The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1911-03-23
GREAT RESORT
FOR WEALTHY
Interesting Letter, Describes
War Ship and Destroy
ers at San Diego.
San Diego, Cal, March, 1911

Vi lntcTtSJ 10 Odu diego LOuflSls
and they never were so numer-
ous--is the land-locked harboi
with it's tides and commerce
docks and ferries, coaling sta
ton, pleasure craft, sailing YES
sells, passenger and freight steam
ers, torpedo fleet and the recent
U. S. war ships.
Occasionally, sailing vessels
coming from some Atlantic sea
board point via Cape Horn put
into port, but the journey is long
and hazardous and usually
fraught with great hardship. AT
tended with just such result, after
the most exciting and perilous
voyage of about 10000 miles, the
Aryan, a "windjammer," loaded
at Philadelphia with 5000 tons of
coal and consigned to local
agency, has just moored at the
coaling station. The time con
sumed under continuous sail was
POT days, being nearly two
months over due.
Except at San Francisco, there
is no port of entry on the Pacific
coast for freight transportation
via Isthmus of Panama to the
Atlantic sea board, although the
government established flat
freight rate of SIS per ton, which
is about one sixth of the trans
continental rail rate.
The MISUNDERSTANDING line
docks here and discharges heavy
cargoes of eastern and foreign
merchandise, shipped via Mexi-
can Isthmus Of Tehuantepec, over
a railroad 1870 miles long. Time
of transit from New York is rs
to 30 days.
Ocean travel south is inconsid
cradle but north it is fair and in
creasing. Last Saturday, on its
initial trip, a large three deck tur
bine steamer brought in 400 pass
engers.
San Diego, dependent on
more fertile and productive coun-
try, would have persisted long
ago had it not been for the inn
portation Of heavy water and rail
shipments of food products. And
conditions have changed but lit
tie, If any.
The Pacific Coast division OF
the torpedo fleet often called
the midget fleet consisting
of 3 torpedo boats, ii torpedo
boat destroyers and 2 submarines
spend much of their time in this
bay as il is the home base
although, al present, all are en-
gagged in target practice off San
Pedro-l5 miles distant from
Los Angeles--75 men is the com
plement per boat Which is about
$50 It. long and % fit. beam, max
ing a speed of about 20 knots pei
hour while under full steam. Al
the name implies the vessel ii
provided with torpedoes which
in time of war are fired at hos
tile vessel. The destroyer is DIES
igned to exterminate the torpedo
boat; and the submarine, a yer
table demon in looks and execu
ton, submerged and travelling un
observed as much as Is to 2(
miles at a time, may plant a tor
pedo and demolish the most pow
erful man of war.
While maneuvering off Caron-
ado, preparatory to going north
despite the most vigilant outlook
and foreknowledge, one of the
demons crept up within roc
yards of the battleship. This in
time of war is equivalent to the
destruction of the enemy's ship.
For about months, anchored
in the channel were u. s. ar
mored cruisers, of the 1860 tor
class, namely: the s. Dakota
Pennsylvania and the California
The latter is the flag ship of the
LIST division of the Pacific fleet
so called because it carries the
admiral-Chauncy NJ. Thomas
and flies the adrniral's flag.
Through the courtesy of the af
fable commander, the public, al
stated times, was priyiledged te
board and inspect the big float
ing arsenal, mantled in dark gray
and trimmed to fight. This was
a cherished opportunity for us
Mr.. I'll. L. Sweet, the Misses
Sweet, and myself accord
ingly, we set out with many
others and boarded a gasolin,
launch which conveyed us to tn,
starboard of the California.
Ascending the gangway, w,