The morning call., 1894-03-07
THE CLAIMS OF CALIFORNIA
Benicia Named as the Best Place
for the Site.
THE PACIFIC COAST DEFENSE.
In the Present Works IL Would Take
Twenty-One Years 20 Make
the Guns Required.

WAsHIN GToN, March 6.-Hilborn of
California to- day introduced bin to pro-
vide for the establishment of a gun fac
tory at BeDicia arsenal and the apprOpria-
tion of $1,000. 600 for that purpose.
Mr.. Hiborn said: "a gun plant on the
Pacific Coast is an absolute necessity.
The board appointed to investigate the
matter were unanimous on this point.
The only question was one of location.
The advantages of Benicia are so apparent
that there ought to be no question. Her
proximity to the great center of population
Of the coast. her nearness to the labor
market and her Dearness 10 points from
which supplies must be drawn render her
the most eligible of all the locations men,
toned. More than that the Government
already owns a site which is on deep
water aud has the advantage of both
railroad and water communication.
"a bill was introduced in the Senate by
Dolph Of Oregon as long ago as December.
1891, providing for the establishment of a
plant on the Pacific Coast, but not naming
location, that being left to commission
to be appointed. This bill was reported
favorably by Senator Squire two years ago,
and there il has slept ever since, and from
all appearances it will never be resurrected.
Ii California expects this establishment,
Californians should take the lead in the
movement and not wait for the action of
RepI esentatves of sister States who may
desire the rich plum for themselves. We
cannot expect Representatives of Wash
ington and Oregon, with their many obi
cations to their own States. to be especially
interested In the movement for the ad-
| vancement of California interests
LAS to the necessity of the establish
ment of gun plant on the Pacific Coast
there can be no question. The Board of
F0rtifications recommended for twenty
seven principal ports of the United States
500 guns of from eight to sixteen-inch call
Der and 700 twelve-inch mortars, making a
total of 1893 pieces of ordnance. OF this
number quarter of the guns and about a
| fifth Of the mortars will be required for
the defense of three points only on the
| Pacific Coast, namely, San Diego, San
! Francisco and the mouth of the Columbia
River. Since then the claims of Puget
Sound have been considered and it has
been determined that 100 additional guns
AMI 100 additional mortars will be required
there. At least $40 guns and mortars will
be required for the proper defense of the
| Pacific Coast.
''The guns needed for the Notifications
of the Pacific Coast are on an average of a
larger caiiber than those elsewhere in the
| United States. 1t is admitted that it is
| impracticable to transport 16-inch guns,
which will weigh over 100 tons, across the
continent; hence the necessity of having
thu plant near the fortifirations.
Again, the Government shops at
| Watervliet are entirely inadequate for the
construction of these guns within any rea-
sonable period. According to the most
liberal estimates. it would require twenty
one years to complete the guns already
| contemplated. l think it is time that Cali
own fight"