The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-30
SENATE UNITED STATES.
DECEM Err Is.

Mr.. Mitshill from the committee appointed
on the 5th lift. to take into confederation that
part of the meifage of the Pre6dent of the Uni
ted States of December I'd, 1906, which relates
to tie protection of the fea-ports, harbors, & wa
tiers of the United States, made a report as fol-
lows:
1t appears from the communication Of the
fecrctery of war, made to Congreis of the 1 9Th
February, 1906, that feveral of the public
works erected in different parts of the natl
on, for the purpofes of defence, food in
need of finifhing or repairs. The conditi-
on of the Notifications at fort Summer, in
Maine, fort Contribution, in New-Hampihrc,
fort Independence, in Maf1achufetts, fort A
dams and Wolcott, in Rhode Hand, fort Trum-
bull, in Connecticut, fort Jay, in New-York,
fort Miilin, in Pennsylvania, fort M'Henry, in
Maryland, fort Mellon, in Virginia, fort John
fon, in North-carolina, forts Moutrie, Pnck-
ney, and Johpfon, in South Carolina, fort
Green, in Georgia, and of forts St. Louis, St.
Charles, and St. Philip, in Orleans, and of the
various other forts and military ftatons, is well
known to the wsr department, and only re-
quires appropriations of money from year to
year, to enable the needful additions tobc made.
It is therefore deemed unneceffary to en-
ter into detailed enumeration of their ref
pcGiivc wants. But the committee cannot for
bear TO make mention of New York, Charclton,
and New Orleans.
They are fully fenhble of the great and grow
ing importance of New-Yor.r; its expofed fitu-
alton is fubica of public and general concern.
tits agreed that the national power ought to
be employed in its protection. The attention
of the executive was therefore turned to that
obiec during the fummer and autumn of 1906 /;
and upwards of $4,000 dollars were expended
in repairing and enlarging in the mott fubfan-
tial manner the works on Governors Hand.
Thefe are projecting with all convenient fpeed !;
and though at this moment fufpended on ac-
count of the rigor of the feafon, the committee
has had the fatisfaetion to learn that the labor
will be returned with the cefiation of the cold,
and be readily continued until both the city
and harbor fhzll be put into a Respectable fate
of defence. BY the Notifications which il is in
tended to coDfrud upon the different favora-
Die petitions which the land affords both above
and belowthe Governor sIfland, fkilful engineers
conceive that 70 much will be done ss to repel
every ordinary alTaut OF fhips and of all other
force Iefs than an invading army. The intend
ed fubhitution of permanent fruGtures Of TO-
lid mafonary, inaead of wood aud fand, will
indeed require more time for their completion
hut an ample compensation for this will be
found eventually in their greater trength and
durability.
The Notifications at CharIeGon, South-Caro.
lima, having been sImof totally turned by the
tcyere hurricane OF 1904, meaiures have been
alesdy adopted to rebuild them in the ben
manner that the ituafion of the ground admits
Preparations are alto making for .he protec.
ton OF New.OrleaDs, and the mouth of tht
Mif6fiippi, and evince a fimiar attention to the
public iniereas in that quarter.
The committee, however, has not judged il
necefTary to particuisrize the fpecifc fun
which /; may be needful to apply to each o
thefe important Objects. There would be con
iiderabie difficulty in this, for want of cirsum
ilantial and minute information. They there
fore believe it will be fufficieHt TO recomment
an ample appropriations grofs, for the repai
of exiting Notifications, and the erection offucI
new ones as may be required /; and to leave tn
expenditure of the fame, where the genera
fsfety and local welfare ihall command it, Il
the ample information and found difcretion c
the executive.
Under thefe considerations the committee an
leave to repor, bill, Foaking further appropr
atiors for fortiiying the ports and harbors of tn
UNITED States, and for building gun. boats.