The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-08-04
SUBMITTED TO COMMISSION,
The HOughton Point Site Case is Formally
Presented.

Presented.
The following letter under date of
July 9th, accompanied by maps and
other enclosures, has been forward
ed to the Naval Training School
Commission.
To. the Honorable Commissioners
appointed by his Excellency, Theo-
.dore Roosevelt, President of the
United States, to select site for the
proposed Naval Training School to
.5e located Oh the Great Lakes.
GENTLEMEN
The City of Washburn desires to
submit to your Honorable Body a
statement of facts concerning the
proposed site offered you for the lo-
cation of the Naval Training School
upon the occasion Of your recent
visit to this city:
The site offered is what is known
as Houghton Point, sometimes
designated as Houghton Park,
It is located at the most advantage
Gus point on Lake Superior, and is
undoubtedly the most beautiful spot
OF Chequamegon bay. The bay is
landlocked and is given perfect
shelter by the Apostle Islands and
by Chequamegon Point.
Speaking generally of Chez uame-
gon bay it may be said that it is
located more favorably than any
point on Lake Superior. The North
western system of railroads runs to
Washburu, and has some of it's larg-
-ests docks, elevators and ship
ping facilities here. The Northern
Pacific Railroad also has line into
this city. The Wisconsin Central
meets us as near as Ashland, six
miles away, while the Duluth, South
Shore & Atlantic railroad runs
across the county, giving to this
region the very best outlet by rail
that could be wished for.
We are located about midway be
tween the Atlantic and Pacific train
ing stations, and with the facilities
offered for travel the farm boy of
Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan,
Idaho, Mon tana, Kansas, or of any
other state north, south, east or
west, can easily reach this city.
The proposed site, it may be stated,
is within the corporate limits of the
city of Washburn.
Washburn is city Of about six
thousand inhabitants, Ashland,
six miles away, by water, has
population of about II, 900 people.
bayfield,, twelve miles away has two
thousand people. The country here
abouts is rapidly filling with set
tiers, and spirit of progress per-
vades every line of industry. This
is the natural outlet in a business
and commercial way for the north
ern part of Wisconsin. We are
populated largely by Scandinavians,
who are a sea-faring class anu from
whose ranks great many recruits
would no doubt come.
Enough perhaps was said to you
upon your recent visit regarding
the healthful climate. There is no
region in America where the per-
centage OF sickness runs smaller
than on the west shore of Chequame-
gon bay. The cities of Washourn
add Bayfield, are supplied their
drinking and other waters direct
from the bay, and SO pure is it,
owing to the lake currents which
course past our shores, that there
never has been any liberation deem
ed necessary.
We are near to the best sources
Of subsistence for a navy, as the
great wheat and cattle country of
the west are tributary to US. We
have rear by forests where the
lumbermen are at work: we have
the mines to the northeast and to
the northwest, we are few hours
ride from Duluth; five hours from
St.Paul and Minneapolis; ten hours
from Milwaukee: twelve hours from
Chicago, and less than a day and a
half from New York City.
The government charts show
closed season of 145 days in the year
at Ashland, Wis. The average
must have been taken in years when
the weather was extraordinarily
cold, as the period named is GER
5ainly that OF the longest winters.
It may be said in this connection
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