The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-25

Re4afiye TO the recent communications Of
President Grave4 OF the Chamber Of
Commerce. concerning the advantages OF
the Puget wound naval station. Hon John
y. Long secretary Of the navy. has ad ,
dreseed = letter 10 Senator Foster, . copy
OK which he transmitted TO the Seattle
Chamber OF Commerce and IL was read at
yeseeESdays session He disciA1ms any In
tentton TO discriminate against resident
mechanics and werkmen urges the civil
service rules as TO craftsmen and foremen
and gives m interesting discussion Of the
approximations for the naval station The
letter 10 - foilows.
which you make certain inquiries concern
Ing matters at the naval station, Puget
sound, Washington, I referred IL To the
bureaus having cognixance Of the Affairs
OF which you Inquire. and TIE following 10
practically the result II their replies:
Il A. to the complaint that skilled me-
chanics are brought to Puget sound from
California: II Is not the Intention OF the
department to discriminate against resi-
dent mechanics and workmen- II Ia trre
that severai years ago the department ap-
pointed hoard to investigate the sabJe~t
o4 docking Of merchant vessels ut Puxes
sound. and to consider the question Of pro-
curing proper labor there. The board re-
ported that no difficulty was - De ex
pected In procuring suf1cisn. skilled labor
ut short notice TO tocx the largest mer-
chant vessel likely to require that serv-
until the station at Puget sound IL placed
on working basis. WITH a complete and
competent organization, Il will be neces-
few eaperten n u nal o IN "rder that
the safety OF heavy vessels OF war may
not be endangered wail. Selnx dockcd
- A. 10 the matter OF craftsmen. shop
foremen and positions OF similar charac-
ter. the department IL governed by ci,il
service rules. Craftsmen, clerks. messen-
gers and persons whose work 10 partly
4yw al lE.t ~ xt4Sez a
through the civil service commission.
Feremen. and men in charge a work IN
der the regulations. must be appointed aft
er competitive examination before a board
OF naval officers. In accordance with the
provisions Of navy yard order M. -. par
agraphs a TO G-cOpy inclosed-
q The chief OF the bureau OF yards and
docks reports. with reference to the ex-
pendfture OF available appropriations for
the Puget sound naval station made ter
the years 1888 and 1859. embracing twelve
different objects OF special appropriations.
that all except four are completed. IN
progress or proposals advertised. The
appropriation for dredging Is not being
expended a. the commandant Of the sta
ton has reported that none Ia necessary
at the present time. Wharf plans ana
specifications are about ready for adser-
T. aaa upo s rhern sas ssen
some delay In this matter because two
successive designs prepared oy officers at
the station were not entirely satisfactory.
ports that II intends to apply appropria.
lions under II as promptly as possible. The
lack OF suitable buildings 1T present pre-
vents the installation Of tools.
There were no appropriations made for
the bureau OF equipment or the bureau OF
ordnance. Both, however, viii make es-
Inmates for certain buildings and appn-
Ances to the next ccnEreeA
~ Az to fresh water basins for naval
vessels. etc, the department II possessed
Of the information that there IL available
q site for a fresh water basin IN Lakes
Union and Washington, In case tho neces-
sities OF the service at any time in the
future require fresh water storage basin
In that locality.
IS It IL the general consensus OF opinion
of naval officers that Mare island is much
moro convenient for ordinary repairs than
Puget sound outside OF work on heavy
vessels requiring the use Of a dryiock.
II 10 probable that the Iowa will be sent
70 Puget sound IN tho near future to hA 20
bilgo keels put on.
q A 70 dividing the time OF vessels
which 90 70 Puget sound among the vart-
Gus ports IN that regton-their movements
service giving due consideration to econ
iy so at present, because OF the large In
crease In the force and number OF vessels
brought about by the recent war. How
ever. generally speaking II Will not be
practicable to divide with Mare island TN
der present conditions the ordinary re-
pairs OF vessels until the various depart
ments Of the stations at Puget sound have
proper buildings completed ard the yeQut-
site topfA and appliances installed"