Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 164, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1914 — STORY of MARE ISLAND [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STORY of MARE ISLAND

SEVENTY odd ago, when the Indians along the banks of San Pablo bay had the habit of helping themselves to horses of their Spanish neighbors, Senor Castro, the owner of one of the (large California rancherias, chose a bleak-looking island on the eastern •rm of the bay as a haven for bis •feeds. As most of the livestock were ibrood mares, Castro naturally called the Island Isle de la Yegua, or, translated into plain English, Mare island. The christening of the ranch by the old Castilian marks the beginning of Mare island's history. With its two •nd a fourth square miles of undulating fields, Castro’s island remained more or less in obscurity until 1849. In that famous year of the rush for the yellow metal, Isle de la Yegua was bought by Captain J. Friable of the United States army. Frisbie in turn sold the island to the firm of Aspinwall, and eventually it became the property of the United States government. -_

Farragut First, Commandant. The facts concerning the selection of Mare island as a navy yard are interesting. A naval station was needed •n the Pacific coast, and since, the Mexican war the government had been on the lookout for a good location; a location that would in every particular answer the most exacting wishes of naval experts, convenient to the sea, bat not easily accessible to the enemy. Sausfilito was suggested as a favorable site for the proposed navy yard, but this proposition was offset by Captain Blunt, U. S. N., who in 1850 vigorously recommended Mare island. After much quibbling on the part of the officials, Commodore Sloat of “Bear Flag” fame, persuaded the government to buy the Island at a cost of 150,000. It was not until 1854, however, that Mare island was officially made a navy yard, with Captain Farragut as its first commandant. It is interesting to note that the residence of the hero of the New Orleans blockade still remains and, like several other domiciles of the naval station, is in a fair state of preservation. Covering a period of sixty years, from Farragut’s time down to the present commandant, Captain F. M. Bennett, there have been 38 commandants in charge of the navy yard.

Soon after Farragut’s assignment Mare island became a scene of activity, shops were built, trees planted and more than $500,000 expended to convert the former ranch into a naval station. At this particular period of the island’s history, much credit is due Senator Gwin, chairman of the committee of naval affairs, who worked indefatigably to make the thirty-second congress understand the Importance of appropriations for the navy yard of the Pacific. There were many sages at Washington who failed to understand the weight of Gwin’s harangues, and as a consequence, these men had to be inveigled into opening the doors of the treasury. But notwithstanding certain “lean years,” the newly acquired navy yard waxed strong, and by degrees developed into the Important station that ft Is today. From the time of its first commandant, Mare Island has been what we might call a progressive navy yard. Of course, like all such places that depend on annual or semi-annual appropriations, the Island has had its periods of apparent retrogression and dullness, but naval history can point to more than one great achievement wrought by the , workers at Mare Island. As a shipbuilding plant it is Inferior to none, and in fact, superior to many of the other navy yards. The Mohican, the first vessel to leave the ways, proved herself one of the best of the old time frigate class. The Monadnock, long building for lack of appropriations, was a first-class ironclad and gave a good account of herself in the battle of Manila bay. But Mare island’s glory tn ship building rests on .the work accomplished in the construction of the repair ship Promethsus and the coUler Jupiter, Of their type, these vessels had proved them-J

selves equal if not superior to those built by private concerns. The ships are the largest of their kind, the Prometheus being 465 feet in length, 60 feet beam, 26 feet draft, with a displacement of 13(585 tons and a speed of 16 knots. The Prometheus was first intended to be a collier, but it Is now being converted into a repair ship. The Jupiter, finished but a short time ago, is the largest vessel ever built on the Pacific coast It has a length of 542 feet, beam 65 feet, draws 27 feet, has a displacement of 19,360 tons and a cargo capacity of 13,900 tons. As this ship is propelled entirely by electricity, the trial trip of the vessel was watched with interest not only by naval officials, but by all those interested in« maritime affairs. Points of Interest. (it goes without saying that a trip to Mare Island is worth while. Here can be seen all that is part and parcel of a well appointed government plant; whether It be in management or whether it pertains to development in ways scientific. : Two interesting departments of the navy yard are the wireless station and the new powerhouse. This wireless station Is the most important on the Pacific coast and naturally has the latest appliances of wireless telegraphy. The new powerhouse is well worth seeing, for here is concentrated the brawn and muscle of the navy yard, as nearly all the work done on the island is with the aid of electricity.

To the uninitiated, workshops are most interesting; for In these one may follow the building, finishing and arming of a ship from the time the blue print leaves the draftsman’s hands until the finished gunboat, submarine or cruiser is ready for her complement of sailors. In the island part, twice a week the naval band plays national airs, excerpts from the operas and popular music. The' residences in various parts of the island are a delight to the eye because of thejr well kept gardens and the romantic tone of some of the old homes or the neatly built structures of a later date.

Here, too, among the tall cypress of the park are interesting relics of naval history, such as the forward gun of the Kearsarge that sank the Alabama, January 19, 1884; the sternpost of the Hartford, that grand old flagship if Admiral Farragut; the figure head of the Independence and the battered, twisted propeller of the U. S. S. Ntpsic that was wrecked with the, good ship Vandalia at the time of the great hurricane and tidal wave at Apia. Samoa, in 1889. Another relic worth seeing is the old Spanish office building around which linger memories of many a naval hero. In the building is 4 museum where one may find among the archives of the island much data that are intereslng. Court-mar-tial sessions are held In the building and if the walls could speak they might tell many a tale. Mare island is Utopia for those who love the simple life and for those who wish to separate themselves from the bizarre and blare of the metropolis. After the working hours, when trip hammer, whistle and bell have ceased, the island is enveloped with quietude made more enjoyable in contrast with the din of the day.

SATTLE SHIP SOUTH DAKOTA at MARE ISLAND