The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-13
Place Where Warships Nay Be
Laid Up in Ordinary.
WHAT THE DEPARTMENT WANTS
Lieut.. A. II. Wyckon. u. $. ". Retired.
Makes Suggestion to the Semft,e
Chamber of Commerce, Which, IL
Successfully Carried Ont. viii
Mean Great Advantage for the
City-"Scattie Has Always Taken
Advantage Of Her Opportunities.
Now She Has Great One.

Der OF commerce. matter was discussed
that Is likely 10 be of great Importance 10
Seattle. The navy department wants To
secure place on the Pacific coast where
warships may be laid up in ordinary, with
all their stores and equipment on board.
ready for service within twenty-four
hours. and with suitable barracks and
drill grounds for the men and store-
houses on shore.
The place has not been selected. AS
Lieut. wyckoff says in q letter. which is
quoted here. Lake Washington is tho
ideal place of the world for this purpose.
IL is as il created especially" Why not
get ite That was the question before the
Chamber OF Commerce trustees.
The letter fully explains the proposition.
1t follows:
Seattle has always taken advantage az
her opportunities. ard now she has great
one | inclose a clipping from the last
Army and Navy Journal. | have always
known that this naval reserve must come
as the United States must have three
times as many vessels kept equipped for
war as she can AFFORD 60 keep
In active service during peace. In
letter TO Senator Squire, which
he used with such efiec! In the senate In
getting the first appropriation for tho
canal, ] dwelt upon the wonderful advan-
tages ~ Lake Washington IA an adjunct
II the naval station, for the laying-up
place for the naval reserve. or all vessels
out OF commi ssion- II is perhaps unneces-
sary for me 70 again enumcrate I'm detail
all the advantages of Lake Washington
for this purpose.
Briefly. the vessels are TO be laid up
with all their stores and equipments on
board. ready for service within twenty
four hours. and suitable barracks and drill
grounds for the men. and storehouses on
shore. Now. Lake washington is the ideal
place of the world for this purpose 1t Is
as If created especially. The preservation
of the ships bottoms would alone pay the
cost of the canal In ten years or less. Then
the quiet harbor. no tides, preservation OF
wharves. grand drilling place for boats
and torpedo boats. mild climate. no Ice.
drill grounds on shore. proximity to city.
etc. Lake Union would do. but Lake
Washington is so much better. 1t viii cost
a million dollars TO make the League
Island basin. and then. on account Of tina
shallow, narrow river. and solid ice part
of each winter. unhealthy location. etc..
II II not a really suitable place. A miIlion
location Is ideai II evsry r6upect rur NJ
naval reserve. in addition to Its lmnttnsI
Importance to commerce.
Get I'm and stir up your Chamber Of
Commerce and citizens In haste. sin
cerely yours, "A. B. WYCKOFF.
fers to:
''Plans and specifications are being pre-
pared by Civil Engineer Endicott at the
navy department for the conversion or
fifteen acres in the rear Of League island
navy yard into basin where ships OF the
navy may be laid UP in ordinary. Secre-
tary Long has given up the idea OF ap-
pointing a board to prepare plan for
laying up vessels, and has determined 10
have the work done at the navy depart
ment. Capt. Crowninsheld. chief of the
bureau OF navigation. and Commander
Dickens. his principal assistant. are en-
gagged on a plan for placing the ships In
ordinary. and deciding as to the men 10
be left aboard. the periods when they shall
be taken to sea during the course of a
year and other details connected with the
scheme. Civil Engineer EndScott Is pre-
pairing the plans and specifications for
water basin which will be sufficiently deep
10 accommodate the battleships with their
draft OF twenty-seven feet In case IL In
decided to place them In ordinary at some
future time. The last naval appropriation
the improvement of the basin. and this
will be expended as judciousiy as pos
sible with a view 20 making tho basin
a rendezvous for the ships which will be
laid up. There is reason to believe that
Secretary Long will urge congress I'm his
next annual report 70 make an approprIs-
ton for the better Improvement OF the
basin and its enlargement 10 such an ex-
tent that IL can accommodate all the ves-
sells which II may be decided to place In
the reserve.
"In addition, the department Is ieslrous
of securing a point on the Pacific slope
where vessels can be laid up Mare island
has been practically decided upon. but
there is no natural basin which can be
employed. and the next congress viii be
asked 10 make appropriations for It's con-
struction."
The south Waterway.
Mr. DuTie. who Is interested In the
south waterway, reviewed the work that
the Seattle & Lake Washington Water
way Company had already DONE and
stated that the Duwamish river will soon
be reached and that an abundance OF
fresh water and sufficient depth will be az
tanned 90 allow entrances 10 vessels OF tho
navy that might be placed in ordinary.
An advantage that the south waterway
enjoys Is the ease with which vessels
might leave such anchorage and 20 20
sea. He asked that when the COMMITTEES
takes the matter up IL will present facts
I'm relation 70 the south waterway as well
as those Of the north canal and Lake
Washington.
General Business.
Mr. Davies stated that he had received
a letter from New York In which were
stated the reasons for the change Of the
route OF the canal from Salmon bay TO
Smiths cove. The original route may
be re-estabIished and the money appro-
priated for the work he made immeil-
steIy available. The matter was referred
10 the committee on state and national
affairs.
Mr.. Schuyler moved that the commit
tees having the matter OF the forestry
reserve In hand meet today and take the
matter up. Mr.. Arthur also spoke on
the same subject. stating that II might os
possible 10 open the forest reservations
for mining development Mr. Schuyler
recommendation carried and the commit
tee Will meet at the chamber today ~
o'clock.
The board took up the report OF tns
committee on state and national AFFAIRS.
the proceedings OF which meeting were
published IN the acknowledgement. SEN
stor Turner'S letter 10 the board tn se-
ply 70 communication addressed TO nsin
by Secretary Ling. on the subject OK an
by the government was read. sen2for
Turner pledged his hearty co-cpeTa'fon
and said that ne would Introduce the OH