The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-09-26
QUEsTI IN FOR NAVAL OFFICERS.
lhc Proposed Abandonment OF Port
Royal Naval Statlon--Interesting
facts About the Dry Dock.

raClS ABOUT the l)ry DOCK.
Scientific American
The question Of the best site for a
naval station on the Atlantic coast ne
tween Norfolk and Pensacola is now
boing made the subject OF investiga-
tion by special commission, whose re-
port to the Secretary OF the Navy will
probably be made public within the
next few Was. Incra is aiIC..d" in
existence at Port Royal naval station
which was selected and approved by
various commissions which, after AN
examination OF the locality, pronounc-
cd emphatically in favor Of this site as
being the best adapted to meet the re-
quirements OF the case. Ono OF these
commissions was presided over by Ad.
mlral Porter, who WAS strongly in
favor of tho site, and y later commits
sion authorized by Congress in 1888.
aud presided over by Commodore Me-
Cam, recommended the establishment
at Port Royal OF a dry dock, a DEPOT of
naval supplies, and coalinE station
In the spring Of the present year, tho
Naval Appropriation Bill, as passed
by the House VI representatives, con.
tained an appropriation Of 800, 600 to-
ward the rebuilding OF the dry dock at
this station in concrete or stone. The
fcrred to the Committee on Naval
Affairs. While under consideration
by this committee, the Secretary OF
the Navy submitted letter from Ad-
miral EhicOtt, Chief OF the Bureau of
Yards and Docks, In which he strongly
deprecated the carrying out Of any
further work OF improvement or eXten
sion OF facilities at Port ROYAL, and
criticised the site OF the dock as being
unsuited, for various specified reasons,
to the purposes OF a naval station, the
specified grounds OF objection strange
to say, being the very grounds which
had been quoted In all previous investi.
cations as being favorable for station.
Daring the year the Mayor OF the
city Of Charleston suggested the pro-
pricty OF transferring the naval station
to that city from Port Royal, stating
among other things the facilities for
transportation to the interior, the
proximity OF large commercial CITY,
the convenience OF obtaining at All
times skilled labor OF all Glasses, an
abundance OF fresh water, etc, advant.
ages which are lacking at Port Royal.n
While the transfer would undoubtedly
Yesult In the loss OF q great dea, of
money which has been expended at
OTb lSDy6l, AunlTdl EIOulcObt C)DSlU-
ers the present is the proper time to
consider the suggestion Of tho Mayor.
The Admiral vas so much impressed
with the wisdom OF the Mayors sug.
gestiOn, that he gave 1t hearty en-
dorsement and able advocacy through
out his whole letter. He recommend
cd that the matter be brought to the
| attention Of the Senate Committee on
Naval Affairs, and that board OF Of
| licers be appointed to "examine into
tho conditions existing at Port Royal,
and the various questions involved In
| the proposition to remove his station
! to Charleston Harbor."
Acting upon this letter, the Navy
Committee amended the bill by au-
thorizing the Secretary OF the Naval
to inquire Into tho advisability OF mov-
ing the naval station from Port Royal to
Charleston, and II he deemed it advis-
able to do 30 empowering him to use
800, 600 OF the money appropriated In
the bill for the Port Royal naval
station for the purchase OF land for q
site at or near the city OF Charleston,
and to proceed with the building OF q
dry dock there.
Pending the publication OF the re.
port OF this commission, it is not for us
to say anything one way or the other
with regard to the proposed transfe,
which, OF course, has very naturally