The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-03
THE PASSING THRONG.
Topics Talked of in the Hotels
and Streets.
THE DRY DOCK PRELIMINARIEs.
Some "Reminiscences OF the Old "Alta
California"-The County Roads
Strikers and Paint.

Inc condition of affairs in regard to the
fort Orchard dry dock is Just this" said Lieu
tenant A. b. Wyckof yesterday in answer to O
question touching the matter "I was sent
mere oy the honorable secretary of the navy to
select the best available site for a dry dock in
fort Orchard in Kitsap county"
Inc lieutenant then went on to say that he
was not confined In his selection to any par
ucuiar part Of Port Orchard, but his judgment
nad conceded with that of the two CON-
missions previously sent out for the same pur-
pose, and he had succeeded In bonding las acres
near Point Turner. The site bonded embraces
overs mile OF water front and q large amount
Oh level land in the Jertson and Williams
basins Both OF these features are abso-
lutely essential in the location of a
ary dock and the necessary adiuncts.
Lieutenant wyckof declares that his selection
cannot be regarded as final for the location, un-
ger the law, rests entirely with the secretary of
tne navy. Commodore Farquhar recently visited
Point Turner and was pleased with the site
bonded. As chief of the bureau of yards and
docks, he 10 the principal adviser of the secre-
tary regarding navy Yards and dry docks.
The act OF March 2, 1891, appropriated $4,000
LOT the purchase OF not more than 200 acres of
land. When the title vests solely in the United
States the secretary OF the navy IL authorized to
contract for the construction OF q dry dock to
cost not more than 100000. The dimensions OF
the dry dock will make 1t one OF the largest in
the world.
Lieutenant wyckoff has not yet secured all the
land he wants. as the department would like to
get as near 200 acres as possible. forty-acre
tract, which partially separates the lands now
bonded, Is included IN q disputed blanket
mortgage covering several thousand acres,
and title can only be secured through condem-
nation proceedings. If possible, the boundaries
OF the lands bonded will also be somewhat ex-
tended in one or two directions.
Before proposals for the construction Of dry
dock can be advertised for the nature Of the
formation In which it is TO be built must be fully
known. In certain formations q concrete or
stone dock could be built, while in others tim
Der dock 10 alone possible within a reasonable
limit Of expense. In order to determine the
character of the ground, numerous test holes
from sixty to eighty feet deep must be bored.
As the necessary appropriation is not available
until July /, this work must be done after that
date. A series of tidal observations covering at
least two lunar months viii be begun within
few days
After the specifications are completed sealed
proposals will be advertised for during at least
one month. Other formalities must be complied
with, and certain time must be allowed the
contractor In which to begin work. Although
the honorable secretary and the chief
OF the bureau of yards and docks are
very anxious to expedite the work,
the lieutenant could not see how it was possible
before October or November. "To q resolute
nature" he said, ''delay is wearing as a fever,
but in a work of this magnitude, where so much
government money is to be expended, the pre-
liminary steps should be taken with extreme
care"