The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-10

Suitable DsSenees Are Needed ~ the tx
freulstses OF Our sfatn Pacific Cons. Line.

SEATTLE AND SAN DTEG0
Suitable Defsnees Are Needed ~ the Ex-
tre..stses OF Our Main Pacific Cons. Line.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 0.-The growing impor.
lance OF the Pacific as scene Of the worlds
commercial activities is indicated by tho pres
ent movements there for seaboard protection
On the high ground Of tho Preside. ut San
francisco. busy work has lately been going on
In building emplncements for heavy. high
power. breechloading rifles. which will DO
mounted there this year. The armor-cad
Monterey Is approaching completion. and ono
Of her big 12.inch guns will soon reach her by
rail across the continent. The fleet on the
American side OF the Pacific. including the
vessels south OF the equator. comprises the
Baltimore. the Boston. tho Charleston. the San
Francisco. tho Yorktown. and tho Mohican.
besides the 1roQuois at Apia and tho Pensa-
cola at Honolulu. A shipment OF 10000 pounds
Of gun cotton to Mare Island IL M example OF
The war material going to tho Pacific coast.
Two points OH that coast, however. may rcr-
haps demand the special attention OF Congress
ct this session. They form the extremities OF
our principal Pacific coast line exclusive Of
Alaska. Tho claims OF Puget Sound have
been specially presented In resolutions passed
BY the Chamber of Commerce Of Seattle.
Those OF San Diego have been urged in the
ESpOTt VI IoTlk -bBI ~ llCiI. IuCSpohs WIZ
comma nds the Military Department OF Arzons.
Situated about dozen miles from tho Mexican
frontier. San Diego Is garrisoncd now only
BY Company Of the Tenth Infantry. whose
barracks are near the docks. while no officers
quarters are ut the post. Consr recognizing
the importance Of San Diego. 10 which ntten-
ton had been called some time before by ru-
mored fllibuster movements against Lower
California and more recently by tho case OF
the eamship Ituta. authorized the selection
sutal IL defensive. works. The report of tho
Board appointed for this purpose is now be;
regiment Of infantry. four troops Of cavalry.
and light battery Of artillery should DO sta
Then. ns to heavy batteries, It is proposed
TO put ono on Point tomn. The vel we'll, known no VI.
outer promontory Of tho harbor. south OF False
southwest corner Of. North Island: u fourth. on
sand s .a hGsr
Cook explains that all these arc needed on nc.
count Of the shape OF the harbor and the fact
OCEAN es Wv. should These ere" reeoinnendmtio be
carried out. San Diego would have one Of the
principal garrisons IN tho country. and IT. Is:
equable and henithfui. AZ to. its strategic
and maritime importance. probably most per
sons vii learn something from Con. McCook's
account:
san Diego Of h Ns; in n.
ths bar which rarely Greak that vessels can enter
the wori This hnrbor lying, IT does. almost upon
,ss s%s sra ss rs'";
T9 to sssom 81 ,rv s T Tue M Go
is.as ON" into u. h"nGs q shs spsay i.s.o b
si%s s. r!smI.sd sna ssoalA Hi. WIZ -
the 81 ss" peu w G niS
Az s.ssss ASry
mile ns a, ss fsS.
The port Angeles B feet. All these de-
,iceneies make the narbor Of San Diego grown
9, .sn,hs,n e',;,osn,s n9ys
and hST''.asa9s and ssrsq,aIs. = Year.
@ a 10 X. u .ss I SS nTs sa to
ssi.sa; should ,Se S.s.rssa. Canal l. S.srlsisI as
rs
OF shs world through '"' canal 0'
The. Fortihcations Board OF 1875. i, may be
added. recommsnded tho expenditure OF
a hsre ana sn IN OF M ar lo
.bie body 8 water viii show is high COM;
espacious dry dock to bc established there Will
no doubt form, tho nucleus Of an important
aer land c sDHa Dc
ing the approaches. and for that purpose there
sosld Rosts Vessels or long
liz ssasts r. R@sS
mon %pos snt' sIS
tie total tonnage steam and sail. on our Pa
cifc coast. now amounting probably to nearly
4OO.O0O. great part belongs to Puget Sound;
before Congress is that OF establishing at Be-
nicia Q gun factory like tho one at West Troy
this project mi ght DO increased by assurances
that forgtngs tor the largest cnlibres reGHired
niR It is known already that oil tho forginGs
for. 10:inch guns could be turned out there.
md It Is probnhln that l2-inch guns would be
tiok.efthe cost Of labor is u serious one in this
inquiry. but 1t may be Offset to some extent by
by rail across the continent Since It is esti-
mated that about 15O guns, and more than that
PACIFIC coast. the establishment Of q gun factory
there 4 at least worth consideration. esreciai.
should not niso furnish ordnance for war YES .
sells that may hereafter be built there.