Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-04
President Anxious About For
tifications of Pacific Coast.
HUMPHREYS STATEMENT
Needs Torpedo and Submarine Boats,
More Men, Heavier Guns.
MR.. EAGLEsoN's RESIGNATION
The Surveyor General Of idaho
Asked for It-An Appraiser
at New York.

President Roosevelt has been seeking all
the information possible as to the need for
Notifications on the Pacific coast. He re-
Gently requested Representative Humph
rey of Washington to submit a statement
as to the needs of Seattle. and Puget
sound Mr.. Humphrey called on the
President today and handed him a writ
ten statement of conditions. This state
ment shows that despite the existence of
several artillery forts in sound waters and
the laying of submarine mines at several
points, the cities of the Pacific northwest
coast are still COMPARATIVELY unpro-
tected.
In his letter to the President. MIR.
humphrey says that the entrance to the
sound is so wide that an enemy's vessels
might be able to pass through unobserved
in time of fog or thick weather. Accord
iEgly although the entrance is guarded
by three artillery forts. it is recommend
ed that submarine boats be employed as
an auxiliary protection. This need Is en-
phasized by the fact that in many places
the water of the channel is so deep as
to make the laying Of submarine mines
impracticable.
Deception Pass, an important point. is at
present entirely without protection. Larger
guns are needed at Forts Worden and
Flagler, for the range required is, at GER
tain points, very long. Mr.. Humphrey also
the inadequate provision for the Coast
Artillery, some of the present guns at the
Puget Sound forts have fallen into disuse.
The most vital question, Mr.. Humphrey
says, is the installation of protection
which will overcome the width of the en-
trance from the Pacific ocean. Without
such provision, he says. the present equip
ment will in time of war prove practically
useless. Mr.. Humphrey sums UP the
needs Of the district in this way: First,
torpedo and submarine boats; second
more men: third, fertilization Of Decep-
ton Pass, Foul Weather Bluff and Double
Bluff; fourth. heavier guns at ALI forts.
The President is taking a keen interest
in plans to protect the Pacific coast
against attack, and he has had several
conferences on the subject with members
Of the California and washington dele
cations in Congress. Record estimates
were made this year for the Improvement
of the Coast Artillery, and it is under
stood that this was done largely at the
instance of the President. On Puget
sound alone the estimates for the next
fiscal year call for appropriations aggre-
eating about S., 4OO, 900 for Notifications
s., 119.SS7 of this amount shall be made
available for immediate use.
Appraiser at New York.
President Roosevelt and Secretary Cor
telyou have talked over the question OF
appointing an appraiser Of the port OF
New York 1t is believed an agreement
the name Of George w. Wanamaker. a
prominent republican leader of New
York. who has been identified with Gus
toms matters at the port Of New York
for number of years. Wanamaker is
well Endorsed. The probability Is that the
nomination will go to the Senate early
next week. 80
Lawrence o. Murray. assistant secre-
tary of the Department of Commerce and
Labor: Herbert Knox Smith. commits
sioner of corporations, and Charles +.
Neill. commissioner of labor reported to
the President this morning about the stu
alton in Goldfield, New. The President sent
these three men to Go1d1eld to report to
him the situation. They did SO. and it
was upon their report that the President
Informed Gov. Sparks as to the conditions
upon which the troops of the United
States would be kept there. The COM
missioners completed their report today.
Eagleson's Resignation Asked For.
President Roosevelt has asked for the
resignation Of Ernst G. Eagleson, sur
veyor general of Idaho. Senator Hepburn
OF Idaho was informed today OF the &C.
ton that had been taken and asked to
arrange with Senator Borah to name
successor. Mr.. Eagleson and the officials
or the Interior Department have differed
SlhOh6aS " idlu udttSTS III lldC STATE,
and the issue was presented so strongly
that the Interior Department asked that
Eagleson be forced to get out. No specific
charges have been filed, but Mr.. Eagleson
is said to be unsatisfactory to the depart
ment in nearly every way.
To Be Gridiron Club Guest.
President Roosevelt today accepted an
invitation to attend the dinner to be
given by the Gridiron Club, January %.