The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-20
A COAST DEFENSE VESSEL.
Petition for One From the Chamber Of
Commerce to Congress.

Petition for One From the Chamber of
Commerce to Congress.
At yesterdays meeting of the trustees
of the Chamber of Commerce E. 0. Graves
presented the following petition to con-
gress for a coast defense vessel:
The undersigned, your humble petitioners,
respectfully urge that In view of their defense
less condition, an appropriation may be made
for coast defense vessel to be stationed in
Puget sound for their protection.
We would respectfully represent that during
the late Misunderstanding with Chile it was
clearly manifest to us that any man -of-war,
however lightly armed. could have entered the
Sound and collected millions for ransom or de-
stroyed our cities. That this contingency may
again suddenly arise and war result That it
has recently been authoritatively stated on the
floors of the English parliament that Esqui-
malt, an English naval station. within six
hours steaming of our principal cities, is TO be
fortified at once as a second Gibraltar.
That the width Of theientrance to the several
portions OF the Sound, the depth of water,
strong tidal current and fogs, make 1t impos-
sible to devise any thorough and efficient sys-
tenn of defense through land Notifications, tor
pedoes or submarine mines without the aid of
harbor defense vessels.
That 200, 600 people reside on the shores of
Puget sound within gun shot of salt water, and
this population is increasing with great rapid
ity, and will probably be over 500, 900 at the end
OF the present century.
That the assessed valuation OF the property
around the Sound amounts to over $IOO, OOo,O 600.
That the ocean tonnage amounts to 100000
tons year.
That thirty sawmills, producing $4,000 600
feet OF lumber annually, are located on tlfe
Sound.
That for the above and many other cogent
reasons yoCr petitioners earnestly urge that
their reasonable prayer may be granted.
This petition was unanimously ap-
proved, and copies were ordered forwarded
for concurrence to other commercial Or
CARNATIONS on Puget sound.
A. ?. Burwell, chairman of the mercan-
tile committee, reported that he had in
vestigated the question of a tannery, and
he thought the business could be proita-
bly, carried on here. The plan is for a
company with capital of $4,000, which
shall first give special attention TO the pro-
duction of sole leather, harness and upper
stock. Mr.. Burwell found that during
the last thirty days 1000 sides of sole
leather have been purchased in
this city at an average price of
$525 per side. During the same time
about $4, $50 was spent by the dealers in
this city Tor harness and upper leather,
making total expenditure of $4,000 dur
ing the month for leather. All of this
might have been produced at home
and have given employment to from
forty to fifty men. The tanning of this
amount of leather regularly would require
30 cords of bark per month, which would
give further employment. The average
price paid for hides Is 81 cents per pound.
The number that could be purchased in
the vicinity of Seattle is estimated at
10000 per month. The present price of sole
leather is from II cents to 80 cents a
pound, and the majority of this leather is
now brought from Eastern points and
California The present freight rate from
Boston is 50. 20 per hundredweight.
After a long discussion of the subject.
the board commended the undertaking to
the favorable consideration of investors
OF the $4,000 needed, the sum of $35, 600
has already been subscribed.
A request from the commission mer-
chants for assistance in securing lower
freight rates on fruit to Spokane, Helena
and Butte was referred to the committee
on transportation.