The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-30

A most complete, exhaustive and CEN
yinclng statement OF facts relative TO tho
naval station and drydock at Port Or
chard. embodied In the report Of a com.
nittee OF the Chamber Of Commerce, wac
yesterday adopted by that body by unani-
nous vote ana viii be printed and for.
warded 70 the navy department authors
ties, the members OF the Washington
delegation in congress and to Influential
senators and congressman. This IL part
OF the campaign to be waged by the
Chamber OF Commerce in behalf of fair
treatment for the Port Orchard dry deck.
The report came from a special commits
tee appointed week ago 20 ascertain
what influences at Washington. IL any.
were arrayed against the further develop.
ment of the drydcck and naval station,
for which congress had made anpropria-
sions The committee consisted OF +. o.
Graves. John b. Alien and Thomas Burke.
Probably no document OF an official ma
ture promulgated ny the Chamber or
Commerce In recent years is 40 important
ia the interests OF Seattle and the whole
state OF Washington as the report Of this
special committee. 1t was called forth by
the hostile references TO the Port Orchard
dock made In his annual report by Chief
Endicntt, Of the navy bureau OF yards
and docks The Pos;-fntciiigencer printed
the substance OF the report. as far as II
related 10 the drydock. at the time II
was submitted to congress- The fact has
also been noted that the appropriations
made by congress last year. aggregafing
sola 40 have not been expended owing 10
the objections OF Chief Endieott.
The report was reached by Secretary
Pro<rh after the transaction Of the ordi-
nary preliminary routine business. The
reading was listened to with the greatest
interest. The report begins by quoting
the language used by Chief Esndieost in
relation to the PORT Orchard dock Foi-
lowing is the fun text OF the report.
THE CHIEFS REPORT.
In the annual report of the chief OF
the bureau OF yards ard docks navy
deuar,ms,,. for the fiscal year ending
June 30. lsas and estimates for me
s.cai year ending June 30 1900. the foi-
lowing statement is found;
.s.Thls station contains a drydock of
the largest capacity. machine shops
for construction and repair. general
store house. and a machine shop TOT
The bureau OF steam engineering is pro-
fer ordinary repairs 10 the vessels OF
she navy The few objects above
enumerated are considered Important
for improving the station tn some re-
ss,ects. which VIII add 20 Its efficiency
aud facilitate the work Of the several
la.r.at.s No extensive improvements
are contemplated at present. unless II
should be ;he desire of congress 20 very
much Increase the establishment nj this
rnsns and do - considerable portion OF
the work OF the navy upon this part
OF the Coast.
Moderate facilities are valuable At
this station, but II st be important that
this country equip hrstFiass station
or yard In this vicinity. near the limit
of its boundary. which the bureau be-
lsevss then another site should be Sc
tec,ed or sought which combines the
essential requirements OF such YARD
In nearby population supplying
enough skilled labor. market with
supplies, conveniently and quickly
available and direct railroad eannec-
tteu with "A trunk Ene for the quick ana
economical transport Of material
The present site possesses none of
these sis-ssaerata The nearest city ~
considerable size IL Hftesa miles away.
Communication with the rest OF tho
world In by water carriage over this
distance. and the little work done at
.tsis station has been asier dSadvan-
tages when n naval weasel has been
foekess ani repaired. skisI@s men have
sseen supplied and transported al great
expense from the Mare Island yard
az nser these cosssifisrs, IL Is Doubt
fui II ls he uiss 10 build mp a very
large establishment AZ this station Ani
rroysi. sOr more tsan decking snd
sight repairs. unless no suitable site
near oae Of she large cities ard railroad
cumrnanie stioas can be had
CONGRESS rAvoRS THE STATION
The committee entirely agrees with
Rear Admiral rnsgcptt thai a nrss-class
navy yard should Dc established ursnn
Puget souna- Congress aas already
virtually lu5ie&isf It's desire fer asval
ssatscn here hy it# action IN !s.s ard
again sa isss. IN directing shat soTntnfs-
ssans fse appointed ssy tae president 70
se.ses site ssr shas purposs aerta ~
tire tst r,arnisai % north latitude, Beth
commissions agreed apcn ihs same site
In Pert Orchard. rssxss sound ana cu.-
gr.~ aceeus.xsg their conclusions. has
arnYnpsisse3 ire sum of tsssp.s0 fcs
the establishment 0s naval station
sgsxys ~ s1s fhss ssngans kzsa.sS6 wAs
sxp~nssd sn building dry3oek 90 feet
io1~ snA - feet aide st entrance.
with depth ~ ~ f@es gvrr ire sill ~
.s5e average mean hIxa saser As
showing fhs character % tsss grnaHd
ss shgeA tals ssex ~a9 sxesvafs1, snd
she ahttsfy Of Ioess contractors seven
years axa. L can b. stated thai this
ssryiock aas he~H perfeaf sHecese
from ths day as sss opening. TIE