The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-14

sonal value to him OF his boss-ehip.
CAPT. CoGnLAN's ANNUAL DEr0RT.
The people OF Puget sound can not
only congratulate themselves rpon hay-
Ing one Of the heroes Of Manila In com-
mand OF their naval station. bat als"
that he shows the same intelligent In
terest in his new command a. made
his ship one OF the most eflcient In Ad-
miral Dewey's feet, Notwithstanding
that Capt. Coghlan has been at Port
Orchard only about six weeks his esti-
mates show that he has already mas
tered the.situation and thoroughly un-
derstands the most important improve
ments necessary 70 make IN efficient
navy yard.
The grand total OF his estimates
amounts to Sl73.0oo. While this II
small amount a. compared with the
enormous estimates usually submitted
for the Mare island navy yard In Cali
fornia, II II much larger than asked Tor
by former commandments II the re-
spective items requested By Capt.
Coghlan were appropriated by the next
congress and then promptly expended
by the several bureaus Of the navy de-
partment. the Puget sound naval sta
ton would be fully equipped within
three years to do any repair work upon
the largest Of our battleships.
Some Of the items estimated for ara
relatively more important than others.
When the Iora was In the drydock
Capt. Terry said the greatest requisite
was an additional water supply. That
can be secured by digging other wells
at the springs within the limits OF the
yard, and viii answer until congress
authorizes the three-milc pipe line to
Lake Kitsap. which would supply power
as well AZ fresh water. At present there
is an electrical plant Set up In one OF
the buildings. but several thousand dol
lars are necessary to furnish poles.
wire. lights, ETC., 20 complete the install
lation. A large brick building II now
being erected for the steam engineering
department. but 1t will take ISL, 900 to
purchase and erect essential machinery
and tools. A sum Of $4,000 IL required
to complete a pier large enough to dock
any man-of-war A scow fitted with
tracks Ia badly needed to transport
loaded cars from the Great Northern
incline at Smiths cove 10 the navy
yard. The new powerful tug that Is
now at the station could readily handle
such scow and virtually put the navy
yard In direct communication with all
the transcontinentai railroads. as Ia the
case now with the Port Blakeley saw
mill This would remove Admiral En-
dicotts principal objection to the pres
ent location OF the yard. The wharf
crane asked for Is very essential and
fully equipped coal shed would greatly
facilitate coaling our men-of-war
The above items In the way of i'm
provements. In addition 90 the ordinary
expenses Of a navy yard. are absolutely
essential. a sum Of a quarter OF mil
lion dollars appropriated at the next
session OF congress would give us a
working navy yard. Our senators and
representatives at Washington should
spare no effor; TO secure that amount
When our navy yard IL thus equipped
there Will be no reason why at least one
half ~ the millions now annually ex-
pended by our naval vessels at San
Francisco. and at the navy yard at
Mare island. should not b. ciseursed
upon Puget sound