The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-18
PUGET SOUND NAVAL STATION.
Lieut.. Wyckof Oficial1y Opens It and
Takes Charge for Navy Department.

PUGET SOUND NAVAL STATION. Sept. IL
Especial. YESTERDAY the stars and stripes were
holsted for the first time at the new naval sta
ton. Lieutenant A. B. Wyckoff, United States
navy, received orders on Tuesday evening TO as
sumo command of the Puget sound naval sta
ton.
The rumor went out that the flag was to go
up and crowds came in from sydney, Charleston
and the surrounding country. About p. IN
Commandant Wyckoh, in uniform, accompanied
by his daughter and Civil Engineer McCollom,
United States navy, came ashore in his gig
from the schooner Yukon, which is head
quarters until the buildings are erected Step
ping to the flag pole, which had been erected
in the top OF the talest tree on the point at the
navy yard, he read the following order:
NAVY DEPOT. WASHINGTON, D. c.
September 9. 1891.
Sir: You will assume command of the Puget
sound naval station, Washington. This employ
ment is required by the public interests and
will he continued to September l5 1892, unless
otherwise ordered. Respectfully,
Secretary OF the Navy.
After reading his orders Lieutenant wyckof
said
take possession of these lands for the United
States, and in obedience TO the orders OF the
honorable secretary OF the navy / assume com
mand OF the Puget sound naval station. Hoist
away.
At this command Miss Selah Wyekoff, the
lieutenant's daughter, the flag to the top
OF the pole amidst the applause OF the spec
tators present and the firing of cannons and
hosting OF flags across the bay in Sidney.
This is great event for Port Orchard and
Puget sound, and to no one more important and
pleasant than TO Lieutenant Wyckoff himself
This is the successful elimination OF twelve
years OF faithful effort, and the beginning, in
his judgment, OF the greatest and most i'm
portant naval station in the United States This
enterprise has been the occasion of much work
and anxious thought on the part OF Washington
citizens and the delegation in congress. Senator
j. b. Allen is 10 be especially congratulated,
il was so largely due to his earnest
efforts that the two commissions were
appointed and the appropriations finally made.
1t will be remembered the report OF the first
commissioner in loss was opposed in congress.
Senator Allen received the appointment of a
second commission. This commission agreed
with the former one in their selection OF site.
Acting upon their report congress appropriated
$4,000 TO purchase a site somewhere on Port
Orchard, and authorized the secretary of the
navy to select il and enter into a contract for
dry dock not TO cost over 100000
Lieutenant Wyekoff was sent out in April
last as the representative OF the secretary of
the navy in the selection OF the 200 acres OF
land authorized. After much difficulty the
lieutenant succeeded in bonding the present
SITE One hundred and forty-fve acres have al
ready been paid for, and the remainder is IN
process of condemnation in the United States
courts. An extensive series OF borings have
been made TO determine the best location for
the dock. report will shortly be submitted,
when the advertisement for contracts for the
building of the dock will be published.
7. C. McCollom, L. S. N, one of the
best engineers in the service, has been