers have
inspected the tug and found that ste could DC
nfted up as torpedo boat with two
fye-inch rifles, four or FIVE sixty-pound
guns, secondary battery, and four
torpedo tubes. The Fearless viii DC
completed in about two weeks. She could make
over sixteen knots per hour. and her coal carry
Ing capacity would allow her TO 60 fifty DAYS ut
an average speed OF ten knots per hour. / have
named py price for the boat, but
am not at liberty 10 say what
the figure is. Naval officers say there
ares Mare island sufficient smooth-bore guns
and rifles made from smooth-bores 10 arm these
steamers transports, but IL vessels were fitted
<but for cruisers smooth-bors guns would
rot be desirable. The work of
strengthening and equippinR the yes
sells could be carried on with dispatch
The Union Iron Works have received no
information from Washington City regard
ing the armor plates for the coast defense
steamer Monterey, but if the plates are at
hand the Monterey could be gotten ready
for service in six weeks.
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