The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-01-17
new NAVAL STATION
Goes to Charleston, According to
Boards Recommendation.
REPORT AGAINST PORT ROYAL
MANY Reasons Given For Selection
of New Location---Secretary
Long Announces Decision.

Secretary Long made public Friday
the report of the naval board Of officers
submitted Thursday concerning the
establishment of naval station on
the South Atlantic coast, and more
particularly with reference to the rela-
tive merits of Port Royal or Charles
tor, S. c., as the site for this station.
The board recommends in favor Of
Charleston, reinforcing its views with
an elaborate statement of the advan-
tages of that place over Port Royal. A
dissenting view is presented by Rear
Admiral Sumner, who favors reten.
ton of the naval station at Port Royal.
The board discusses the general
requisites of naval station site on the
South Atlantic coast, including acces-
sibility from the sea, immunity from
attack, railroad and steamship facili-
ties, labor supply and many other spe-
cial requirements of the navy. After
an exhaustive review of the adyanta-
ges offered by both localities, the
board recommends that it is expedi-
tious to transfer the naval station now
at Port Royal, S. c., to,a point near
the city Of Charleston, S. c.. aud finds
the only available site to be that on
the west bank of the Cooper river,
about six miles above the Charleston
custom house, comprising part OF
Chicora park, and also, If deemed ad-
visable, a part of the Marsh land be-
longing to the state of South Caro-
lima which lies south of Lawton
island.
The only other site examined by the
board in the vicinity of Charleston
which afforded the necessary water
front, was on the south bank of the
Wando river, but as this site has
neither railroad connection nor water
facilities, it was not deemed advisable
for the purposes intended.
The board states:
eve are fully aware of the fact that
in selecting Charleston as site for a
naval station in preference to Port
Royal We are departing from the opin l..
ion of the boards of naval officers who
have previously considered the ques-
tion of the establishment of a naval
station on the south. Atlantic coast,
one of which was presided over by
Admiral Porter.
"The service has been brought to
the attention of the board by the Port
Royal and Beaufort citizens commit
tee as an argument for the retention
of the station at Port Royal. There
is, however, no consistency. in this
connection. When the previous
boards selected Port Royal as the best
site for a naval station on the coast
the great schemes for the improvement
of southern harbors had not been car
ried forward to any extent, and Port
Royal possesses the only harbor on
the coast which large ships could en-
ter under any circumstances.
Moreover, the ships of that date
were smaller and lighter and carried
much less fixed weight in the shape of
armor, turrets, etc. /"
In conclusion the board states that
it's recommendation of the Charleston
site is based simply upon its opinion
that it is the better site of the two.
The majority report is signed by Rear
Admiral Frederick Rodgers, president
of the board; Captain George A. Con-
verse, Civil Engineer G. E. Asserson,
Naval Constructor J. 81. Linnard,
Commander E. n. Leutze and Lieu
tenant Commander S. A. Stanton.