The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-09

The conduct OF Affairs at the Puget
Sound naval station at Rremerton. under
the recently fnaugurated commandment,
Capt W. 8. Burweli. ". s. N. has at
tracted the attention OF the Seattle Cnam-
Der OF Commerce. and called forth from
the representative business and profess
sional men Of the city an expression OF
heartiest commentator.
At the meeting of the chamber, August
1. the Affairs of the station came up for
discussion. II being stated among other
things, that parts OF appropriations mace
at the recent session OF congress for I'M
provements at Bremerton were not yet
available on account Of delays In the
transmission OF the various sums through
the several bureaus.
The chamber decided to appoint COM
mittee to visit tho station. and by per-
sonal observation and other means as
certain what service. II any. the chamber
could give In securing early dfsburse-
ment Of the full allowance made by con-
gress. At the regular meeting OF the
chamber yesterday the committee, con-
sisting OF Capt. A. B. Wyckoff, U. 8. ~.
retired and Gen. Gilbert g. Meem, sub
mitted Its report, as follows:
The Commfttee's Report.
THE committee appointed by the cham
Der 10 VISIT the Puget sound naval sta
tion has performed that duty and reports
as follows:
agreeable, due TO the courtesy OF the new
commandment. Capt w. 8. Burwell. U. >.
n, who has entered on the discharge of
his duties with energetic zeal and In
Through Capt BurwelI we ascertained
that all the bureaus had responded
promptly to his various requests for the
by congress. except the following items:
Act OF March 3. 1887 wharf ..t6o,o 900
Act OF May 4. 1895. dredging .......... 5000
Act OF May l. 1888, quay wall. 5000
These appropriations are all really In
tended for q stone dock or pier for the
berthing OF vessels while under repair.
Tho expense Of the repairs to the battle
ship Iowa we're at least Is per cent great
er on account of her being anchored In
to be transported to her in boats. So it
can readily be seen that this stone pier
would expedite repairs and decrease the
cost.
to about $s7s,000 are in process OF expen-
diture. These include building for ord
nance. to cost $500, and one for equip
are to be constructed high fence about
the entire station, an addition to the
water plant, railroad connecting the
several ses Dsildings wharf ana dry dock
two new boilers for the pumping plant; a
sewer system. and salt water mains for
IRE protection. Besides the above items
the bureaus have made ailotments OF sew
eral Thousand dollars for the construc-
ton OF coal barges, steam launches, etc.
The United States coast survey steam
err Gedney p also being repaired at
The conditions at our naval station
are very gratifying. as compared with
former years. due to the large appropria-
tons secured by our present senators and
representatives at the last session OF
congress, to the more favorable actions OF
the several bureaus OF the navy depart
penditure OF these appropriations, and
especially to the ability. energy and en-
thusiasm. of the new commandant. Capt.
Burwell"
Adopted by the Chamber.
In moving the adoption Of the report
progress OF work at the station. and OF
the enective Seal OF Commandant Bur-
we'll whose personal interest Is shown
mand at Bremerton at his own request.
Gen. Meem urged that the chamber do all
in It's power to have all existing appro-
quickly as possible The report was unans
imousiy adopted and Secretary Prosch
instructed to submit II. with other recon-
mendations OF the chamber. to Admiral
Endicott chief OF the bureau OF yards
and docks OF the navy department,
Capt. Wyckoff spoke at length OF the
necessity for affording means for enlist
present conditions volunteers for the
navy must go to the enlistment station
at San Francisco. the only one on the
Pacific coast As the educational and
physical requirements are very strict. and
perhaps 30 per cent. OF all applicants are
rejected for some defect there In little
encouragement for men and boys living
In the Northwest TO venture the expense
Of the long journey.
Last year the chamber requested the
department 20 mako arrangements for
receiving naval recruits on Puget sound.
with the result that the schoolShip Al
ans was sent here for few weeks Cant
Wyck0n stated. on tho authority Of IN.
commander Of the Adams. that during MA
stay on the Sound he enlisted ninety men
and boys, who proved to DO as aafiSfae-
tory recruits as were ever received on
board hts vessel In view OF the Chinese
troubles. Capt. Wyckoff thinks there ara
hundreds on men and boys in the North
west who would be eager 10 volunteer N
opportunity for enlistment existed within
reasonable distance