The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-25
Why Seattle Should Be Head
quarters Of North Pacific.
ADVANTAGES ARE NUMEROUS
Letter From Chamber Of Commerce
to Secretary of War Sets Forth
Recommendation for Making the
MISUNDERSTANDING TO sumbit II
to n Military Tribunal, and Rely
ON Its Disinterested Judgment.

is the subject matter of a long comnu-
nication addressed to the secretary of war,
which has been carefully prepared and
sent to Washington by Secretary Prosch,
of the Chamber Of Commerce. II covers
long field of recommendations for the gov
ernynent to take this course, and was mall
ed In response to the decision OF the cham
Der q week ago that a determined effort be
made to secure the military expansion
One feature OF the letter, which has
been Endorsed by the chamber. Is an ex-
preston of willingness to submit the mat
ter to the disinterested judgment of
board of military officers. Should there
be question as to the desirability OF locat-
ing the offices here, as compared with
other places" II reads, 1.-THE chamber feels
perfectly willing that the matter should
be left for decision to a board OF disin-
terested and distinguished military officers
from the East. They will know what ID
wanted. and their decision would be ac-
cspted here and elsewhere as wise and
final"
MI. prcsch begins his reasons with
statement showing the remarkable in
crease In Seattle's population during the
last twenty years, and prophecies for It's
future, believing that in twenty years 1t
will have 100000 people. He even quotes
the statement of President Hin. OF the
Great Northern, that in fifteen years there
will be 100000 here. "As far as railroads
are concerned" he continues, more lines
enter Seattle than enter any other port
washed by the waters Of the Pacific ocean,
from Patagonia to the North pole"
Geographical Advantages.
Proceeding with the subjects the secre-
tary says: Seattle is at or near the CEN
ter of a military district extending from
the California line to and through Alaska
Your department provided for number OF
military establishments in Alaska in 1898
and $780, and In each case 1t was done
through the medium Of Seattle. All the
soldiers sent to the North went from Be-
attic, save one lot, which went from san
Francisco. Their food clothing and other
.necessaries were sent from here. The gov
eminent found 1t convenient to use this
port, Just as $1,000 miners during the same
years found it convenient, as the great
trading public found II convenient. and as
the revenue marine, coast survey ana
lighthouse steamers found 1t convenient.
Not less than ssd sTfaS sn o sSer
way to and from Alaska during the sum
mer of 1899, including every member OF
congress who made the Alaskan trip.
at has been proposed, newspaper dis
patches say to make Alaska stai1 deR tecaiens
to pursuance of this course. Alaska con.
sists not only Of a great mainland, but
Of hundreds Of ISLANDS It's coast st h meals y
cities within its limits, and no one central
point. The settlements are generally far
separated, with inferior and roundaoout
OF them are more intimately connected
with Seattle than with each other. The
miner from southeastern Alaska VINO
wishes to go to ct. Michael or Cape
Nome can more easily, quickly and cheap
ly do so by way of Seattle than by direct
route. Were 1t not for an occasional trip
to Sitka by steamer subsidized to carry
the mail. there would be no communication
whatever between Copper river. Cook IN
let, Dutch Harbor. the Aleutian Islands.
Alaska. AS 1t is there are. five times as
many vessels to and from Seattle instead,
twenty times as many passengers, and 100
times the cargo.
Ii Already Important.
Seattle is already military point Of
considerable Importance. BY act of con-
gress and the selection of a commission
Of military officers a regiinental post was
necessary in connection Herewith have
been erected sufficient for the accommo-
dalton of two companies OF men. BY let
has been given that the original inten-
ton would be carried out In time. but that
at present there was a lack OF men for
q the e has y neen 81
mined to erect here fortifications. sixteen
mortars to be placed for the , defense OF
RHses ten Is SuSng
at Port Orchard. and thirty-five to forty
miles distant, near Port Townsend, 1t Is
completing three Notifications Of formid-
able character. It Is understood that the
Seattle batteries come next.
"In the city are also number OF the
military establishments. one OF these
includes the offices of the mills
tary engineers. under Capt; Harry
Taylor, and another a very important
auartermaster's office under Capt. w. w.
Robinson, jr. The latter officer has had
charge Of all shipments In his line to
Alaska, of all garrison buildings there
and in this state, and of the ten trans
ports sent In the past year from Puget
sound to the Philippine islands. Capt
Taylor's jurisdiction includes Alaska,
Washington and parts of Idaho and Mon
tana 1t may not be out Of place to say
that Notwithstanding the limited oppor-
tunity afforded in 1898 and 1899, Seattle
sent into the army 600 men.
considering all these things, to-wit:
The fact that there is at present no es-
tablished military headquarters in the
been for two years the actual headquar-
ters; that it is a base Of military opera
tions of extensive character; that 1t is
the most convenient point by rail and
water; that, by reason Of its rapid growth,
II sooner or later will necessarily become
Headquarters, just as other leading cities
throughout the country have heretofore
so become. the Chamber of Commerce
feels that It is only right to the war de-
partment. to the country at large, and
to the North Pacific region IN particular,
that the action recommended be formally
taken. and Seattle made a military head
yNVEsTORS SHY AT PORTLAND.