The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-12
CHARLESTON WINS
, BOARD REPORT TRANSMIT
~ TED TO CONGRESS.
II IS ALL FOR CHARLESTON
u.u SUMNER ALONE OF THE
AO"- BOARD, DIssENTs.


ba Advantage of the Latter
,.,aora Park ON the Cooper River
$50. the city Recommended as
at1e site-The Report Seems to
Tint Charleston Has Great-
o,,I, and More HarbOr Room
rban Port Royal.
,iu-ton. Jan. 11.-Secretary Long
So. transmitted to Congress the re-
the Rodgers board recommending
p''' -,sfar of the naval station from
r.-+ Roval, S c., to Charleston slN OF
s.yen members of the board signed
.o,ort favoring the transfer. Rear
~ simmer alone dissenting. The
- il, IFS report appears to have gone
the subject very carefully, as the
s.,trgs cover nearly sixty pages OF type
.,.,rc The Secretary will urge prompt
., Inv Congress to make provision for
he transfer recommended.
,t,er going in great detail to a com
4-o, between Port Royal and Charles
.or with respect to the above-stated re-
.risites the board draws the following
illusions: In view of the foregoing
1Fosentatton of facts comparing the two
H. FIR naval station with respect 10
.bstr several requisites, we have the honor
-, commend that it is expedient to
transfer the naval station now at Port
poyal S c., to a point near the city
e cbareston S. c., and we find the only
70 ha
=, tbe coast bank of the Cooper river,
a,opt six miles above the Charleston Gus
tom House. comprising a part of Chicora
par, and of the land of Mrs. w. w. Law
ION living below Chicora Park, and also
deem advisable a part of the marsh land
belonging to the state of South Carolina,
which lies south of Lawton's land. The
orly other site exmined in the vicinity
of Charleston which affords the neces-
sary water front, depth of water, topo-
granbical and sub-soil surface for the es-
enlistment of a naval station, is on the
south bank of the Wanda river, and con-
sists of the lands of Muirhead and Ven
ming or a portion of them; but this site
b3s neither railway connection nor ade-
ouste water facilities. nor has it connec-
ton with the city of Charleston. The lack
II IF these requisites condemn it as suita-
bic site.
"Chicora Park has been offered by the
city authorities to the government on its
own terms. 1t is an important part of the
proposed site, and we suggest that
proper remuneration to the city of
Charleston would be the cost of that por-
ton of the park which is taken and of
its improvement. Lawton has placed a
price of $4,000 on his land. This, the board
considers, far too high, and in it's opin-
ion, the sum of 500 per acre for the
amount acquired, would be a fair and
liberal price. We recommend that If
larger sum be finally demanded, condem-
nation proceedings be resorted to. The
state land, if required for navy yard pur-
poses, can probably be obtained without
any difficulty at a nominal price. We
deem it advisable that the entire width
Of Noisette creek at the upper end of
Chicora Park for the control of its north
ern bank should be obtained by the gov
eminent, as it is probable that this creek
could he dredged out to make secure
harbor for the floating property of the
station. In this connection, we suggest
the advisability of obtaining control or
the water front on the east side of the
Cooper river opposite the naval station,
throughout its length in order to antici-
pate the possibility in the future of the
erection thereon of buildings and wharves
which might interfere with the free use
Of the anchorage in front of the station
for public purposes. The available sources
Of future water supply for the station
have been clearly set forth in the pre-
ceding pages. We have no doubt that the
scheme of bringing the North Edisto wa
Ter will he speedily carried out. The
board in its conferences with the Mayor
VI charleston has emphasized the impor
lance of the question of quarantine The
regulations having been applied by Char
lesion in a manner which is unnecessary
" restrictive to the freedom of the port
by men of war, and which might seriously
impair the utility of a naval station
mat point. The Mayor of Charleston has
promised on behalf of the city that in
lnls respect Charleston should be placed
on par with the most liberal Southern
ports. The health board of Charleston sus-
tdlns the view taken by the Mayor
We are aware of the fact that in Sc
ecjlng Charleston as the site for a naval
station in preference TO Port Royal, we
are departing from the opinion of two
boards of naval officers, which have pre-
NouSly considered the question of the es-
.dolshment of a naval station on tho
south Atlantic, one of which was presid-
su over by Admiral Porter. This fact has
."eh brought to the attention of the
board by the Port Royal and Beaufort
QUEENS committee as an argument for
Inc retention of the station at Port Royal.
mere is however inconsistency in this
Tonheclion When the previous boards Sc
ieeled Port Royal as the best site for
naval station on that coast, the great
s'"enes for the improvement of South
e'h harbors had not been carried forward
70 any extent, and Port Royal possessed
we only harbor on the coast which large
,iP' could enter under any circumstances
moreover the ships of that date were
eeu'uer ana lighter and carried much less
"Aeu weight in the shape of armor, tur-
Us etc. Port Royal bar and Beaufort
.Ner offered sufficient water for all ex-
eepl the very largest vessels. Vessels
are now Of greater size and cost and be-
.ause OF their large fixed weight and
S'elr MIN steel bottoms are much more liza
we 10 damage of destruction, If they take
W.. ground in outlying waters. than we're
tle wooden ships of former times Secur-
IVY OF entrance and anchorage is, there
- ot greater relative importance than
m1rnerly Although Fort Royal at the
Inv on the reports of previous boards
Possessed as above stated the only har-
~. yU Tor large vessels on the coast. rela-
ch conditions have now been wholly
.ra,sed. Harbor improvements have
ssoIuced at Galveston New Orleans Pen
LA and Charleston better and safer
p.-.hels than the natural entrance to
W. o't Royal, and Charleston, with which
nave been directed to compare Port
IA IN, affords in this respect superior ad-