The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-23
Improvement of Puget Sound
Naval Station Harbor.
STONE PIER SOON TO BE BUILT.
Chamber of Commerce Receives Of
priations of 100000 Are Now
Available and Work Will he he
gun as soon as Plans Are Complet-
ed-To Ask for Bids Next Month.

Work upon the construction Of a stone
pier and the making of other needed Inn
provements IN the harbor at the Puget
Sound naval station. for which congress
sional appropriations to the amount or
$4,000 were made in 1897 and lseS but
which have heretofore not been available.
Is to be started at once. Bids will prob
ably be invited during the coming month.
This definite announcement is contained
in a letter received from Admiral Nor
decai Endicott. chief of the Bureau Of
Yards and Docks Of the navy depart
ment, by Secretary Thomas w. Prosch OF
the Chamber of Commerce and was read
at the session of that body yesterday
afternoon. The communication is result
of the movement recently started by the
Chamber of Commerce TO determine the
reason for the delay In the expenditure of
the appropriations and Admiral Endfcott's
letter is in response to inquiries addressed
by the secretary.
In addition TO the announcement of the
intention to proceed with work at once
upon the appropriation already secured,
the letter states that $4,000 is by no
means all the money that is to be put into
the permanent improvement Of the harbor.
Another appropriation will be asked from
congress at It's next session and further
supplies of funds win be. from time to
time, requested. Admiral Endicott's let
Admiral Endicott's Letter.
The bureau Is In receipt of your letter
OF the 9th instant In relation to the con-
strnction OF permanent wharf at the
Puget Sound naval station. The bureau
expects to replace the present temporary
character In a very short time. bids for
which will probably be invited next
month
n M mt hnv ~ he
Appropriation now available, hut none Of
these has been quite 10 its satisfaction in
me matter OF obtaining q structure suf-
ncfently permanent and of sufficient d.
mensions under the funds appropriated 1t
has decided, however. to expend the mon-
ey.in replacing the present structure with
one which. while not all the bureau de-
sires or intends eventually. win answer
the purpose for many years.
1T Is the bureaus intention to ask an
other appropriation of congress at its next
session. to begin the construction OF a
permanent wall which shall be continued
from year 20 year until the water front
Is improved as ii ought TO be-"
The first OF the appropriations available
now for the work in hand was made by
congress March 8. 1897 when $4,000 was
set set aside sI,,e for q permanent wharf This
priations. one of $4,000 for dredging the
harbor and a second OF $4,000 for the con-
struciion OF a quay wall. All these APP
proyement Of the harbor. the wharf and
wall work to be Of stone
Appropriations Are Free.
Through some delay in handling these
funds by the naval bureaus. all three of
the appropriations have. until recently.
been tied up. From Admiral Endicntt's
letter Is to be judged that they are now
free and In shape for immediate use. the
only reason for present delay being the
indecision Of the bureau as to the most
suitable plans for the work
Capt, A. p. wyckoff, U. S. N. and Gen.
Giih1rt 8. Meem. the members Of the corr
mittee appointed by the Chamber OF Com
'nerce to investigate the needs OF the
naval station in general and this matter
IN particular. reported the finding Of
abundant reason for urging the Immediate
construction of a substantial pier The
lack OF such convenience. they report.
has already entailed considerable expsnse
and much loss Of time. There is now no
place FOR berthing vessels under reoatr
They are. compelled to anchor out in the
bay, small boats being used for the con-
veyance of necessary supplies from tha
land. This Inconvenience has ALREADY
been greatly felt and would naturaliv 10
more so with the increase OF the business
of the station. were not the permanent
pier appropriations now available and the
gwork soon to he begun.