Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-27
UNCLE SANS NAVY.
Continued from page ~

COST OF Keeping too MANY vessels IN 90
1--WE service and yet keeping enougb
ready for action at short notice TIA
| iiiiiteo number of officers and men is
ALSO an important consideration" $
IL IS the intention of the department
TO utilize the North Atlantic SQUADRON
as far as possible in drills and manau-
Nefs' from the results of which dafo
tai, ne obtained as to the most effec-
i've methods of using the fleet in time
of war"
me report contains a comprebensive
account of naval construction abroad
ana OF foreign docking facilities.
II appears from the report of tn,
bureau OF yards and docks that TODAY
inc most urgent need of the naval SER
vice IS an increase of docking facilities.
VI the IL government docks-9 on the
Atlantic and on the Pacific coast
We're designed to accommodate battle
shlps OF the first class, / at New York
at Port Royal. S. c.. and l at Bre
merton. Wash, on Puget sound. But
the dock at New York has been for six
months, and is likely for three months
more to be undergoing repairs, and at
only an insufficient supply of water,
but the cross-section of the dock is too
small to safely admit battle ships with
oilSe keels affixed. A modern ship
should be locked every few months.
| and owing to the above condition Of
the docks on this coast it was neces-
sary to send the Indiana to Halifax
in August. last, for this purpose
ON the Pacific coast there is but one
dock of sufficient size to dock modern
battle ship. This is on Puget sound,
800 miles from San Francisco Access
to it is through a narrow channel 20
| miles long, one side of which is in pos
session of foreign country.
This lack Of docking facilities
should be remedied at the earliest pos
sible moment. The necessity is i'm
| perative. The department. therefore
| appointed, in August last, a special
board to examine the matter, and the
! valuable report made by it will be for
| warded to Congress as soon as il
| meets
This board reports that timber
docks. although less expensive than
| stone or concrete, are not durable.
| "A plan for the location of additional
| government docks. recommended by
this beard as a result of it's investiga-
| tons, is comprehensive and should he
! substantially carried out. When com
| pleted, it will give the necessary ia
oilities demanded by the extensive
coast line of our country.
There are seven strategic divisions
of our coast: First from the Bay of
Fundy to Cape Cod; second, from
cape Cod to Sandy Hook: third. from
| Sandy Hook to Cape Henry: fourth,
An Cape Henry to Cape Sable; fifth,
| The coast line bordering On the Gulf of
Mexico: sixth, the southern portion Of
the Pacific coast; and seventh, the
northern portion. There should be
| docks and repair shops in each divis
ion and these should be placed. as. far
| as possible, at great commercial and
| industrial centers, not only because
workmen and material can be obtained
more readily and more reasonably at
such points, but also because such
points require and will have, from
their Importance to the country, a
strong land defence, and as the docks
also require a strong land defence, one
set of Notifications will cover both
civil and military property. In the
great commercial centers also, from
ply large trans-ocean steamers, the
government will he able to derive some
revenue from accommodating them n
it's docks.
| The boardSin it's summary recon-
mends as sites for docks urgently nee
essary.' Boston, New York. Norfolk,
Port Royal, New Orleans, and Mare
Island.
| The secretary recommends that ac-
| ton be taken by initial appropriations
at a total ultimate cost for the sew
| eral improvements recommended less
| than that of one additional first class
battle ship. which is now of less i'm
portance than additional docks-to
start at once the works which he
| names.
First mentioned is dock to be con-
structed at Boston. adapted to the
docking of the largest going YES
sells. LAS the New England coast is
| our first exposure to European attack,
there should certainly be such dock
upon it; and this site is the one which
| meets all the requisites above quoted
as essential or desirable, and which
would be a source of considerable rev.
enue to the government from its COM
| mercial use 1t is the center OF the
| largest commercial and industrial &C
tivities in New England, is in the most
| favorable relation TO coast defence, Is
close to a large body of mechanics OF
| high skill and experience. and new
| dock there has been repeatedly recon-
n1ended in past years by the bureau of
yards and docks and other naval au-
tllorities. The only dock now there is
a small and insufficient one of stone
laid over 60 years ago" He thinks
Portsmouth, N. H.. should have deck
there is a navy yard, there should be
dock" He would have improve
ments in one of the New York DOCKS
also at League Island, at Norfolk, at
Port Royal at New Orlenas ana at
| Mare Island a new first class DOCK.
| The proposition of two private COM
panies to build a steel floating DOCK II
| New York for a guarantee OF PEI
cent. by the government are submitted.
"Of the complaints which have come
~sNNfT