The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-10-08
ADDITIONAL NAVAL
COAST DEF[NSES
Especial to the Silver State.)

Especial to the Silver State.)
WASHINGTON. Oct. S.--One of the
objects Of the trip now being made by
Secretary of the Navy Meyer to the
principal navy yards on the Pacific
and Gulf coasts is. to determine what
course to recommend with regard to
improving some yard, or yards, in view
of the redistribution of work which
will be made necessary by the opening
of the Panama canal.
Naval experts have expressed the
opinion that it will become necessary
to enlarge very greatly the navy
yards at San Francisco, or more accu
rately, Mare Island, and at Pensacola.
Possibly the yard at New Orleans will
also be enlarged, although the Pensa-
cola yard is considered to have a bet
ter position with reference to the
canal. For many years the gulf yards
have had very little work. Things
may take a change greatly for the
better with them. The secretary be-
lieves, however, that there should be
big naval base established at Guam
tanamo, Cuba, which is considered to
be very advantageous strategic point
with reference to the canal.
On the Pacific coast, the Mare
Island navy yard being nearest the
canal and being, moreover, very well
and thoroughly equipped to handle the
work likely to come to it, will become
one of the most important yards in the
country. The fact that there is a big
dock at Hunters Point, in San Fran
cisco Bay, is also important. This is
a privately owned dock, but the gov
g. =
case of need.
New Yards a Possibility.
| What the government may do with
regard to additional naval expansion
on the Pacific coast is of course un-
doubt among naval men whether or
not it would be advisable to establish
any important naval works as far
south as San Diego Bay, which is
practically on the very border of the
country and which would be perilously
open to hostile attack in consequence.
On the other hand it is pointed out
that Bremerton is in a similar position
on Puget Sound. There is a posi-
bility, also, that some kind of naval
station might be established with ad-
vantage at Los Angeles, or at one of
its ports, San Pedro, Santa Monica,
Redondo, Long Beach or one of the
other potential harbors in that vicinity.
Of all of these the Mare Island navy
yard is situated the most advantage
ously, and it is very likely that the
secretary of the navy viii suggest that
it be strengthened and enlarged to
meet future demands on it, especially
as he is an outspoken and enthusiastic
advocate of two battleship fleets, one
for each ocean, and with such fleets
he estimates that five battleships from
each would be continually in the navy
yards undergoing alterations and re-
pairs. The Pacific coast is not at pres
ent able to take care of so much naval
work. It follows that more facilities
must be provided. The question will
be presented to congress whether it is
wise to wait until the canal is opened
before making provision for the in
evitable or whether it were wiser to
begin making ready now.
The secretary will, of course, give
attention on his coming visit to the
various sites proposed for the torpedo
repair station and the base for the
torpedo flotilla, now temporarily sta
toned with a mother ship in San
Diego Bay. There are indications that
both the repair station and flotilla
base will be permanently established
at San Diego, but no discussion on this
point has yet been announced.
What has been said of the need of
better navy yard facilities on the
Pacific coast applies in considerable
measure to Pensacola, Guantanamo
and New Orleans.
Obsolete Canal Materials.
Ia - To- L.
lated on the Isthmus Of Panama in
connection with the building of the
canal, that the commission has decid-
ed to build warehouse especially to
care for it until it can be disposed of
advantageously The amount Of dead
stock held by the depot quartermaster
alone now amounts to between $780,
600 and 100000 in value. There is
considerable heavy machinery which
buyers do not care to bid on unless
they can inspect it. 1t is planned to
allow this to accumulate until there
is enough ON hand to warrant pros
pective purchasers in visiting the
Isthmus to make an inspection of it.
1t is believed that much of the ma
terial may be sold to buyers in Central
and South American countries, and
that it would be useless expense to
transport it to New York before sell
ing it. Last year large quantity of
old iron and steel, estimated to be
worth over $1,O0O.00O, was sold and
this year a considerable quantity was
shipped to San Francisco and sold
Much of this old material is stuff that
was placed on the Isthmus by the
French, and some of it, in the nature
Of machinery, has been rehabilitated
and put to active use. Congress will
be asked to enact law governing the
sale of these materials.