The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-12-18
Naval School Commission Presents Its
Report to Congress Satur-
day Afternoon.
KENOSHAS CHANCES ARE BRIGHT.
Commission Suggests That the Site Be
Selected on Lake Michigan and Keno
sha Is In the Territory Suggested.

The chances for the city of Kenosha
being selected as the site for the pro-
posed Naval Training School on the
lakes were never brighter than they
are at the present time.
On last Saturday afternoon Congress
received the report of the commission
appointed to select the site and while
the commission has named no site for
the proposed school it has suggested
that the station be located on the
shores of Lake Michigan south Of
latitude 43.3O. This district extends
from Sheboygan on the north
TO Chicago on the southwark and in
cludes both sides of the lake. It is
understood that the west shore of the
lake is in high favor with the commits
sion.
With this report there are practically
but three sites that are fitted for the
location of the school. One is at Ke-
nosha, another at Racine and third at
North Chicago. Milwaukee has also
offered site but it is conceded by
many that this site is not suitable.
The portion of the report of the COM
mission which deals especially with the
selection of the site is as follows:
"The board has therefore the honor
to submit with this report its recon-
mendation that the site of the naval
training station on the great lakes be
fixed on the shores of Lake Michigan
below latitude 43.3O and to further
recommend that an appropriation Of
$2S0,000 be made by congress for the
purchase of land and the development
of the station, the exact locality to be
determined by the board of naval Off
GERS provided by the act Of July l,
1902; and furthermore that the Secre
tary of thes Navy be authorized to con-
clude the purchase of the site selected
by the said board as soon as practi-
cable after the appropriation becomes
available.
''As soon as it is ready toe final re-
port of the board i'll be submitted TO
congress. Pending that submission
have the honor to recommend that con-
gress authorize the esta blishment of a
naval training station upon Lake
Michigan within the region approved
by the board, that an appropriation of
$250,000 for the purchase of the land
and the development OF the site be
made, and that the determination of
the exact site.be left to the discretion
of the existing board. The advantage
of such a course would be that the
effect in raising the value of land by
the selection by congress of a particu-
lar site would be avoided"
1t is impossible tozteI even from a
careful perusals of the report what
particular siteImade the most favorable
impression upon the minds Of the ex-
perts. A full summary of the report
shows that that IN all respects, except
nearness to the Atlantic coast, the
shores of the southern portion of Lake
Michigan possesses az commanding ad-
vantage oyer all other localities on the
Great Lakes for the.establishment of a
naval training station.
The report says in this respect:
'While thissarea Of maximum suit
ability has noswell defined boundaries,
the boardsconsiders it advisable to ex-
tend them as farsnorth as latitude 43. 80
and take ins Milwaukee,on the west and
Muskegan on the east shore. The
physical characteristics of some of the
shore line ofISlower Lake Michigan,
moreover, eminently fits it for the
naval trainings station. In addition
four of the'9greatest states of this
region, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin
and Michigan, compose large portions
of its population and area touching
upon thiskpart of the lake, anG each
State possesses stretches of shore line
having sufficiently suitab bic local To-
calities to merit serious consideration.
While the.ultimate choice can only fall
to one or the other, these states would
in any case.be8near enough to secure
the advantage of station being To-.
Gated in their vicinity. This decision
is therefore based upon securing the
greatest benefit both to the country
and the naval service by the esta b1ish-
ment of naval training station on the
Great Lakes"
Congressman Cooper and Senator
Ouarles both seem to be elated over
the report made by the Board and
Congressman Cooper is hopeful that
one of the cities in the First district
will be selected. In speaking of the
matter he said: ssThis gives Racine
and Kenoshaseach another opportunity
to secure the station. feel sure there
is nothing else within the zone indi
Gated equal either to the North point
(Racine) site or the Jacobs Island site
at Kenosha, and.I sincerely hope that
one or the other may be selected"