New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-29
MORE DOCKS URGENTLY NEEDED.
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL NAVAL BOARD 10
ACTING; SECRETARY ROOSEVELT

Washington. Sept 2S.-The special board ap-
pointed by the Navy Department to consider the
needs OF the Navy In the matter OF new Oh! uocns
submitted It's repor; 10 Acting secretary f'oos'-
Welt to-day. The board Is composed Oh coini1oNo'e
ounce Commander Chadwick and Constructor
Dashieu with Civil Engineer Parks as recorder.
The hoard finds that five new docks are urgently
necessary while one che Port Royal D 60 ooch1
should be enlarged Immediately Inc 'o'ai Cos "a
,besa docks with the Port Royal improvement, IS
os,inated nj S775 900 -Four OF the docks The
board says. should be OF concrete; namely, at bos-
ton zoo feet long cost 100000; at New-Nork DO
feet long cost 81 10000; al Norfolk. 800 feet loAs
cost 81 10000 lengthennC stone DOCK, s-Vo")' 4.
Mare Island. 600 feet Ions cost Sl~cV. Each OF
these concrete docks Is 10 be completed in two
a.rs A. Alriers near New-Oreans (North Gal
,oston or Pensacola as Glternatives) II Is proposed
10 place steel floating dock and wharf. his
would cost $4,000, and could be completed N zen
months In addition to these, the Doaru recon-
mends docks al the following points: w-Lohuon'
fresh-water basin and docking connecting with
river 1000 00O. IN two years time; Newport News
steel floating dock and moorngs alternate 10 NoF-
folk concrete dock) S550.oO0 in ten months' Ioi'u
gas steel floating dock and moorlngs' So'V'"V' !"
ten months; San Francisco, concrete docK on iei'"
Buena Island. 100 feet long S,5NV"' TWO !eH no
San Pedro concrete dock 700 feet long. N'VoV"'
In two wears making the total cost OF this suppe-
mentary work 900.
In support of Its recommendations 'he po"'u
speaks as follows Of the srategical considerations
which have Influenced II: I'VE are from naNai
point OF view weak in comparison with the great
naval Powers o. Europe. and the naval streh6'''
OF Japan is growing rapidly that within a year
or two she viii oVermatch US in available strength
in the Pacific. Every effort is then necessary on
our part TO retain command oil the sea, al Ichsii
on our coasts. and TO supplement our n4NiI
strength by providing accessible PAGES Loi iePdii
and docking. and by fort!icatons so located that
when our squadrons are pressed by superior force
they may them supports IN hodlnS me dP-
proaches to our coasts SO long as an enemy II
compelled to draw ali his supplies from his home
stations his operations must be limited by tne le
ccssity OF holding his communications clear ana
the quantity OF supplies he can transport II. ms
ships under the protection of his fleets. II ne
must be prepared 10 meet upon arrival on our
coasts even much weaker naval force, held COM
pacty in hand with repair and supply facilities
near, we can retain the command of the sea on
coasts and render impossible its occupation
near commercial centres In conclusion, the
Board expresses the conviction that all Government
docks should be OF permanent character, and
their readiness for use at all times be assured
cost
Respecting the recommendations of the Board
TO another dock at Mare Island. IL Is known
be the intention Of the Navy Department 10 reject
hatte-shps are TO he built on the Pacific Coast
At present there only such vessel the Ore
gon in the Pacific and while the Navy Depart
feels keenly the need for ships of this formd
another dock in addition TO that at Puget Sound
Tor one ship.
The report OF the Board abounds in careful rea-
soninC to support al, its recommendations and
on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts set out
III detail The Board VIII be kept together for
more work in the same line Commander Chadwick
Is going TO Eurone. so he has been relieved. and