The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-13
THE PORT ROYAL
NAVAL STATION.
The Beaufort and Port Royal
People Will Fight to Re-
tain It.
Editor the Daily Item

tain Ii.
Editor the Daily Item
AS matter which involves the
national defepee and a waste of the
nations funds, we commend the fol-
lowing to the attention of your read.
ers
The paragraph in the naval appro-
priation bill. as it now refers to the
Port Royal sc naval station, pro.
vides that ss00,O00 shall be spent
for the Improvement of that plant
unless the secretary, after report
by a competent board of naval off,
GERS, shall decide that the inte,ests
of the government would be better
served at Charleston In which case,
the station will be transferred to the
latter place.
This last proviso is the result of
strenuous efforts by certain Charles
ton interests, and has been cunningly
conceived, based ou false claims, and
fostered in secret.
We would say to the country that
this fgh. is but begun, and if fought
fair in the light we have no doubt as
TO the issue
Several naval boards composed of
eminent naval authorities have exam.
ined Port Royal harbor at different
times with view to determining it's
availability for various naval pur-
poses They have always entbusias-
tically endorsed the place, and we
are confident of a favorable report in
this instance, if an unbiased board
be appointed
Those who are behind this meas
ure are noisily announcing that the
secretary approves Of the proposed
removal and the station is already
CharIeston's We have high opin-
ion of Secretary Long aud do not
believe him capable of such action
of prejudging a case withou. an iu-
vestigation. 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 before the country that
it may see it is proposed that the
national interests shali be sacrificed
for the benefit of a certain locality !:
for publicity will insure a decision
based on the public welfare-the ma
tional defense
We hereby announce to the secre-
tary of the navy and to the country
that we propose to prove, before the
board appointed, the following facts
based on official documents and other
reliable sources
That the present site was carefully
chosen Cor its purpose by board Of
eminent naval authorities
That the barbor and oar OF Port
Royal are the best oo the South Allan
tic coast, and will permit the oavy Of
the nation to enter in double column to
maneuvre and to 6nd ample and pro-
tected auchorages The entrance
through the bar is broad, deep and
natural the barbor anchorage uuap-
preached 90 the Southern coast for it's
magnitude and sbel,ering headlaods
No rivers eterually empty here their
sediment, aud DO daily shifting quick
sand chokes this harbor's entrance.
Nature, With lavish hand. moulded
great basin out of the rock aud the
channels, sounded and recorded by
Menendez, 800 years ago. prove to the
deepest draft ships of our cay their
unchaoging propor'ious-as they we're
then SO are they now
That the governmaos's experience at
Port Royal has justified the wisdom Of
its choice aod any difficulties which
have arisen we're foreseen aod provided
for.
That the dry dock there situated is
the best timber cock the government
owns, and oau today receive auy ship
10 tSe uavy It cost less to build than
any other government dock has cost
less to maiotaiu, and is today absolute
Iy 6rm 10 Its foundations
That the machine shops. built Of
brick aud steel. equipped with modern
machinery, are capable of making all
ordinary repairs on meo of war, and
are SO complete as to be capable of
building small vesse! entire
That the health Of the Immediate
site. aud Of the whole section surrouod-
log the harbor. is excellent
That Charleston effers 20 superior
advantages. aud oone commensurate
With some of those above described
That the proposed sbandonmens of
this property would be crimiua! act.
If this splendid navy yard is sacr-
6ced. it will be through the pettiness Of
few pleasure seeking cficers, the