The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-09-10
MAY BUY TOWN
GOVERNMENT LIKELY TO Ar
QUIRE BREMERTON.
William Bremen Said to Be Conduo,.
ing Negotiations to That End a,
Washington. Would End Troub,e
That Has Caused Annoyance for
Some Time Past.

Seattle, Sept. 4.-The Post-Intelli-
gencer this morning says:
A proposition is on foot to sell the
townsite of Bremerton to the govern
ment, and put an end for all time TO-
the trouble that has existed between
the authorities of the town and the of
ficials of the navy department as to
how the affairs of the little town adj
jacent to the Puget Sound navy yard
should be conducted, according to adj
vices received from Bremerton last
night.
Government officials long ago real
lied that a grave mistake was made
when the entire tract of land was not
bought up, thus giving the government
absolute control of the country sur
rounding the navy yard. Since the
yard was established a town has
grown up around it and the property
has greatly enhanced in value. Be-
cause of this state of things many of
the navy officials believed that it would
cost too much money for the gov
eminent to acquire the property now.
After the town was incorporated the
trouble between the town authorities
and the officials of the navy depart
ment began. The town people wanted
a wide open town; the navy depart
ment insisted upon a closed town. Last
winter this trouble was aggravated
until the navy department issued an
ultimatum that unless the saloons
were removed from the front street
and the gambling places closed no
more warships would be sent to the
yard for repairs. The closing down Of
the navy yard meant great injury to
the town and the order was complied
with.
Suggested to Moody.
When Secretary Moody was here
last May with the president he init
mated that the best solution Of the
problem would be for the government
to buy the townsite and take entire
control of the situation, but he thought
less than 100000.
Mr.. Bremen, who is perhaps the lar
gest individual property owner there
and the father of the townsite, heard
of this and told the secretary that ne
thought the entire townsite could be
bought up for $350,0OO. While the Sec
rotary did not say that such an offer
would be acceptable to the navy de-
partment, Mr.. Bremen felt encouraged
to go ahead with the deal, and now ne
has secured the powers of attorney OF
practically all the property owners
it is said, to make such an offer to the
government.
The work of obtaining the consent
of the property owners has been car
ried on with absolute secrecy by MT.
Bremen, but a special message from
Bremerton last night stated that MI
Bremen now had matters in such shape
that a formal offer could be made 10
the navy department.
Are Willing to Sell.
The fact that Bremerton is now
closed town helped Mr.. Bremen IN Ms
work. Seventeen saloons were put out
c. business when the navy departmeh.
decided that the town must be cleaneu
up before any more ships would NC
sent to the yard for repairs. The Town
lis almost absolutely dependent for sup
port upon the navy yard.
Becoming convinced that they couiu
not again engage in the business -
conducting saloons or disordeiH
houses, the owners of the property zen
in with the idea of Mr.. Bremen 10 pun
their issues and offer to sell 10 'ne
government the entire townsite' thus
ending for all time the vexing propiei"
of controlling the affairs of the FOWL
Mr.. Bremen could not be fouhu :"
this city last night. but the INFORMS
ton comes from Bremerton IS posi-
tive that he has secured the REQUIRE
number of signatures of property owl
ers, and that he will start for Wasn
ington in a few days to lay his prop0
sition before the navy department.