Show I Cant Can't H Have ve the Old Portsmouth HE navy department probably will willbe willbe T THE be unable to comply with the wishes of the people of California who have asked that the old sailing ship Portsmouth now at the New York navy yard be towed to the Pacific coast to tobe tobe tobe be preserved there as a naval mu mu- seum The people of the Pacific coast are anxious to have the Portsmouth sent to San FranciscO bay because she was Identified with the early history history history his his- tory of California She sailed Into San Francisco bay and took possession in the name of the United States If It she had not taken this action what Isnow is isnow isnow now California might have become a apart apart part of oC Me tte British empire as as two British cruisers ci arrived there only a a. afew afew few hours after the Portsmouth The San Francisco people want to use uso the theold theold theold old vessel as an exhibit In connection with the coming ex exposition there Tho Tim navy department however has received a report from a Ii board of survey survey survey sur sur- vey which estimated that abo about t 25 would be necessary to fit the old sailing vessel for the long cruise to tho the west coast In addition the ex expense enso of such euch a long trip would be considerable In n view of or the tUo outlay Involved in the I proposal Secretary of th the Navy Moyer feels that It would be Inadvisable fo for fo forthe the government to undertake the sendIng sending send send- ing lag of ot the Portsmouth to the Pacific coast const It is probable that she willbe will willbe willbe be turned over to the Marine Marin Hospital service for use as a floating hos lios- pital The old sailing vessel Independence now at the Mare Maxe Island navy yard will also be disposed of soon A Aboard board of ot survey has been ordered to Investigate hives hives- her condition and nd recommend what disposition should be made ol of her The Tho Independence sailed In 1815 for tor the Barbary coast under Commo Commodore d dore re William Bainbridge to arrange tho the difficulties between the tho United States and the Barbary powers She has been used as a receiving ship at atthe atthe atthe the Mare M re Island navy yard since 1858 |