The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-03-05
Defend the Pacific Coast.

The Chamber OF Commerce at Port Towns
end urges the general Government. in q
memorial recently received at the national
capital. to fortify the seaboard from the
Columbia River to Puget Sound.
Since this timely memorial was forward
ed its Importance has been increased by
the announcement that an agreement has
been reached in the long controversy be-
tween the Dominion and the imperial Gov
eminent over the fertilization OF EsQui-
malt. At the naval station there. at Vic
toria. and at Vancouver. which Is the west
ern terminus OF the Canadian Pacific Rail-
way. strong defences have been planned.
and now an agreement has been reached
that the imperial Government will build
and arm them and the Dominion defray the
cost Of the garrisons. The London Morn
ing Post has said that 1.-THE annexation OF
Hawaii by the United States might be re-
garded as a counter move to f~ortifying
Esquimalt." 1t Is true that %annexing the
islands will remove a source Of peril to our
| Pacific coast. but there are other needs.
Tie growing Importance Of the worlds
commerce in the Pacific is manifest. and to
Puget Sound. close upon whose waters are
the guns of Esquimalt. belongs Il large part
Of our Pacific mercantile marine. The
Seattle Chamber OF Commerce thinks that
| this Puget Sound steam and sail marine
may amount to 400, 600 tons. The new dry
dock in Puget Sound. which will be one OF
the largest in the country. will probably
become tho centre of an important naval
station. whose approaches should be COW
cred by forts: and the high bluffs in that
region furnish excellent natural sites for
batteries which could keep hostile vessels
under their fire for a longrdistance.
1t may be- suggested that. with the con-
Hguration OF Puget Sound, submarine mines
could be relied on to protect the principal
channels: but the Port Townsend Chamber
Of Commerce has pointed out the objection
that there is a depth OF water ranging from
t%wenty-four to forty-four fathoms
Point Wilson and Admiralty Head. and OF
twenty to sixty-two fathoms between the
latter and Marrowstone Point. On the
other hand. the front and cross fires from
batteries on the bluffs at these three points
would keep a ship under range for a total
distance of sixteen miles. and even mortar
batteries would cover a distance. outside
and inside. of twelve miles. In other words.
a hostile entrance there could be made I'M
possible. Tho Monterey. with her powerful
Pinch and 10-inch guns. is q great source
of protection to the Pacific coast. but she
will chiefly be a harbor defender for San
Francisco. as the Miantonomoh Is for New
York. Puget Sound may in time have Its
W monitors. but forts are less expensive
to maintain. and can mount more guns.
The Port Townsend Chamber Of Commerce
has placed before Congress facts and figures
upon the clearances Of American vessels In
foreign and eoastwise trade that show the
great commercial value OF Puget Sound
Besides the grain, tho hops. the timber. and
tho fisheries Of hat region, its coal supply
is important to our vessels. as 1t woulc
be to an enemy finding lodgment there
In the State of Washington the iron indus
try is also beginning to DO developed, The
annexation of Hawaii will more particularly
affect the California coast. southwest %
which Honolulu lies: but the northern oil
Puget Sound extremity Of our line Is more
concerned with the Vancouver lslant
stronghold. right at its gates.
Puget Sound is also the natural base o
naval protection for Alaska. 10 which 1t II
80 much nearer than Mare Island. Their
are necessary limits to the development ol