The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-12-07
BREMERToN NAVAL STATION.
Puget Sounds Dry Dock to be Of Great
Ftture Importance.

gence together with q little study TO
convince one that the North Pacific
coast is region destined to play an
important part in the history of the
United States and therefore of the
world" said Admiral Bradford to the
Seattle Post Intelligencer after he re-
turned from visit of inspection to
the Bremerton naval station. "There
is but one good harbor on the Pacific
coast in American territory and that
is Puget sound, II you travel thence
southwark you will have to go clear to
Mexico to find harbor which, like
Puget sound, is safe and reliable at all
seasons of the year, at all stages of the
tide during all kinds of weather.
"The dangers to navigation at the
entrance to the bay of San Francisco
are we'll known to nautical men. So
also are the dangers at the mouth of
the Columbia river Battleships of
the larger kind have no access either
to Portland or the government drydock
at Mare Island. We can get into
Port Ochard in all kinds of weather.
In this respect alone the Bremerton
naval station is entitled to and should
receive the most favorable considera
ton by congress.
"The borders of every country are
usually cared for. Puget sound is sd-
jacent to the border between the
United States and Canada. The naval
station at Bremerton is far enough re-
moved from the boundry line to make
it safe for the repair and equipment of
vessels of the United States navy even
In time of war; Because of the depth
of water, the shelter from storms and
easy access from the ocean the Puget
Sound naval station has paramount
advantages.
"The Bremerton dock was located
after thorough investigation by two
official boards composed of men of the
very highest knowledge and qualifica-
tion. There Is no question as to
changing the location of this govern
ment drydock. There was a question
a short time ago, but l believe that all
danger to the Bremerton station has
passed away. Therefore the energy of
.the~navy department should in my
opinion, be directed to making the
station as efficient and serviceable as
possible, 1t should be developed to its
very lightest capacity in my opinion.
To do this will require the expenditure
of large sum of money, which under
the circumstances the government can
we'll afford to make in my opinion.
"What the naval station at Bremen
ton needs is development. That is all
there is TO the problem. It needs
more machine shops and better
facilities for the repair and equipment
of war vessels. This is only a question
of money, / have recommended the
establishment of coal storage plant,
with room for $4,000 tons of coal.
The location of the Puget sound dry
dock makes it possible for the govern
ment to secure the best coal in the
world for the use of warships.
"They are now digging the founda-
ton for big building at Bremerton
which will contain machinery for the
repair and equipment of war vessels
would do more than this. / would
have facilities at the Puget sound dock
for the storage of all the necessary
amun1tions of war. The government
should provide for the outbreak of
hostilities at any moment. When the
moment arrives all that should be
necessary in my opinion would be to
fight. The Puget sound station can
easily be made fit for the care and
equipment of the largest American
battleship. AS / said before, all it re-
quires is money, and because of its
magnificent location, its proximity to
the international boundary line and
its splendid harbor the Puget sound
station should be developed TO the
very highest stage of efficiency.
"There is no perfect harbor on the
Pacific coast, in American territory,
save Puget sound. In other words,
YOU can enter no port save Puget
sound on the Pacific coast in all stages
of the tide and all kinds of weather.
There is a bar at San Francisco which
is dangerous to cross during adverse
winds and tides. The Columbia river
has dangers which every mariner we'll
understands. Just now the Port Or
chard dock is the only government
dock on the Pacific coast which is ca
pable of receiving the largest battle
ships. The government is building
new dock of large capacity at Mare
Island, CAL, but pilots say that it is
out of the question to attempt to bring
the large war vessels from San Fran
cisco to Mare Island because of the low
water. They are dredging channel