The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-08
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PORT ROYAL NAVAL STATION.
Reasons why 1t should Not BE
Moved to Charleston.


Editor Savannah Morning News :
AS a matter which involves the national
defense and a waste of the nations funds,
we commend the following to the atten-
ton of your readers:
The paragraph in the naval appropria-
ton bill, as it now refers to the Port
Royal Is. c. Naval Station, provides that
$500, 900 shall be spent for the Improvement
of that plant unless the Secretary. after
a report by a competent board of naval
officers. shall decide that the interests of
the government would be better served at
Charleston. In which case, the station
shall be transferred to the latter place.
This last proviso is the result of siren
nous efforts by certain Charleston interests.
and has been cunningly conceived. based
on false claims, and fostered in secret.
We would say to the country that this
fight is but begun, and If fought fair ana
in the light we have no doubt as to the
issue.
Several naval boards composed of emf
nent naval authorities have examined
Port Royal harbor at different times with
a view to determining its availability for
various naval purposes. They have al
ways enthusiastically endorsed the place,
and we are confident of a favorable report
i'm this instance, If an unbiased board be
appointed.
Those who are behind this measure are
noisily announcing that the secretary ap-
proves of the proposed removal and the
station is already Charleston's. We have
a high opinion of Secretary Long and do
not believe him capable of such action
of prejudging a case without an investi-
CATION. 1t may be, however, the ear of
those in power has been secured by the
men Interested in this waste of the public
funds. Therefore, the matter is laid be-
fore the country that it may see il is
proposed that the national interests shall
be sacrificed for the benefit of certain
locality; for publicity will insure a de-
cision based on the public Welfare-the
national defense
We hereby announce to the Secretary of
the Navy and to the country that we pro-
pose to prove before the board to be APP
pointed, the following facts based on Off
cial documents and ,her reliable sources
That the present site was carefully
chosen for its purpose by a board of emil
nent naval authorities.
That the harbor and bar of Port Royal
are the best on the South Atlantic coast.
and will permit the navy of the nation to
enter in double column to maneuver and
to tind ample and protected anchorages
The entrance through the bar is broad,
deep and natural; the harbor anchorage
unapproached on the Southern coast for
Its magnitude and sheltering headlands
No rivers eternally empty here their sed-
iment, and no daily shifting quicksand
chokes this harbor's entrance. Nature,
with lavish hand. moulded a great basin
out of the rock; and the channels, sounded
and recorded by Menendez 300 years ago,
prove to the deepest draft ships Of our
day their unchanging proportions-as they
were then so are they now.
That the governments experience at
Port Royal has justified the wisdom of Its
choice; and any difficulties which have
arisen were foreseen and provided for.
That the dry dock there situated is the
best timber dock the government owns,
navy. 1t cost less to build than any 9TH
err government dock: has cost less to
maintain, and is to-day absolutely firm
in its foundations.
That the machine shops, built of brick
and steel. equipped with modern machin-
cry. are capable of making all ordinary
repairs on "men-o'-war." and are so com
plete as to be capable OF building a small
vessel entire.
That the health of the immediate site.
and Of the whole section surrounding the
harbor, is excellent
That Charleston offers no superior ad-
vantages, and none commensurate With
some of those above described.
That the proposed abandonment Of this
property would be criminal act.
If this splendid navy yard is sacrificed,
it will be through the pettiness OF a few
pleasure-seeking officers, the cupidity of
certain commercial combinations, and the
cunning OF politicians.
Beaufort Committee on Naval Station.