The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-14
Extent Of the War Pre-
parations on This
Coast.
Contemplate a New Dock,
Channel-Dredging and a
Battle-Ship.
Millions of Dollars to Be Expended
Here for National De-
Tense.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,
Wa shin pton March 10

w dSlllIlS LOll, 1o'
The Naval Affairs Committee has de-
cided to adopt the recommendation
contained in the report of the Secretary
of the Navy and will establish plant
for the manufacture of gunpowder of
all kinds, black, brown and smokeless.
1t is estimated that the cost of such
plant would not be more than 100000.
The estimate submitted by the Navy
Department was 500, 900. 1t is probable
that the new powder factory will be To-
Gated on the Potomac River. between
Washington and Indian Head.
The reasons for the establishment of
a Government factory appeal strongly
to members of Congress, especially at
this time. The statements made by
Congressman Hilborn some time ago,
declaring that we were "shy" on gun
powder, and the criticism of the Con-
gresham made a few days later by
General Lew Wallace, have resulted
in the determination to build a Govern
ment factory. The statement made by
Hilborn was thought by General Wal
lace to be ill-timed and ill-advised, but
it appears that the California Con-
gresham has been completely vindl-
Gated.
1t has been brought to the attention
of members of Congress that while the
Government is now seeking to buy
smokeless powder at eightyfive cents
a pound, the same article is produced
in Europe for forty-five cents. The
difference in price goes to the Ameri-
can manufacturer, but the question of
cost is not the principal reason for the
Government making it's own powder
1t is feared that the Dupont and Cali
fornia factories have not the capacity
n SJ1r1nlV q GIlffiPiqnf anOIlnf in of
war. 1t is believed that the Govern
ment factory could be erected and in
operation within few months, in time
for the present emergency.
It has also been practically decided
by the Naval Affairs Committee of the
House to provide for five new docks.
at the following points: Portsmouth
n. H; Boston, League Island, Algiers,
La, and. Mare Island. The Call CORE
spondent understood tonight from
member Of the Naval Committee that
although at the meeting held yester-
day question was raised as to suffl-
cient depth of water at Mare Island,
Boston and League Island, the state-
ments made by Commodore Mathews
will not influence the committee to
take adverse action.
Congressman Hilborn explained to
his associates on the committee that
as far as Mare Island was concerned
channel could be dredged through the
shallow part of the bay off Pinole
Point (popularly known as the "Po-
tato Patch') before the dock was COM
pleted. 1t is estimated that this chan
nel thirty feet in depth, could be
dredged for $4,000 The first thing
necessary will be preliminary survey
and the work could be completed in one
year, while the dock itself could not be
completed in less than two years. Con-
gresham Hilborn is of the opinion that
all five docks will be authorized and
that they will cost about s1,500,000 each.
This, with the appropriation of 6,000,-
900 for a new battleship to be built on
the coast (probably by the Union Iron
Works) and the 100000 for dredging
channel to the new dock will give en-