The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-18
MORE DOCKS NEEDED.
Chief Endicott Hopes For Continuance OF
Liberal Policy Recently Inaugurased.

Washington, November Tin his an.
nual report to the Secretary of the Navy,
Chief Endicott of tho bureau of yards and
docks. makes a strong roint of the neces
sity for ample docking facilities, not only
for small vessels, but also for the battie-
ships upon waters near Key West He
says that this place WAS during the war, and
may be in the future an important base of
naval operations, alb 10 straIegists having
pronounced Key West and Dry Tortugas
the key to the Gulf Of Mexico; therefore
1T is held that careful study should bs
given to the subject to determine some
point at which the very best docking
facilities shall be provided. The small
showing we make in dock aocommoda-
lions Is very marked as compared with
the other naval powers of the world. and
although the expenditures for dry docks
by the United States will be large in the
next few years, Chief Endicott says he
cannot fail to ask a continuance OF the
liberal policy in this particular until the
country is well fitted for handling its
fleet in the dock yards without compelling
vessels to perform long sea voyages to
reach docking ports. The estimates sub
mitted for the next year provide for only
one new dock which is to be of the largest
type at the Norfolk navy yard
+ The report tells what has been done
toward establishing a coaling station at
Samoa. showing that availing of the
general appropriation of $3.50, 600 made by
the last Congress for such purposes, the
United States has acquired fifteen acres
of land at Swimming Point AID Observa-
tory Point and has contracted for steel
pier, coal shed and other improvements
necessary to store 80. 600 tons of coal.
The report states that the United States
has come into possession at the port of
San Juan of naval arsenal, containing
a mum Der of substantial concrete build
ings and three good piers, The total value
OF the buildings and grounds is about
Sl00, 900, and it has been erected into .
United States naval station. The esti-
mates Of the various navy yards for the
next fiscal year ale:
Portsmouth, 1896, 600; Boston, 1857, 600;
New London, $25, 600; New York, S6i2 :
062; League Island, $685. 767; Washington,
$2O5, 600; Norfolk, 50, 00c, 600 ($l, 500, 00O be-
ing for new dock); Port Royal, s145, 600;
Key West, SIP, $780, Mare Island, $685. 557 /;
Puget Sound, $53. 800.
Chief Endicott says that il it is i'm
portant to equip a first class naval station
in the vicinity of Puget Sound, q new
|site should be selected. Attention is called
to the fact that the Oregon was compelled
to go 800 miles North TO Puget Sound to
he docked because of the risks of nayiga-
tion in getting to Mare Island.
While the government could construct
the amplest dock facilities ON San Fran
cisco bay, this would still be $50 miles
forth of the southern boundary of the
United States, whore 1T is quite as i'm
portant to have naval station as on the
northern boundary at Puget Sound.
Therefore, it is recommended that q
board of experienced officers be directed to
give attention to the establis hment of
such a station near the southern limit OF
the Pacific coast The total estimate OF
the bureau for the next fiscal year aggre-
gate Sc, 347, lei.
While detailing the needs and matters
of importance of the New York navy yard
Chief Endicott complains of the bad
policy shown in the sale of a large part OF
the grounds of the Brooklynsnavy yard TIC
the city, by authority of Congress, but
in opposition to the recommendation OF
the bureau. An enlargement of the yard
by the purchase of twelve acre tract il
| recommended.