The National tribune., 1907-06-13
THE CHARLESTON NAVY YARD.
The Old Base at Port Royal Abandoned
and the Finest Yard on the South
Atlantic Seaboard Being Built on
Cooper River, Near the City.

of Massachusetts, then Secretary of
the Navy, appointed a Board to exam
inc into the expediency of changing
the location of the Naval Station from
Port Royal, S. c., to some point in
the State at or near Charleston. Rear
Admiral Frederick Rodgers, U. s. N,
was appointed President of the Board.
For several years there had been con-
siderable dissatisfaction with the Port
Royal yard, owing. principally, to the
condition of the dry dock, which, be-
ing constructed of wood, had begun
to decay to such an extent as to rem
der the dock. in the opinion of eff
cient engineers. unsafe for use. An
other reason for dissatisfaction was
the question of anchorage. which was
neither safe nor commodious enough
in front of the station or in the Beau
fort River for heavy ships. and the In
diana, waiting for sufficient water to
enter the dock in 1894, grounded
while swinging at anchor in the river
and was obliged to go five miles below
the station. to Bay Point. where she
lay until better tides enabled her to
enter the dock. II finally became n
recognized fact that the Port Royal
yard must have n new dock if that
place be retained as 4 naval station.
and the question then arose as to the
with reference to the change of loca-
ton of the yard before making so
large an expenditure of money as tha,
required for new dock. Hence the
Board. in January, 1901, reported in
favor of Charleston, many things en-
tcring into their decision. Substan-
tial inducements " re/held out by the
citizens of that city, who, naturally
desirous of having the Navy Yard so
/ mo rlnr, In lev
consideration Ga public park owned by
the city, to the Government on its own
terms The advantages of Charleston
over Port Royal as a base were many.
Charleston being a city of considerable
size, connected, as it was, with the
North by the Clyde line of steamers,
as well as by rail, made the matter
of skilled labor, which had always
been an embarrassment at the Port
Royal yard, a comparatively simple
| one. The water supply was another
problem which the proposed change
seemed to settle, as all fresh water re-
quired for the service OF the yard al
Port Royal had to be brought down
from the town in water boats ut great
expense. while at Charleston new wa
terworls had been contracted for, and
the work about to be started which
would supply the city with an abun-
|
Gdisto River, and easily furnish the
Navy Yard with the required amount
by branch main.
Tract of 1000 Acres.
The property purchased by the
Government for the Charleston Yard
is tract of 1000 acres, embracing
what was known as ChicOra Park, and
part of an adjoining estate owned by
a Mrs. w: w. 'Lawton. 1t stretches
along the west bank of the Cooper
River about six miles above the Gus
tom House, and at the time of the pur-
chase was thickly covered with live
oaks and other trees and a jungle OF
underbrush In Colonial days Chicora
Park had belonged to the Turnbull
family. and the picturesque little brick
mausoleum. covered with vines of the
fragrant honeysuckle, is yet standing
in which, il is said, the bodies of thoee
who had expressed a. desire TO be
buried in old England We're temporar-
lily placed. The iron supports for three
coffins are still inside. ana mixed in
with the honeysuckle runs sturdy IVY
which tradition says was brought fr1rn
England and planted there. When
purchased by the city of Charleston for
a public park the old house. with its
| fine avenue of live-oaks leading to the
water, WAS left standing, but the Gov
ernment, having no use nor special
appreciation for its beautiful mantlcs,
etc, tore it down and erected on its
site the handsome ediiice now used for
the Commandant of the Yard and his
staff of assistants as an Office building.
On the Lawton estate, the dignified old
family mansion still remains and has
recently been renovated with the view
of using it as an officers residence. In
its interior finish it is a fine example
of the colonial period, especially in the
drawing room, where the wood is
beautifully hand-carved in cornice.
doorways and mantles.
Work at the Charleston Yard has
gone on at merry pace since its cS-
| tablishment in 1901. At that end of
| the yard nearest Charleston fifteen
| buildings are already completed, and
nearly finished also is that impressive
structure, the new dry dock. This is
| over 600 feet long by 200 feet wide,
and when entirely completed will be
large enough to comfortably dock any
| battleship in the present Navy, and
will cost Uncle Sam about $500, 900.
All the machinery from the abandoned
station at Port Royal was brought TO
the Charleston Yard and installed, to-
gether with much new machinery, but
more is still required. About 300 men
are employed in the shops. There is
one item of interest to certain people
connected with the Charleston Yard,
and that IS that it is the first navy
yard where there will be n central
power plant. building for this pur-
pose is now under construction anG
the machinery for it has been pur-
chased. There is still a good deal more
to be done before the yard is finished
| Piers are to be built, as well as qu3y
wall all around the yard, and some
houses for officers are also contem-
plated. OF the seven officers stationed
at the yard all but three live in
Charleston, and the inconvenience ci
living so far away is great, but at pres
ent there are accommodations foI
only three within the yard. A marine
| officer and about 100 marines are also
lquartered on the reservation.
| On. Day the Most Beautiful.
| The Charleston Yard is to-day the
| largest and best navy yard south OF
Cape Hatteras, but it will some day
be the most beautiful navy yard in the
United States. lis natural charm:
are manifold, and its possibilitie:
great. At the further end of the yard
rar removed from all the great build.
ings where the work is done, on lit
tie knoll in a park of magnificent live
oaks stands the. beautiful new home
I,t the anrr M a with 1ary.