The Battle for the Navy Yard: Tacoma’s Chamber of Commerce Fights Back

Naval Commissioners En Route to Seattle.

The naval commissioners arrived here from Portland tonight and were at once taken on board the government steamer Manani is bound for Seattle.

Mamie Cuyler and S. A. Wheelwright, the committee appointed by the Chamber of Commerce to frame an answer to the assertions advanced by Capt. A. T. Mahan, senior naval officer of the United States naval commission, in regard to the terrain and advantages of Tacoma and Quartermaster’s Harbor as a site for the new naval yard, have prepared a most voluminous and favorable document, which has been forwarded for the commissioners’ consideration at Olympia.

THE NAVAL COMMISSION. Brief Sketches of the Officers Composing It.

Captain Alfred T. Mahan was born in New York, appointed to the naval academy in 1854, attached to the frigate Congress, home squadron, in 1861, the vessel which was sunk by the Merrimac in Hampton Roads. He was next on the steamer Pocahontas, of the South Atlantic blockading squadron, 1861 and 1862; was commissioned as lieutenant August 31, 1861, lieutenant commander June 7, 1862, and commander November 10, 1862. commanding the work on the South Atlantic station, and was commissioned captain in 1864. He has recently filled the position of president of the Naval War College, and is now on special service as president of the commission.

Lieutenant-Commander Colby M. Chester was born in Connecticut, appointed to the naval academy in 1859; promoted to ensign October, 1863, and was attached to the steam sloop Richmond, of the gulf squadron, was at the battle of Mobile Bay, and in the operations against Mobile; promoted to master November 10, 1866: commissioned as lieutenant February 21, 1867, on steamer Gettysburg, of the North Atlantic squadron; commissioned as lieutenant-commander March 12, 1868; commissioned as commander October 15, 1881. Has been in command of the Galena, the vessel ordered to Hayti, until within the last three months, when he was detached and assigned to duty on this command.

Lieutenant-Commander Charles H. Stockton was graduated from the naval academy in 1855, served in the Macouah and Chattanooga, and came to the North Pacific in the Mohican; served there till 1863, was ordered to the Congress in 1870, made voyages in her to the West Indies (Greenland and the Mediterranean. In 1874 joined the United States steamship Swatara, making the cruise around the world in that ship on the transit of Venus expedition. He was commissioned as ensign December 1, 1863; master March 12, 1868; lieutenant March 20, 1874, and lieutenant-commander November 9, 1881. He lately completed a term in the bureau of yards and docks, which has specially fitted him for his present position.