The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-18

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE annual re-
port OF Chief Endicott. OF the bureau OF
wards and docks, recommends these appro-
priations for the improvement Of the naval
station on Puget sound:
Pump and boiler house for waterworks.
g. CO., purchase Of additional land near Wa
ter supply springs 81 90: yard water clos
cts, S. 600: continuing clearing and grading
station. sI29o: floor for construction and
repair shop. 5000; narrow gauge railroad
system. 1850; extension OF boiler room and
steam plant for yards and docks. $4,000:
total $53,5oo
The report says:
This station contains a dry dock OF the
largest capacity; machine shops for con-
struction and repair A general storenouse
and machine shop for the bureau Of steam
engineering Is provided so that the yard is
fitted for ordinary repairs to vessels OF the
navy. The few objects enumerated are con-
sidered important for improving the sta
ton in some respects. No extensive inn
provements are contemplated at present
unless IT should be the desire of congress to
very much increase the establishment at
this point and do considerable portion of
the work for the navy upon this part Of the
coast.
Moderate facilities are valuable at this
station. hut II Ii be important that this
country TO equip a first-class naval station
or yard in this vicinity, near the limit of its
boundary which the bureau believes, then
another site should be sought which COM
bines the essential requirements of such
yard in nearby population. supplying
enough skilled labor, a market with sup
plies conveniently and quickly available,
. ard direct railroad connection with a trunk
line for quick and economical transporta-
tion Of material.
The present site possesses none of these
desiderata. The nearest city of considera-
BILE size Is fifteen miles away. Communica-
tion with the rest OF the world is by water
carriage over this distance and the little
work done al the station has been done un-
der disadvantages. When a naval vessel
has been docked and repaired skilled men
have been supplied and transported at great
expense from the Mare Island yard. Tn
der these conditions il is doubtful Il il is
wise 10 build up very large establishment
ar this station and provide for more than
docking and slight repairs. unless no Suita-
bic site near one Of the large cities and
railroad communications can ne had
The report further makes a strong point
Of the necessity for ample docking facili-
ties. not only for small vessels, but for
West Hc said this place was. during the
war, and may be in the future. an I'M
portant base OF naval operations. able
strateg!sts having pronounced Key West
and Dry Tortueas the key Of the Gulf Of
Mexico The small showing We make in
dock accommodations is very marked, as
compared with the other naval powers os
the world. and although the expenditures
be larger in the next few years. Chief En-
dlcoit SAYS he cannot fail TO ask a contsn-
uance of the liberal policy In this particu-
lar until the country Is we'll fitted for han
ding lis feet In the dock yards withou.
compelling vessels To perform long sea
voyages TO reach docking ports The es,i-
mates submitted for the next year provide
FOR only one dock. which Is 10 he OF the
largest type. constructed Of granite and
erected a, the Norfolk navy yard.
The report tells what has been done
toward securing a station ~ Pago Pago.
on the island OF Tutuila Samoa. showing
that the United States has acquired fifteen
acres of land at Swimming Point and OBJ
servatory Point and has contracted for 4
steel pier. ccal shed and other improve
nneuts necessary 20 store SEQ tons uf coal
ana other supplies The report states that
the United States has come fnto possession
~ the port - san Juan. OF a navy arse
nal founded in tae wear is}-9 containing A
number - substantial concrets buildings
ana three good p:crs. TIE total value ~
the buildings ard arseuals and grounds .
shont slpfn ne1 ard K has been erected into
a U1ited SAFES naval station. The est!-
mates % the various navy yards FOR the