The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-14
TO DEFEND PUGET SOUND.
Value of Admiralty Head. Marrowstone
Point and Magnolia Bluff.
New York Sun.

New 1ork sur
Washington City. March 4--The agree
ment on an appropriation for the new dry
dock In Puget Sound. as the nucleus of
what will probably become an important
navy station and yard. Is matter for
congratuiation.
The growth OF interest in Ii and of
sense of its Importance may be judged
from the fact that about nine years ago.
when the Notifications board gave q list
of twenty-seven ports then urgently re-
quiring defense. Puget Sound was not
among them at all. Cumberland Sound
was there. the ports of the Kenaebec and
the Penohscot, Portsmouth New Bedford,
and San Diego; but the great Puget Sound
district. where there Is so much shipping,
with the termini OF two transcontinental
railroads. with coal mines. with growing
towns like Olympia, Seattle. Tacoma, Port
Townsend, and Everett. and with its
proximity 10 the British naval stronghold
at Esauimait, was omitted.
Since then. however, there has been no
lack of attention to the military needs of
this region. while the establishment of a
new navy yard at Port Orchard. I'm itself
requiring that its approaches should be
defended. has given a fresh impetus TO the
plans.
Pending the recent discussion of these
matters In congress an important COM
munication was received from Brig. Gen.
Otis, commanding the department of the
Columbia. In his annual report he had
also dweit upon the desirabliity of forth
flying Magnolia blur. spur of land about
three miles from the center of Seattle
and at the entrance Of Elliott or Duwa-
mish bay.
But the entrances TO the Sound would
perhaps he the first points TO fortify
The northern entrance Is az Deception
pass. where the current Is very swift
while the other is az the mouth of Ad-
mfralty inlct. which IS about 81 miles
wide. The Notifications board now recon-
mends that. at Deception pass. Little
Teutf Island, In the center of the channel
and completely commanding II. should be
fortified. ON each side OF the mass Ia a
military reservation containing $50 acres.
OF l.sS1 for the two. and little 10 the
eastward are two smaller ones. having an
area OF about 30 acres. Everything is IA
vorahIe there for complete defense.
The other entrance, however at Admir-
atty inlet. Is open 10 war vessels at ali
times and In ell weather. and especially
needs defensive works. There too the
strength OF the current is marked. and
the channel Is also about 80 feet deep. SO
that submarine mines cannot be placed a
defenses. But armoeclads and torpessa
boats could assist the land batteries
These latter the Notifications heard would
place at Admiralty head on the east and
Marrowstone paint on the south Point
Wilson - low st the inlet. but rises sharply
10 the rear. while the other two are bold
biuTs about 30 feet high. and Marrow
stone point cannot he approached nv land.
Land must be acquired for the forts al
though az Narrowstone point there are
now about 4si acres. which might answer
requirements. ard the main garrison
would De there; At the other fwo points
there IS needed only enough for the hat
Teries ana their maintenance
Gen. Miles once said OF these bluTs
that ship trying 10 get hy them would
BE under fire for eight miles Ia approach
Ing and then eight miles more in going
beyond them. TIE nnortars alone would
keep them under fire for about twelve
miles. ana II In addition a floating battery
should atd the forts. the defense would ne
very thorough
fsSsing these. we come 20 another series
o. sites for oefsns~s. further south, at
Double a2d Foglweathsr bluffs and az the