Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-12-26
SENATE UNITED STATES.
hE1E MN

semitic UNITED STATES.
DECEMBER IS.
Mr.. NitchiH from the committee APP
pointed on the 5th inst. to take into consider
alton that part OF the message of the Pre-
sident OF the United States of December
I'd, 1906, which relates to the protection Of
the seaports, harbors, and waters of the
United States, made report, as follows:
1t appears from the communication OF
the secretary of war, made to Congress,
on the 18th February, 1906, that several
of the public works erected in different
parts of the nation, for the purposes of de-
fence, stood in need Of finishing or repairs.
The condition of the Notifications at fort
Summer, in Maine, fort Constitution, in
sNcw-Hampshire, fort independence, in
Massachusetts, fort Adams and Wolcott,
III Rhode-island, fort Trumbull, in Con-
necticut, fort Jay, in New York, fort Milf
ilin, in Pennsylvania, fort M'Henry, in
Maryland, fort Nelson. in Virginia, fort
Johnson, in North Carolina, forts MouItrie,
Pinckney, and Johnson, in Sonth- Carolina,
fort Green, in Georgia, and OF forts St
Louis, St. Charles, and St. Philip, liz Or
leans, and of the various other forts and
military stations, is well known to the>war
department, and only requires appropria-
items of money from year to year, to enable
the needful additions to be made.
1t is therefore deemed unnecessary to
enter into detailed enumeration of their.
respective wants. But the committee can
not forbear to make mention of New-York,
Charleston, and New-orleans
They arc fully sensible of the great and
growing Importance of Eew-York, its ex-
posed situation is a subject of public and
general concern. 1t is agreed that the
national power ought to be employed in its
protection. The attention of the executive
was therefore turned to that object during
the summer and autumn Of 1906; and up
! wards of $4,000 dollars were expended in
repairing and enlargi1g in the most sub
stantial manner the works on Governors
Island. These are progressing with all
convenient speed and though at this mo-
ment suspended on account of the rigor.
OF the season, the committee has had the
, satisfaction to learn that the labor will be
| resumed with the cessation ofthe cold, and
be steadily continued until both the CITY and
harbor shall be put into a respectable state
obedience. Blythe Notifications which il is
intended to construct upon the different ia
vorable positions which the land affords
both above and below Governors Island,
skilfui engineers conceive that so much
viii be done asto repel every ordinary as
sau,t of ships, and Of all other force less
than an invading army. The intended sub
stitution of permanent structures of solid
masonary, instead Of wood and sand, will
indeed require more time for their COM
pletion but an ample compensation for
this Will be found eventually in their erea-
ter strength and durability.
The Notifications at Charleston, South
Carolina, having been almost totally turn
| ed by the severe hurricane of 1904, mea-
Sures have been already adopted to rebuild
them in the best manner that the situation
of the ground admits.
Preparations are also making for the
protection of Now-Orleans, and the mouth
Of the Mississippi, and evincc n similar at
tention to the public interests in that quar-.
ter.
The committee, however, has not iudg-
cd Unnecessary to paTticularize the speci-
tic sums which it may be needful to apply
to each OF these important objects There
would be considerable difficulty in this, for
want of circumsantial and minute infor-
nation. They therefore believe it will be
sufficient to recommend an ample appropri-
alton in gross, br the repair of existing
Qualifications, and the erection of such new
ones as may BE required and to leave
the expenditure Of the same, where the
general safety and local welfare shall com
mand it, to the ample information and
sound discretion Of the executive.
Under these considerations the commit
tee ask leave 70 report a bill, masking
further appropriations for fortyfying the
ports and harbors OF the United States and
tor building gun-boats.