The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-18
NIPPLE DOCK FACILITIES
One Of the Weak Points Of the
United States Navy.
A LIBERAL POLICY URGED
49, BnAicote IN His Annual Report.
unnos esvsrai Recommendation.
Do1boes Of Marc Island and
Puget Sound Stations.

Warrington. Nov. lin his annual
peoort to the secretary Of h navy.
Cheaf Endicott OF the bureau of yards
ond docks makes a strong point Of the
nocessity 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 bas OF naval operations. able
s~trategists having pronounced Key
West and Dry Tortugas the key Of the
Quiz Of Mexico. The small showing we
make In dock accommodations is very
marked as compared with that Of the
other laval powers Of the world. and
although the expenditures for dry docks
~ the United States will be larger in
the next few years. Chief Endlcott says
he cannot fail to ask a continuance Of
h liberal policy in this particular un-
IN the country IL well fitted for ham
ding It's feet In the lock yards with
,ut compelling vessels to perform long
sea voyages to reach docking ports.
The estimates submitted for the next
sear provide for only one dock. which
u " y VI tlt kS<l tyHts ~ I
Of granite n concrete, and located at
Norfolk navy yard.
Under the head Of coaling stations. the
report tells h has been lone towards
securing a station at Page Page on the
iTland of Tutullla. Samoa. showing that
the United States had acquired IS acres
OF land at Swimming point and Observ-
atory point. and has contracted for n
steel pier. coal shed and other improve
-A~. HAAAuAa.x~ h. asAr. r 400 eAaa 80
coal and other supplies. The report
states that United States has come into
possession OF the port Of San Juan. Of
. naval arsenal founded in the year
1900. containing a number of substan-
tial concrete buildings N three good
piers. The total value of the buildings
and arsenals and grounds Is about
$780, o0. and IL has been created into a
United States ava station.
The estimates of the various navy
yards for the next nscal year are as
follows: Portsmouth. N. H.. $500, 900:
Boston. Mass. 1867 900; New London.
Conn, SIS. 900; New York. S612. 600:
League island. Pa. S155.S16: Washing
ton. D C.. S205. 900: Norfolk. Va. $1,000
- 81. 500 900 being for a new dock):
Port Royal. 8. c.. $4,000: Key West.
Sll3.o1o; Mare island. ss5l. $50; Puget
sound. So. 800.
Treating OF this last station. Puget
sound. Chief Endicott says that II 1t
be important to equip a first-class ma
val 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 population
to draw upon for skilled labor: no
available market and no direct railroad
connection with a trunk line. Under the
conditions II In said to be doubtful IL IL
be wise to build a large station at his
point. The report also comments upon
the fact that no battleships or heavy
draught cruisers ave yet approached
the wharves at Mare island. and says
II remains to be demonstrated that this
location of a navy yard was n fortunate
one. Attention is called to the fact that
the Oregon was compelled to go 500
miles north to Puget sound to be
locked. While the government could
construct ample dock facilities on San
Francisco bay. this would still be 45O
miles from the southern boundary of
the United States. where II is quite as
important TO have a naval station as on
the northern boundary at Puget sound
Therefore IL In recommended that a
board OF experienced officers be dele
gated to give attention TO the estab-
1ishment of such a station near the
southern limits of the Pacific coast. The
total estimates OF the bureau for the
next fiscal year aggregate se,34',42l.