Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-18
DOCKS AND YARDS
Are Needed to Accommodate
Our Growing Navy.
Most Imperative Need Is in the
Waters Near Key West.
Large Dock to Be Built at Norfolk. One
Needed on Puget Sound.

Washington, Nov. lin his annual
report to the secretary of the navy;
Chief Endicott of the bureau of yards
and docks, makes a strong point of the
necessity for ample docking facilities
not only for small vessels but also for
the battleships upon waters near Key
West He says that this place was
during the war and may be in the fu-
| ture an important base of naval ope-
| rations, able strategists having pro-
nounced Key West and Dry Totugas
the key to the Gulf of Mexico and
therefore, it is held that careful study
| should be given to the subject to de-
| termine some point at which the very
best docking facilities shall be pro-
Vided.
The small showing we make in dock
accommodations is very marked as
compared with the other naval powers
of the world, and although the expen-
ditures for dry docks by the United
States will be large in the next few
years, Chief Endicott says he cannot
fail to ask continuance of the liberal
policy in this particular until the
country is well fitted for handling its
| fleet in the dock yards without COM
pelling vessels to perform long sea voy-
ages to reach docking ports.
The estimates submitted for the next
year provide for only one new dock.
which is to be one of the largest type
at the Norfolk navy yard.
The report tells what has been done
toward establishing a coaling station
at Page Page, on the island of Tutuilla.
Co oh
general appropriation of $3.50, 600 made
by the last Congress for such purposes,
the United States has acquired Is acres
of land at Swimming point and Obzer-
vatory point and has contracted fo, a
steel pier. coal shed and other i'm
provements necessary, to store 10000
tons of coal. The report states that
the United States has come into pos
session at the port of San Juan of a
naval arsenal containing 81 number of
good piers. The total value. of the
buildings and grounds is about $780,
600 and it has been converted into a
United States naval station.
The estimates of the various navy
yards for the next fiscal year are:
Kittery. Me-, 100000: Boston, 1851, 900:
New London, $4,000; New York, s612,-
062; League Island, s755,767: Washing
ton. $2O5.OO0; Norfolk, s., 0O0, 600 Isl, $780,
600 being for new dock); Port Royal.
$145,000; Key West, s112,52O; Mare Is
land. sSl5,557; Puget Sound, $53,5O0.
Chief Endicott says that if it be i'm
portant to equip first-class naval sta
ton in the vicinity of Puget Sound,
new site should be selected. Attention
n a hot
was compelled to go 800 miles north to
Puget Sound to be locked, because
of the risks of navigation in getting
to Mare Island.
While the government could con-
struct the amplest dock facilities on
San Francisco bay, this would still be
$50 miles north of the southern bound
airy of the United States, where it is
quite as important to have a naval sta
ton as on the northern boundary at
Puget Sound. Therefore. it is recon-
mended that board of experienced
officers be directed to give attention
to the establishment of such a station
near the southern limit of the Pacific
coast.
While detailing the needs and mat
ters of Importance of the New York
of the bad policy shown in the sale of
a large part of the grounds of the
Brooklyn navy yard to the city by au-
thority of Congress, but in opposition
to the recommendation of the bureau.
An enlargement of the yard by the pur-
chase of 12-acre tract is recommend
ed
The total estimates of the bureau
for the next fiscal year aggregate &c.
347, 121.