The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-09
SEATTLE, FRIDAY. july q.
An ynE.I. ERTSH-H AFTER BASIN.

AN IDEAL FREsH-w AFTER BASIN.
The investigation about 20 be made ny
Cant. Barker. OF the United States navy.
into the advantages presented by Lakes
Union and Washington as fresh-water
basins ia which vessels OF our navy may
be laid UP IN ordinary. involves subject
Of vast importance. not merely 10 the city
Of Seattle. bat the national government as
we'll. The ascert8lnmeut OF the most eco
monica, method by which our steel yes
sells can be preserved in readiness for any
emergency. is the most important question
which l. ensrossing the attention OF the
navy department today. The rapid growth
az our navy in the last few years and its
certain increase In the future, demand
an immediate settlement OF this ques-
ton Already the number of vessels Is so
great that with our small force of officers
and men, 1t is difficult to man them and
keep them in commission, and very soon
& Will be quite impossible to DO 50. There
Is not now. on either the Atlantic or Pa
cife coaat3 any provision for taking care
OF these great aud costly machines when
out Of commission. When 1t is considered
that some Of these vessels cost more than
s. - 90. and THAI provision must be made
on each coast for taking care of a num-
her OF them at a time. involving the pres
srpation OF possibly s25..4,9o worth of
government property. the magnitude of
the question becomes obvious. Under pres
iee at great and unnecessary expense. ex-
posed 20 the risk OF accidents and subject
20 deterioration.
The answer 10 this question involves a
clear freslt-water basin OF uniform depth.
not exposed 10 freshets strong currents
or heavy winds This basin must be ac-
ccsslbo a all times and at an stages Of
tides conditions Of weather and seasons.
1t must be located near a navy yard which
g. capable % docking and repairing our
largest hattieships AMI IL must Ne within
the limits Of i large manufacturing CEN
ter, whore materials and skilled labor and
mechanics may be had al any and All
times.
On tho Atlantic coast the government
has already begun the location of fresh
water basin near League island. whore
hundreds az thousands of dollars will have
20 he expended for dredging When this
basin IS completed. the water Will he
hrackish, muddy and very shoal. not over
thirty feet In depth. and vessels laid an
IA it Viii oe exposed to heavy winds ana
winter fce. ana all Of the iurleulrn,lox NJ
winter on the Atlantic selhoard. T.trre
expenditures Will constantly ha&r 10 Sc
made ia order to preserve the bulls from
exposure To climate and the effects ~
heavy gale which sweep over that section
during botn summer ard winter More
over tine batuesAips and armorea ,r,tlse~s
81 thc hrst class VIII BE- more ifae ~
miles from the Pert Royal dry dock thc
ONLY dock oa that coast capable @, 1o..-
ms vessels OF their size.
On The Pacific coast plans are alrest,.
under way for locating and ,x.4es-.as a.
basin AZ Vallejo. near tho navy ward in
Mare i~laud strait The si,e proposed is
mud aat vjth fve Ga seven fe,. OF water
a.. tldes. Tho securing ~ the s...-a.,r.f-
inr country SIS tcusonut Deposited r :h..
S'ra.t sud also Oh tae site vhere .a. rs,,.
department proToa ;o cs.eaU.. tn1
cts.a. This deposit is l.r--l, increased r.,
'ae tainy ssason. sDd TO -aeh aa ,x,eas
}Hst oonstau; drelgius ia tire o..'> ..e.-e
90 r-e-ecyne tNyn.y zee. p, l5u a-..f
along -ae SAW ytrd NJ v.-e-e t.. .ta-s
su3 st~cu- current have = -fr5r -s,e... z.
}a Impossible go place Limit .!r1r .I.. .,.,.