Evening journal., 1898-11-18
ENDICOTT'S REPORT.
Statement of Chief Of Bureau
of Navy Yards and Docks.
GREATER FACILITIES ARE NEEDED.
WnrEhips Required TO Go Too Long
"a Distance For Docking and RE-
pnirs-Esfimntcd Expenses of
Navy Yards For Next Year.

Navy Yards For Next Year.
WASHINGTON. Nov 1s.-In his an
nual report to the secretary Of the navy
Chief Endlcott Of the bureau OF yards
and docks makes a strong point OF the
necessity for ample docking facilities
not only for small vessels, but for the
battleships upon waters near Key West
He said this place was during the war
and may be in the future an important
base OF naval operations. able strate-
gists having pronounced Key West and
Dry Tortugas the key to the gulf of
Mexico Therefore Il Is held that care
full study should be given to the subject
to determine some point at which the
very best docking facilities shall be pro-
vided Had the war with Spain cOntin-
ued many months more the absence OF
docking facilities in those waters would
have been most seriously felt and might
have affected it's fortunes The small
showing we make I'm dock accommoda-
tions Is very marked as compared with
the other naval powers OF the world,
and although the expenditures for dry
docks by the United States VIII be large
IN the next few years Chief Endicott
says he cannot fail TO ask a continu-
ance OF the liberal policy in this partlc-
ular until the country Is well fitted for
handling its fleet in dockyards with
out compelling vessels to perform long
sea voyages to reach docking ports. The
estimates submitted for the next year
provide for only one new dock, which is
70 be OF the largest type, constructed Of
granite and concrete and located at the
Norfolk navy yard
Under the head Of cOaling stations the
report tells what has been done toward
establishing such a station at Pago
Page, on the island of Tutuilla, Samoa,
showing that, awaiting of the general
appropriation OF S25O,OOO made by the
last congress for such purposes the
United states has acquired 10 acres Of
land at Swimming point and Observa-
tory point and has contracted for
steel pier, coal shed and other improve
ments necessary to store 5000 tons Of
coal and other supplies.
The report states that the United
States has come into possession at the
port Of San Juan of a naval arsenal
founded in the year, containing a NUM-
Der Of substantial concrete buildings
and three good piers. The total value
of the buildings and grounds is about
100000 and II has been erected into a
United States naval station.
The estimates for the various navy
yards for the next fiscal year are as
follows: Portsmouth, N. H.. 1906 900;
Boston, 1867 900; New London, Conn,
S25 900; New York. S6l2.O6 League Is
land Pa, S755, 767; Washington, S2O5 900;
Norfolk, 81, 900 900 (S1 500, 900 being for
new docl); Port Royal, s. c., Sli50O0;
Key West. SIP 500; Mare Island Cal,
1851, 75O; Puget sound, Wash, S55, 500.
Treating of this last station, Puget
sound, Chief Endicott says that If II be
important to equip a first class naval
station in that vicinity a new site
should be selected, for the present has
none of the desiderata Of a good naval
station. There Is no nearby popula-
ton to draw upon for skilled labor no
available market and no direct railroad
connection with a trunk line. Under
these conditions Il is said to be doubt
full II Il be wise to build up a large sta
ton at this point. The report also COM
ments upon the fact that no battleship
or heavy draft cruiser has yet APP
proached the wharfs at Mare Island
and says II remains to be demonstrate
ed that this precise location as a navy
yard was fortunate one. Attention
is called to the fact that the Oregon
was compelled TO go 500 miles north to
Puget sound to be locked because of
the risks of navigation in getting to
Mare Island. While the government
could construct the amplest dock ia
euitles on San Francisco bay this would
still be $50 miles north of the southern
boundary Of the United States where
Il is quite as important to have a naval
station as on the northern boundary at
Puget sound. Therefore It is recom-
mended that a board of experienced Of
ficers be directed to give attention TO
the establishment of such station
near the southern limit of the Pacific
coast The total estimates of the bu-
S634742i.