Norwich bulletin., 1915-11-27
THE THAMES NAVAL STATION

take the fee of the land, but only the use of it for naval purposes. Whenever named in the deed, the land will re-
 vert to the original proprfetors. in whom the fee still resides.
 It was in 1871 that the big T wharf was built, the land graded and the
 present substantial buildings erected. At a later date, the ships of the Naval
 Training school were at the yard from time 10 time.
 Not long after the establishment of the yard, the government appointed
 committee of civil engineers to ex-
 anime the site, with the view to the construction of a fresh water basin
 where iron and iron-clad vessels of
 the navy. might lay up when not in commission. Long Cove, just below
 Gales Ferry, was found suitable to
 this purpose and so recommended; but
 nothing was ever done about develop ing it, although the commission had reported that, at comparatively little
 expense an area of deep fresh water
 sufficient to float all the iron vessels likely ever to use it, could be secured
 for the governments purposes.
 Later there was the utilization of
 the yard navy as a site for a govern
 ment coaling station and some inter esting experiments, demonstrating the
 advantages and possibilities of keep
 ing coal under water. It is as a gov
 ernmeRt coal station that the yard Is
 known to most people.
 The late John R. Bolles who served
 as secretary of the Navy Yard com
 mittee, was one of those who worked
 hard for its interests. up to the time
 of his death. in 1896.
 This he had to do, for, from some
 reason, the Thames Naval Station has
 never been strongly favored by the powers that be, although during the
 recent visit of Secretary Daniels, when he recommended the site as a sub
 marine base, he admitted its advan-
 tages in every way. But it is mat
 ter of history that the fight for the
 recognition and development of the
 yard by no means ended with its ac- ceptance by Congress. Those yards
 nearer to Washington and New York had always had the silent preference;
 and the Connecticut yard, being mere ly an outlander has never ranked very
 high in official favor.
 This fact is evident daily, in the orders and announcements of the Uni- ted Service. The yard on the Thames
 rarely gets so much as a mention. Whether this will always continue so, nobody of course can predicate. IT the event of actual warfare, there is a
 possibility that the yard might rise to more importance than that of being merely site.
 With active work on the part of the
 states Congressmen, too, there might be a chance to get the yard advanced but, with the government taking ac- ] tive steps to further develop the three island forts, which really command the harbor and are the outposts of the city of New York, out little navy yard up the Thames does not seem to have such strong and convincing reason for being as it had during Congress-
 man Waits days. So it is a question if it ever had such compelling inter est as to force the men high up in naval power and patronage to see that it ought to have much more of a chance than it has ever been granted
 The government went so far in it's development as to build three good houses on the reservation for the yards officers. One of these houses
 was destroyed by fire, a few years ago and one has been leased for the ac- commodation of the workmen al i Breakwater. In the big gray house still conspicuous and substantial, there used to be genuine, old-fashioned hos 1 pitality, when Commander Belden aRC his family were stationed at the yard and the place has been pleasantly | utilized at other and later times. Possibly, in case Secretary Daniel: | should carry out his plan of building | the nations big new warships at the
 country's navy yards, portions of tht ! big defenders might be worked or
 here; and that would help give tht | Thames River site a lift to popularity
 and usefulness.
 THE DICTAGRAPH.