The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-17
SEATTLE'S SCHEME.
A Bid for the Proposed New Gun
Foundry.
CalifQT1la'S advantages Ably Presented by
Senator FELTON,.
That DOlph'S Bill Will Be Re-
pOrted-The Debris Delegates Awaiting
Hearing Patents Issued.
Special to THE MoRNfNs CALL

Special to THE MORNING CALL.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16-The Senate COM
mttee on FortifcatiOns and Coast Defenses
met to-day and heard the expert testimony
OF gadler-GeneTal Flagler, who Is chief
Of ordnance Of the War Department. He
Is in favor Of establishing gun factory for
the army to be located on the Pacific Coast,
but is not in favor of q combined factory for
the army and navy He thinks that the
foundry ought to be such one as is con-
templated by Senator Dolph's bill apprOpri-
ating 81 100000. Flagler said that the board
appointed two years ago consisted of COM
petent officers, and be had a very high opn-
ion Of the good Judgment of the board. The
foundry at Watervliet, N. Y, had not
capacity for turning out the great number
Of guns now needed for coast defense. An
other foundry should be established. and it
should by all means be on the Pacific Coast.
Senator DoIph read letter from Irving NJ.
Scott, President of the Union Iron Works
of San Francisco, in which Scott stated his
belief that his foundry could furnish all the
steel forgings desired if given proper in-
ducements.
Senator Squire, Chairman of the commit
tee, read the following telegram:
A BID FROM SEATTLE.
SEATTLE, February 2.
Hon. Watson c. Squire i: The Chamber OF
Commerce Of Seattle earnestly urges the loCa-
tiOn al this nOiDt of the prOpOsed Government
guu foundry IrGn and coal OF excellent quality
abound near this city aud the mines easily
accessible from Seattle. A large part Of the
armament for the coast must be used on Puget
Sound, aud the establishment Of the foundry
here would save that expense OF transportation.
California produces no plglron. and the location
OF the foundry at Benicja would involve great
and needless eXDense In the transportation OF
1he raw material and the finished product. The
Moss y Company at Kirkland, on Lake Wash
ngtOn, is erecting a 6rst-claSs steel plant, on
which $780, 600 has already been spent which
VIII be completed within year Responsible
uatties guarantee a suitable location on Lake
Washington for the Government foundry.
L. +. FURTH.
President OF The Chamber OF Commerce
FELTON, FAyoRs BENICIA.
Senator FELTON,, a member of the COM
mittee, made a statement in which he re-
cited the steps already taken and the ap-
pOiutment of a board, which after a care
full examination and consideration has
concluded that foundry was needed on the
Pacific Coast. Senator FELTON, quoted from
their report as follows: The board under
stands that the location of the factory is
fixed by law at Benicia and submits an
estimate Of the cost based upon an actual
experience in the preparation OF the site
and the erection Of the existing buildings at
Watervllet. The amount recommended is
81, asa, 200 Mr.. FELTON, continued: And
! hera- L desire to say that even if the law
does not fix the plant at Benicia, it was the
evident intention of the trainers Of the law
that the plant should be erected on the Pa
ri = ST no of
Benicla, otherwise provision would have
been made for the examination of other
points of the Coast, which was not the case.
They were aware of the conditions existing
on account of the contiguration of the coast,
and that this point more fully met the con-
ditiOns required, natural and artificial, for
such purpose than any other, and for this
reason they were only required to examine
the Beaicia Arsenal as the site.
FACILITIES REQUIRED.
The board distinctly submits, among
other suggestions these conditions, which
are indispensable for the successful erection
and operation of such a plant, namely:
A proving ground the guns may be
tested ana where a clear stretch of level
ground is needed, remote from thIckly set
tied communities, where lives would be in
danger; the factory ought to be out Of the
reach of guns of hostile ships Of war;
there should be frst-class facilities for
shipment by land and water, and there
should be large supply of water for cur
rent use. Skilled and unSkilled labor would
be in great demand, therefore the foundry
should be situated a or near the cOneentra-
ton of the population. Structural iron
would be one of the materials in great de-
mand, and altogether as much precision
would be necessary as in the case of the
manufacture of large telescope"
ADVANTAGES ADVANCED.
Mr.. FELTON, said that Benicia had all these
oHt ,jroi, 81, .,
ing the guns after manufacture, and the
foundry would be we'll protected from the
assault of hostile men-Of-war. He moved
that the bill introduced by himself provd-
ing for the erection of gun plant at
Benica be substituted aud reported
favorably to the Senate in lieu of Dolph's
bill providing for the appointment of an
army board to examine and report upon
the most suitable site for the erection of a
plant
The committee will hold another meeting
two weeks from to-day. Mt which time they
will make report to the Senate. Itis prob
able that Senator Dolph'S bill will be re-
ported favorably
THE DEBRIS QUESTION.
The California river and mining men met
to-day at Senator StanfOrd'S committee
room and discussed the matter Of obtaining
an appropriation from Congress for the i'm
proYement of California rivers and the
erection Of dams and other restraining
works in order that hydraulic mining may
be resumed In California. At last nights
meeting the gentlemen were not har-
monious but to-day they united upon
a plan. Mr.. Luttrell saw Mr.. Blanchard of
the House River and HarbOr Committee,
and endeayOTed 10 secure hearing for the
miners representatives but the latter told
him that the time for the hearings by the
committee had expired Mr.. Blanchard
stated, however, that he would explain the
matter to the other members OF the COM
mittee, and that possibly, in view of the
long distance the mining men had come,
hearing might be granted.
PATENTS ISSUED.
The following patents have been Issued
to residents of the Pacific Coast: Allen S.
Brown, Los Angeles, Cal, ventilatOr and
drip tray; Joseph Brumbaugh, Gold Hill,
Oregon, ore-crusher; John Downs. San
Francisco, sewer gate; George w. Forbes,
Gubservile. Santa Clara County. cultivator;
John II. Howard, Pasadena, cooking
steamer; Edmund Il. Mallett, assignor Of
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