The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-06
NAVAL STATION
70 HELP SEATTLE.
Materials for Repairs to Be
Purchased Here.
OREGON WILL BE FIRST.
Other Warships to Follow at
the Dry Deck.
Chief Constructor Hichborn, OF the
Navy Department.. Extols Puget
sound Naval station-Promise
That IL WIN Grow in Importance
-Opening Up of Oriental Trade
VIII Make Imperative Increase
I'm Government Facilities nj
Bremerton-Pugets sound Destined
to Become Great Outntting Point.

Special Dispatch to the Post-IntelIigencer.
WASHINGTON. Nov, 5.-The navy de-
partment has already begun to purchase
materials for repairs Of the battlcship
Oregon. which was recently seriously
damaged OFF the coast of Japan. Rear
Admiral Hichborn. chief of the bureau OF
construction and repairs of the navy de-
partment. said today that the Oregon
would reach the Puget sound naval sta
tion about the first OF January. He added
the important information that the de-
partment was becoming more and more
impressed with the advantages afforded
by that station, and that for this reason
several other flrst-class vessels now on
the way to other stations would be sent
to Puget sound In order to be drydocked
and repaired. taking their turns In con-
stant succession after the Oregon. He
estimates that the repairs on this vessel
will cost about s250.000. although other
naval officers who know nothing about
the damages sustained by the Oregon be-
lieve that the expenditure will reach not
less than half a million dollars before
she is fully restored.
To BE bought In Seattle.
Admiral Hichborn said today that all
the materials FOR this work. as well as
for work on the other vessels. will be
purchased in Seattle so far as that city In
able to furnish them. The necessary iron
plates. and some other materials oonnect-
ed with the metallic structure of the ship
will of course, have to be bought in the
East.
The chief constructor called attention
to the fact that Seattle will derive q
great benefit also from the money which
the department will spend for labor on
the vessels to be brought there for re-
pairs
All signs go TO prove that the Puget
sound naval station viii also almost i'm
mediately become the most important re-
pair station on the Pacific coast. notwith-
standing the earlier establishment al
Mare island From this time on the gov
ernment win maintain superb equipment
for naval service at Bremerton. and the
boom now begun means permanent pros
perity in that department of Seattle's
future.
DrydOck Room Ample.
THE drydock at the Puget sound naval
station. or Port Orchard as we used to
designate IT," said Admiral Hichborn.
is large enough TO hold any vessel In
the navy, and the repairs to the keel Of
the Oregon and the overhauilng OF the
Iowa which were done there so sue
cessftIlly show what can be done at
that point The development Of the gov
ernments interest In the Orient makes
it certain that the naval establishment
on the Pacific will hereafter be almost
IL not quite. az important that on the
Atlantic and the station on Puget sound
has become a necessity that will Increase
rather than diminish as time goes on.
In estimating that the Oregon will
reach Seattle as early az January l.
assume that the Kentucky viii reach the
Asiatic station In ample time 10 relieve
her. and Of that there is now no dou5t."