The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-23

marine From 1871 TO 1880 Lieut. wyckofr
was engaged In surveying all the waters
OF the sound above Seattle. He early be-
came impressed with the advantages of
the SOUND Tor a naval station, and en-
eassd IN correspondence with friends In
the East TO secure Its establishment He
advocated great naval reservation of
1"pn acres OF timber lands then owned
oy tne government contiguous 10 Puget
sound. arguing that with constantly en-
nancing values these lands might oonsti-
tate perpetual endowment fund for the
naval station. Prominent naval officers
were favorably impressed with the
cneme. and bill ombodying Its main
tsstures was actually introduced In con-
eress N 1890. but Just at that time
Lieut. wyckofr was ordered to China. and
-. reservation act was buried In the
nava! committee rooms,
essen Years later the matter was re-
vssn' ana In ISIS an act was passed d.
rscung the secretary Of the navy TO APP
poiht commission OF three naval officers
70 examine the coast north Of the forty
rond parallel OF north latitude. In Ore
ecn. Washington and Alaska, for suit
sois site for navy yard and dry docks.
INA 1900 was appropriated 10 cover the
s,penses OF the commission.
In accordance with this act, Hon w c.
whi,ney, secretary Of the navy appointed
sapt A. I. Mahan. Commander c. NJ.
Shester and Lieut.. Commander c. ii.
c'eekton as such commission. After a
oretM examination OF all the waters
sorth OF the forty~second parallel. eSclud-
ING Alaska. this commission finally Sc
lec'ed some i,so0 ncres of land lying on
NE point between Dyes and slnciair's
in'ets. about fifteen miles west OF Seattie.
rms report. written by Capt. A. r. Ma
nsn. the naval historian. very ably sets
torth the advantages Of this situation fer
navy yard. after havirg exhaustiyely &C.
ecrioed other possible locations. including
one on Lake Washington. when the at
tenlpt was made 10 secure an apprcpria-
uon 60 purchase this site. the report and
the whole question OF the establishment
OF navy yard on the Northwest coast
vas bitterly attacked by Eastern senators.
he best that could be done by Senator
Alcn was 20 secure an amendment TO the
navA Appropriation bill. approved June 10
is", appointing n second commission. con-
sstinE of two civilians. two naval officers
ana one army officer 10 select a site FOR
dry dock at soma point on the shores Of
we faciac ocean. OF the waters connected
herewith. north of the parallel of lati-
tade marking the northern boundary OF
california. including the waters OF Puget
sound, and also Lakes Washington and
tnlon I'm the state Of Washington"
MS commission was restricted 10 site
Tor dry dock alone When appointed IL
consisted OF Hon. Richard W. Thompson.
ea-secre,ary Of the navy: ex-senator T. G.
fiait. OF New York: Col. George n. Men,
dell. U, ; A; Capt, T. O. selfriGSe. L. s.
~, and Lieut. A. Il. wyckefI. L. 5. n.
The commission went over practically the
sane ground "a the former one. and for
ranifestiy conclusive reasons selected vir-
toaily the same site cf about i.7po acres.
Inss wa lss A. -
cenher q. 1870. II was sent to congress
W President Harrison. The house OF rep
resentatiNes declined 90 make any appro-
prlaiion for the purchase et the site rec