The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-13
War Department Enlightened on
Facilities Of the Sound.
PLEA FOR An INVESTIGATIONS.


n GlEC9G G1atSMent OF TIE marine saCtH~
ties OF Puget sound has been prepared by
Secretary Prosch. OF the Chamber Of Com
mercs. and was yesterday mailed 70 Secre-
&Ary OF War AIger. 1t IL a response 10 the
alleged statement OF the QAytermaNsr
general that his reason for not favorinx
returning the Washington regiment direct
TO this port, instead OF bringing IL back
BY way OF San Francisco. was because
there were no marine facilities on Puget
sound. Secretary Proscta's commentary on
the Ignorance Displayed by the war depart
ment of the extent OF shipping resources
Of the Sound and iis plea for recognition
and further investigation can hardly be
IGNORED. Il would seem. BY the department.
Tho letter Is IN full ~ follows:
''On April q addressed 10 you letter
In which. for the Chamber OF Commerce.
asked that tins Washington regiment, when
returned from Manila. be brought To Puget
sound direct. instead OF by San Franchise.
~ no reply has come. conclude that the
latter was either misiasd or lost Copy OF
~ however. " ineioses herewith.
From the newspapers OF the state /
learn that the governor and others have
dled similar requests In your department,
bnt that so far no order looking 10 COM
paiauce Herewith has been issued. II II
stated. In fact. that the qilArtermasier gen
eral has pronounced against the idea, for
the reason that there Is here . lack of
marine facilities and that II ID absolutely
n nscss.sary for ship. in order to secure secure
cisco before starting on 4 voyage 10 the
Philippines. This statement Is SO unwar-
ranted and no extraordinary that II was
received here with incredullty. II seams
TO be impossible that the auartermaster's
department, having an agent here. having
chartered many vessels here. and. by
reason OF numerous business transactions,
being fully converxaGt with the situation
should make so unfoundcd statement:
Greater Than San Francisco.
The shipping of Puget sound Is greater
than that of San Francisco. There are
more vessels here In the foreign trade. and
more in the coastxke a year ago, when
the government wanted transports on the
Pacific ocean. II went 10 San Francisco for
them. 1t Was abie to obtain a few there,
but not nearly enough. Necessarily 1t
turned to Puget sound. and here were OBJ
tanned tho great majority Of the ships
that have been employed In that service
To name them these vessels were the
Charles Nelson. Valencia. Morgan City.
Senator. City OF Puehsa. Roanoke. Indiana.
Ohio, conemaugh. Pennsylvania, Cieve-
land. Centennial. Arizona and Marion CHI
colt. o. the fourteen The only one per
mi.ted To go direct from Seattle was The
last named and she. IL is believed, Is the
only ship that has gone from any Pacific
coast port other than San Francisco The
Arizona. now sailing under another name.
IL the largest of the transports. Other
vessels might have been obtained here.
and. had the government wanted. there
were many foreign ships In the Canadian
Pacific. Northern Pacific and Nippon Yu~
ZEN Ka!sila lines. the largest and finest on
the Pacific coast.
Upon It's face IL " absurd 10 say that
where 10 many large and suitable ships
can he easily and quickly secured there
II a lack OF any kind OF facilities FOR their
care. repair. equipment. supply and hand
Hing. These things 60 sogether-the ships.
the trade and the facilities In thh re-
M Ia
sound, We have the coal that Is used by
all of the Pacific coast merchant craft for
fuel; We have abundant food az all kinds
at the lowest prices: we are a maritime
people. and have men 10 sail the ships
We have sawmisis. fnundres. machine shops
and shipyards where repairs Ia wooden
and iron vessels can be made expediiieusiy
and we'll: and We have docks. floating and
craving. the largest In Canada and the
United States. where vessels OF any sixe
can be taken out of the water and cleaned
and repaired.
why should II Not Bes
''No matter who makes the statement.
concerning our alleged lack OF facilities. IT
Is wholly and absolutely incorrect Hut.
even IL IL We're true. there would sun be no
reason for denying our request. as the dis
tance from Manila to San Franchises by
way Of Seattle is less than the distance
from Manila 10 San Francisco by the
usually Travelled route. via Honolulu II
for all the ships 10 come and go from San
Francisco by way Of Puget sound than by
the ether route. What then la unreason
able in the request TO have our own ragf-
ment returned to our own shores. and why
Ahould II not be- granted The men them
selves would he benefited. the general gov
eminent saved expense. and the people %
the state gratfid.
II may say, In conclusion, that cur cfif-
Tens do not look upon the favors he
slowed upon San Francisco in the move.
ment ~ troops. the purchase of supplies
and the preparation az transports. as IN
liae with the common custom OF cempeti-
tson Ia trade matters They are grievesi
that they have opportunity 10 furnish
the needs OF the government IN these di
recttons They confidently assert their
own ability. and positively declare thai IN.
government Is losing vast SUMS 81 money
that a rival city NAV he maintained and
prosrerrd II would be In accordance with
sound public policy 20 give them chances
10 prove these things They believe they
all so IN the case Of the Marion Chllcaft
ana her cargo This sore spot ear easily
be- renewed by testing the tuTth Of their
assertions, The war Department has an
agent here. Let him be tesnh ia charter
ing. shipping ani buying, tlss as a similar
agent IS used ia San Francisco. and place
the rtsDl;s IN comnarison."