The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-03-22
(Nfail Special to the Advertiser J

w 4AsDlll VI o4Ns ~ ~ NldlNAl
The Merchants Association Of Homo
lulu recently requested Mr.. George b.
Mcclellan, who is here chiefly in regard
to legislation affecting the electric light
ing franchise, to call upon Secretary OF
the Navy Moody and ascertain the pros
poets for improvement of the Pearl
Harbor station. He had an audience
with the Secretary, the result OF which
Mr.. Mcclellan tells in his own words.
Il called by appointment in company
with Representative Calderhead, OF Kan
sas, who was a close personal friend of
the Secretary while he was in the House
and also in company with the Hawaiian
delegate" said Mr.. Mcclellan this after
noon. Although the Secretary re-
ceived us with great courtesy, and gave
us nearly an hours time, yet the net
results OF the interview held some very
discouraging features as regards the out
look for any immediate operations at
the Pearl Harbor Naval Station.
1T is significant" added Mr.. McClel-
Ian, that, although the naval appropra-
ton bill for this year, is considerably
the largest ever passed by Congress, to-
falling almost SIoo,ooo,ooo, it does not
carry single dollar for the Pearl Har-
Dor station. This, the Secretary OF the
Navy explained, is partly due to the
fact that the National development, has
made necessary the beginnings of two
new naval stations this year, namely at
Guantanamo and Subig Bay and this,
together with the new construction work,
and necessary enlargement on existing
stations. and current maintenance of the
navy make up the large total of the cur
rent appropriation bill.
The Secretary of the Navy admitted
that he had not had time, as yet, to go
fully into the claims and strategic ad-
vantages of the Pearl Harbor Station
but said with frankness that its advan-
tages and claims would be considered
on their merits as an integral part of
the national naval system He intimated,
however, that the general board, whose
advice governs very largely as to all
questions of strategic value at different
stations had made no specific report on
Pearl Harbor as they regard the Cuban
and Philippine stations as OF prior I'M
portance.
1T will be we'll if the Merchants As
sociation and all Honolulu people con-
cerned in the development of the naval
station at Pearl Harbor realize that the
actual construction OF any considerable
station at Pearl Harbor, within the next
ten years. will come only as the result
OF systematic and persistent work on
the part of Honolulu people in bringing
influence to bear upon the Navy De-
partment through naval officers, who
visit Honolulu and are familiar with
the ground, and through a systematic
and intelligent use of the influence of
all of the friends of Hawaii in Congress
and in official life and of all business
and professional men OF prominence who
may visit Washington or may have busi-
ness of any sort with the Navy Depart
ment.
ANY idea that merely because the
United States government has secured
site for a naval station that she VIII
necessarily proceed to the immediate
construction of dry docks and other
equipment for a naval station may as
we'll be abandoned at once. No con-
siderable construction work has ever
been done as yet at any naval station
| except as a result of concerted effort on
| llc DuII OI NOlSlSSsliiSii anu s1Nii''NS'' ~
representing that part OF the country
backed by business influence OF those
who are similarly interested. The Subie
Bay st.,tion will form an exception tc
this rule but its strategic location has
made it the particular favored scheme
, of the entire Navy Department and
/ evidently up to the present time no very
| strong idea OF the strategic value OF tht
| Pearl Harbor station has been held by
the Navy Department since large
station at Subig Bay in the Philippines
/ has been determined upon.
"lhe personal attitude of Secretar,
! Moody" added Mr.. Mcclellan, was en-
tirelv friendly and he volunteered th
suggestion that an official commission
TO recommend construction plans Tor
Pearl Harbor station would probabl.
not be the best way to secure the dc
sired results. He volunteered the opin
ion that it was an official commission o
this sort which delayed the Subig Ba
station almost three years. MIR. MOODY
however, assured the Honolulu delega
ton that he would during the year CIV
the fairest consideration to all the claim
of Pearl Harbor ana, il he could cor
gramme, recommend beginning ther
it would be done Translated into othie
words, this means that if any item tc
Pearl Harbor is to find its way into I'll
next years appropriation bill it will CON
only as the result OF a careful an
systematic presentation OF the matter
the Navy Department and the membei
OF the general board during the ne'
: eight or nine months
, Secretary Moody told Mr. McClella
: that he had cut out OF the navy estimate
4 an item OF 5000 for Marine Barracl
4 at Honolulu station. This" Mr.. Nj
. Clean added, was because, as NJ
5 Moody explained, it was not the intel
:. ton OF the Navy Department TO nal
: any further Improvements on the II
d noulu station. since 1t is regarded
= temporary and any permanent improv
i ments will be constructed at Pearl Ha
a Dor only
"A Nr Mcclellan has well recover