New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-29
NAVY YARD TRANSFER BOARD.
TO CONSIDER REMOVAL OF PORT ROYAL.
STATION TO CHARLESTON.

STATION TO CHARLESTON.
Washington. June % CspeciaD-secretarv r0,s
to-day appointed board. consisting OF Rear a.
mirals Rodgers chairman OF the Inspection Board
president; Sumner. commandant a. Port ROYAL
and Barker, commandant at Norfolk: Captain Con
verse, on special duty; Civil Engineer Assessor OF
the New-York Navy Yard; Naval Constructor lin
nard, Of the League Island Navy Yard with Lieuren
ant-Commander Stanton, OF the Inspection Board
recorder, TO meet az the Navy Department next
Monday and proceed to Port Royal and Charleston
5. c.. and after careful examination OF conditions
at those places to recommend whether change IN
the naval station from Port Royal 70 Charleston
is desirable. and If recommend what sites ara
available in Charleston Harbor for naval purposes
The Board is thought to be the strongest that
could be selected from officers available for the
duty Admiral Sumner was designated at the re-
quest Of the friends of Port Royal. in order that
they might not be able 10 raise the point here
after that the claims of Port Royal to retain the
station were not fully considered. None OF the
other members have any prejudces In the matter
put are open to conviction on the merits OF the
controversy. The Board Is the outcome OF long
dissatisfaction with the Port ROYAL station which
has been Of negative value 70 the Navy ever since
its establishment The location OF a yard there
was recommended when United States warshiDs
were OF shallow draught and when Il seemed ike
~ that liberal river and harbor appropriations
would create a city alongside the yard. A large
wooden drydock was built there six years ago
out II mas rotted away, after the manner OF
wooden docks until the expense OF repairing il
nearly equalled the cost OF a new dock
In the mean time increasing demands on thu
Navy had led to the construction OF much larger
snlps than could reach Port Royal while channel
improvements at Charleston had made that harbor
easily accessible TO the largest battleshiDs which
FOUND IL the only haven between Hampton Roads
ana Key West Congress at IT'S last session was
induced by the naval authorities 10 give the Secre
Iary money and discretion 70 make the station az
Port Royal capable OF repairing vessels or 10
abandon the site and transfer the work to Charles
An appropriation or $4,000 was given toward
REBUILDING the drydock, and for other improve
menls SIto,Vtu But provision was inserted in
the law authorizing the Secretary TO withhold
these expenditures, and II a board Of officers rec
commended a change TO Charleston TO use 100000 in
purchasing a site there Under this provision the
Rodgers Board was appointed. Il has already
come to the knowledge OF the Navy Department
that certain spectators have secured an option on
what Is believed 70 be the most desirable site az
charleston, and that they hope 10 profit by the
Governments appearance in the market for sites.
The Naval Board has therefore been cautioned
that II must select several sites. and the public
spirited citizens there have been warned that the
Navy viii stay away from Charleston HaFbor IL
landholders try 10 force resort 10 condemnation
proceedings.