The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-07
WILL SOON VISIT THE SITES.
NAVAL BOARD WILL LOSE NO TINE
OVER ITS DOCK WORK.

Expected That 1t VIII Reach Char
lesion TO-morrow-Thc First In
spection VIII Be Made at the Port
Royal station Mass of official
Data Relative to the Present Sta
ton and ChnrIestOn's Facilities
Has Been Furnished the BOard.
Washing on, July 6.-Rear Admiral Rod
gers. with his board OF admiras 10 inves-
tigate and report upon the transfer of
the naval station from Port Royal to
Charleston, is expected to arrive in
Charleston Sunday morning The board
is now in session at che Navy Depart
meut and Rear Admiral Rogers stated
to-day that it IS the intention Of the
board to leave here Saturday and reach
Charleston the following day.
The board organized yesterday, but did
rot get down to business until to-day. All
the members OF the board were in at
tendance, and the instructions given
them by the Secre AIRY Of the Navy were
formally read for information. The in
structions are to the effect that the board
shall first proceed to Port Royal and
make thorough examination of the con-
ditions existing there and determine
whether or not it will be feasible and to
the advantage of the government to fur
Their attempt 10 make the dry dock SER
viceable for the accommodation of big
battles ships, and also whether the money
already expended on the naval establish
ment AT thas point has produced satisfac-
tory results
Leaving Port Royal the board is direct
ed TO proceed TO Charleston and ascertain
whether the harbor facilities and other
requirements for a first-class naval sta
ton are sufficient TO warrant the govern
ment in transferring the naval station 10
a point of or near Charleston.
After reading the instructions the board
was furnished with a mass of official
data. showing the amount of the ex-
penditures already made on Port Royal,
together with recommendations and es-
Inmates for further improvements at that
station. The engineers report relative
to the river and harbor work that has
been done and to additional work neces-
sary al Port Royal was also laid before
the board Similar information bearing
upon the river and harbor facilities at
Charleston were also submitted. so that
the members will go south fully inform
ed so far as the past and present condi-
lions of the two places are set forth in
official reports.
Rear Admiral Endicott, chief of the
Bureau of Yards and Docks. was sum-
nnoned before the board to-day and made
a comprehensiv statement, the substance
of which was set forth in his official rec
ornmendation, favorable to the transfer
already printed in the official reports and
the Congressional Record. 1t was evil
dent from these statements of Rear Ad-
niral Endicott that he is strongly In
favor of the transfer. He commented
upon the advantages which in his judg-
rnent. Charleston has over Port Royal,
and he does not hesitate to express the
belief that It would be of material bene-
fit il the transfer could be made within
a reasonable period and upon reasonable
terms
In further commenting upon the subject,
Rear Admiral Endicott stated that me
law under which the transfer may be made
is not open to general competition. 1t
provides that, should the board deem 1t
advisable, the station now at Port Royal
may be transferred TO an available site
at or near Charleston. The law limits the
competition TO Port Royal or Charleston,
so that the board has no authority to con-
slider a site elsewhere.
In connection with the rumor that land
syndicates were being formed in Charles
ton with view to putting an extrava-
giant price on desirable sites, Rear Admiral
Endicctt said that such a report had
found its way to Washington. He was
not prepared to state where or how the
runlor originated 1t might have been
mere suggestion made while the sub
ject was under consideration before the
Secretary of the Navy. He added that
there need he no fear of extortion being
practiced upon the government in connec-
ton with the purchasing of a site, for il
the proposed transfer is agreed upon, the
law gives the government the right 40
select an available site and institute pro-
ceedings Of condemnation should the own
ers Of the site desired place what is deem
ed to be an unreasonable price upon it,
Admiral Rodgers is not prepared to state
how long the board will be engaged at
Port Royal and Charleston. II is the in
tention of the Secretary OF the Navy as
well as of the members of the board to
make thorough investigation of the mat
ter, and at the same time expedite The
work to be done either at Port ROYAL or
Charleston. The promptness with which
the board assembled indicates an intention
on the part of the navy department TO set
tie the question without unnecessary de-
day.
COTTON on THE UP TURN.