The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-22
IHElSLAND8 UTTERLYuslE:L.Esss

CAMEL EET AT DRY ToRTUcAs
NATTER OF DOUBTFUL
PoLlcY. s; y, ! Z. * Il
Cerresoondehce or the Assoeiated Press.
KEYSwBsr, Fla. aiamh 1s.--without
much apparent reason. the war excRe-
sinent hero seems gradually dying out.
The natTesof the rltle fstand, are grow,
Ing accustomed to the sight OF moving
iasmed ard armored ships and the cry, Of
riosin Havana has been relegated 60 the
''Wolt.' category. Crowds tina. q week
ago were TO be sorEd at the ramshacltle
wharf. h swerr. boats from Havana ere
smoered. now may DO seen at the Brisa
locking iazlly at the sea- or sitting Idle
where welcome breezes stir the palm
tres Even the Cubans as they sip
,heir eguad ientc in the evenings, ex-
siiibit an air 5of lassitude. contrasting,
strangely with their heated debating
and excited e1ultati0n OF q few weeks
z ago. In short. the abnormal has be-
: OutWuIu IAlQ IL
able signs OF preparat ton for conflict are
still present; but the flfore which their
novelty created has died away. although
Che e,nbsrs are stirred every now and
again by some wild runlor.
Situated rs Key West Is on the very
edge of the United States and cheek by
Jpwi with Havana, It Is small wonder
That there Is much speculation as to
what would happen to,the island should
war with Spain enste. An officer who
IS permanently located here. in summing
UP the uses Of this leland In case OF war.
Ratd: KS p &. Z Fl
AZ. far as I can see Key West would
4 be almost utterly useless to the United
, States In case of war. Il guards no In.
let and no outlet. The recently received
consignments of torpedoes and the two
I rev sand batteries will make Il q fairly
good place from q defensive point OF
view, but unless 1t IS protected by the
elect. there Is little to prevent such a
ship as the Vizeaya Smelling It and re-
maining out OF harms way. As q coal-g
ing station. Key West Is practically
inutle. because the harbor 10 not deep
enough TO permit Of the entrance Of any
4 of our big ships. Old Fort Taylor, a
big red brick relic OF the civil war, occu-
pies a protection Of che 1slaad. but It Is.
OF course. practically disnnanrled.
At Dry Tortusas the aame conditions
prevail There Fort. Jefferson, which fs
over mile in circumference, Is without
garrison and out OF date It would be
Impossible to maintain a garrison at that
Il fort As a harbor Tortugas Is all right,
but for strategic purposes I fail 70 see It's
sayailab billy" 6 p,
Rear Admiral Sicard has constantly
said to this correspondent that he res
GREETED his inability to get the big ships
Z Into Key West harbor and besides coal
ling them at TortuGas with far less trou-
: BILE. he could then have them at his call
within a moments notice. The only two
big ships here. the flagship New York
and the battleship Iowa, are obliged to
sllesir or seven. miles out from land. Dry
Massachusetts lie, is over sixty miles
These statements naturally suggest
ss.the idea that the concentrationsof such
: large feet around Dry Tortugas and
Z Key West Is doubtful policy. With ma
tnral caution, Admiral Sicard failed to
state. which Is the fact, that the govern.
y ment IS making strenuous efforts to pre-
4 pare Key West for emergencies and Is
& employing every resource to fit this is
$ land FOR the only stragetic position It
Could rightly fill, that o. O coaliug STA
g tion.
Extensive dredging operations are to
be.undertaken without delay. u
*. Simmons and II. F. Cahill, presi-
dent and superintendent, respectively, OF
x a New York tCtys dredging company.
arrived here some little time ago to
/ hasten the completion OF contracts which
their company has to furnish sand for
fortif icadons here and to deepen the
iarbor. Their contract for the fortld-
! cations, now in the course Of erection at
1 Key West, calls for $50, 900 cubic yards
ofEsand. The capacity OF their appa-,
i r1tus, which will shortly be put to work.
< Is 200. cubic yards per day. They are
required to complete the work in three,
y months. Mr.; Cahill said To-day: -:
We should have begun work some
time ago had It not been for delay in
! shipment OF important material. Our
contract to dredge the harbor calls for a
depth OF thirty feet opposite the govern
|. ment, dock, this depth to extend $50 feet.
We expect to commence work within a
few days and should finish dredging
within ten days. Our largest bat:leshlps
will then be able TO coal at the docks
here" ~ & p e. SIS u s g q
This Is significant Taken In conjunc-
lion with the fact that the government
4 Is considering the odvisnbillty OF erect
ing coal sheds on Its wharf so that the
coal can DC discharged and laden
/ through chutes. II satisfactorily shows
\ that although Key West may be OF lit
i tie service at present no measure Is be-
j ing spared to bring It to d point when It
/! will become available as q coal station
q and iuvulnerable TO hostile attack
81 What Uncle Sam has to do.
s CHICAGO, March 2l.-Uncle Sam has
only to: issue an order to his troops to
Cook your food and boil gour drinking.