The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-16
THE NAVAL STATION.

Port Royal harbor. The Senate has adopt
ed an amendment authorizing the Secre-
tary Of the Navy to examine into the ex-
pediency of transferring the station from
Port Royal to Charleston. In case the
transfer should be decided upon, 10000
would be made available for the purchase
OF a site. There would follow also the
construction OF a frst-class dry dock, hav-
ing a depth of thirty feet OF water, clear,
upon the stills. All told, the establishment
OF a new station would involve the ex-
penditure of s1.eoO.0o0 or more, and would
be of great benefit to the city and port.
Particularly would the port be benefited
since 1t would be necessary 20 deepen the
draught on the baT to twenty-six feet at
mean low water, giving a depth of thirty
one feet at mean high water, In order to
provide for the entrance into and exit
from the harbor of battleshps With the
weight of the influence of the navy de-
partment behind them, those working for
appropriations for deeper water at
Charleston would find their task much
slmplihed.
While we would regret on behalf of
our neighbors, Beaufort and Port Royal,
to s,e the naval station at Paris Island
abandoned, 1t must be admitted that the
dock and station there have never been
satisfactory, either to the community or
TO the government. Why this has been
so we are unable to explain. 1t may have
heen owing to the prejudice Of naval Of
flcers against the situation, or
TO the lack of social life near
the station, or 1t may have been
something else. The fact remains, how
ever that the station has rested and still
rests under what may be called a hoo
doc" for want of a better name. The hum
dreds of thousands of dollars that have
been expended on the Paris Island plant
have never been of any considerable bene-
fit to the government and, in the opinion
of high department officials, no great ben
efits are to be expected.
The naval station would be a big thing
for Charleston, and Savannah and the
Morning News would be among the first
to congratulate her upon her good for
tune in securing It, Meantime it seems to
us proper to suggest that the advantages
to be investigated by the Secretary of the
Navy, or other authority, in connection
with the proposed removal of the naval
station, before hard-and-fast determin-
alton to select Charleston has been made
Two reasons among others named for
the removal from Port Royal are, the
lack of adequate transportation facilities
M tor In
both of these very important matters We
claim for Savannah superiority over
Charleston. A naval station on Hutchin-
sons Island, for instance, would be imme-
diateiy connected with the Greater Sea-
board, the Plant and the Central of Geor-
gia railway systems, which have rami-
hcations and connections everywhere. on
the south side of the river a branch of
the Central runs to Tybee along the river,
so that there are several sites available.
all having excellent rail facilities. Then
there are also the several lines of steam
ships with practically daily sailings. And
the terminal facilities at this port are
among the finest in the United States.
There is nothing else in the South At
lantic section that can be compared with
them.
Our fresh water supply is abundant and
the quality of it is superior. So great is
the supply that we have only recently
watered a whole army corps and several
thousand horses and mules of the army
without putting any limit upon the con-
sumption by either soldiers or citizens.
For an expenditure no larger than will
be necessary to give Charleston the requf-
ste depth of water, an equal depth, If not
a greater, could be secured here. We pro-
pose, In any event, to work for and Sc
cure a 2S-foot Dow water channel from
the city to the sea, so Charleston has no
advantage in that particular.
THE Port Royal station has suffered
greatly from the inroads of the sea dur
ing violent storms that frequently oc-
cur" says Admiral Endicott In his letter
to the Secretary of the Navy" The Port
Royal station is fifteen miles from the
sea. At Charleston II is seven miles from
the sea to the Battery, with open water
all the way. AT Savannah a station would
be protected by the river. Many OF the
biggest ships OF the navy. by the way,
were built in a river yard, at Philadel-
phia-
We do not call attention 40 this matter
for the purpose of antagonizing Charles
ton or nauguraung any dog-in-the-man-
ger policy. We desire simply to call at
tenticn to what we believe to be true, and
capable OF demonstration; that Savannah
has advantages over Charleston as a port
at which to locate the naval station. If
the government is going to make the
change In order TO secure greater facili-
ties, then it ought, as a business propo-
sition, avail itself OF the best offering. And
IT, after a fair and impartial investiga-
ton. the prize should go to Charleston,
Savannah would congratulate her and do
what she could to contribute to the sue
cess OF the station.
Kipling is the Bismarck of literature;
a man OF blood and iron. He does not
want England TO be too lenient with her
A R..f-