The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-14

exception Of one boat which worked until tho end Of
| June,
During the season, twelve miles aud half OF this
dense OF wood, comprising the remaining portion
OF what is styled the Old Rats, have been removed
The part remaining being four hundred and forty
yards in length formed by the eshet OF 1885, and
is by means dense difficult remove and the
timber Of this portion of it will be employed stop up
the only bayou which now remains to be closed. Il is
estimated that the cost OF completing the operation,
which will efectuay open the navigation Of this river
throughout It's whole course, will amount TO fifty thou
sand dollars. II the appropriation be made early in
the next session, the work may be completed nearly
SO, by May next; otherwise, it must lie until the
autumn OF 1885, TO the serious injury Of the increasing
population OF the valley OF the ryer and to the great
detrlment OF the work ITSELF from the constant
ation Of drift timber, which must necessarily take place
until there is free current in the river II the work be
delayed the superintendent estimates that the increased
expense IRON this cause alone, will amount TO twenty
/ thousand dollars
The Of the Cd Of July 1886, which sppropriates
100000 for surveying and opening military road
along the western frontier imposes the President the
duty OIL selecting situations il for the military posts
which IN his opinion, may be most proper for the prolec
Ton Of The fonter and for the preservation Of the
cessary communications On taking up this subject for
consideration, appeared manifest that the conditions
OF defence, which it is supposed Congress had IN view
IN making this appropriation could not be fulfilled If
the road were surveyed and opened before the sites for
/ determined
as without knowledge Of their ultimate position the
road might not approach them sufficiently to afford
1.-The necessary communications" contemplated by the
4 act ~ ..,.
The selection Of these sites has to be made without
regard to lateral communications but with view to the
tribes IN 'front.' and to the facility Of approach from the
rear. am also of opinion that the contemplated CON-
muncatons IN reference TO the security Of the foresses
and tho protection Of the borders ought to be perpen-
dlcular TO the line Of defence, and not lateral
10. At
and as soon as they completed, and the sites for
permanent posts determined upon the survey aud works
for opening the road designated by Congress will be
commenced unless, upon review Of the subject they
may think proper to adopt the plan OF defence for the
western frontier which, has been before observed will
be presented to them in accordance with resolution Of
| the Senate TO that effect
The state OF Charleston harbor demanded and re-
celved the early attention Of the Department. It was
| represented that Suisans Island was being washed
away and the channels which form the entrance of the
harbor filling up with the sand from its beach, BY d.
recuon OF the Engineer Department, minute examina-
ton OF the situation Of the island made in June
last, by Lieutenant Mansfield, who submitted plan for
its protection against the encroachnents Of the sea- that
was approved by this Department.
Il is stated in the report OF the engineer that the
island and southwestern peninsula viii be entirely
RED away by the action Of the currents and storms
less timely measures be adopted the progress OF
distinctions that this island shelters the port Of Charles
its destruction would expos the harbor the violent
gales OF the auumnal equinox, by leaving It open from
Northeast TO southeast besides the probability Of lessen
ing the depth OF water on the Jars.
Independently OF the necessity OF the proposed works
for the preservation Of the port they essential for its
defence The island forms the site of Fort Moultrie
which checked the approach Of the British squadron dur
ing the Revolutionary war, and constitutes, in
Junction with Fort Sumter the only defence OF this i'm
porant harbor These considerations induce me TO
recommend that appropriation be asked Of Congress
to commence these works without delay.
It is my duty to cali your attention to the present
Of the works for the protection of the waters OF the
Chesapeake Fort Monroe will require further repairs
and works to render it defensble One front
OF the fort is peculiarly liable 10 attack for it
exposed to corp de main than any other, and the
same time the only front liable siege, and the only
one exposed to land batteries within reasonable distance
The works intended to- protect this front were
menccd and large body Of earth collected to complete
them, and arranged in measure, to shelter
the vital parts until the whole should be completed -
From Misunderstanding, without the knowledge
or participation Of the Engineer Department. this mound
was leveied Earth has also been placed upon the
parapet wall These operations have proved injurious
to the works, and immediate measures must be taken
to repair the evils they have produced. In loading the
parapet found that the masonry not sufficient
y dry and consolidated to bear the pressure OF the great
superintendent weight; and although, from their orr
gnal strength and soldity, the walls have yet
tanned any material injury, still is of nature to call
for prompt repairs recommend therefore, that pro-
per to protect this fort from coup de MAN.
to which is evidently exposed invite at
tack, be adopted without delay together with the
sary repairs to strengthen the existing works From
an examination Of the state of the works at the Rip
Raps, appears that the subsistence of the artificial
foundation OF sone which is intended to erect
Fort Calhoun has not yet entirely ceased and orders
have been given to replace the OF materials, col
lccted for the completion Of the fort upon the arches
| in uch N mar as q tho
and when this is done it will be prudent to leave il there
for time longer before Recommending the works.
The great difficulty which has been experienced in
fixing upon suitable site for new fort ordered to be
constructed the Arkansas frontier and in
determining its precise position, has occasoned unusual
aud unexpected delay in the commencement OF the
work. The commissioners appointed to make the
selection, by my predecessor being military men, fixed
upon site with single eve to Its military properties
whereas, it believed to have been the intention Of
Co, gress to erect fortress which should
refuge for the border settlers who are exposed from
their situation, to the hostile ncursons Of the Indians
and it became necessary to direct subsequent examna
ton, in order to meet that object. A board Of COM
petent officers accordingly appointed, and pro-
ceeded in tho execution Of this duty Their report
may be looked for daily, and the work will be COM
menced as the situation is fixed upon by the
| Department
From a variety of causes not necessary to recspitu
late here, but chiefly from disputed tile which has
been only recently decided by the courts, the land
which Fort Delaware is situated has not yet been ac-
| auired by the Government. The Pea Patch island
might have been purchased when the fort projected
for comparatively a small sum, and, since the
mencenent Of its construction, was offered to the
United States for slightly advanced price Since the
decree in their favor, hundred thousand dollars with
interest from that date asked for by the prope
tors and it remains TO be decided whether this large
shall be paid for the land, whether the works be
abandoned.
I The importance Of having fort upon this island in
order 10 protect the harbor Of Philadelphia, has been
recognised by every board Of military engineers that