The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-17
Sandy Hook Fort-slow Engineering.
TO THE EDITOR or Tux HERALD.


Inquiry made ia your paper in regard 10 the present
condition Of this work. Possessing acquaintance
with the facts and believing that they ought 10 be made
known to tho community, wo present your quefst
Indagator" with epitomc OF the Of tn
government ard officials in relation this importaa,
construction
In ls4s Board Of Engineers, composed OF officers Of
rank and ability, presented 70 the bureau at Washington
a design for these works. The plan that Of ave
Fashioned FORT having three fronts and two the
land side. Tho land fronts strengthened two
dcmilunes and other accessory works e diameter OF
tho work from the salient Of Of the demunes
salient OF the opposite bsston about fourth Of
mile The scsrp wall Of the epente nearly two thirds
Of mile in circumference. The three fronts 10
be constructed with tier Of guns in casematcsbomb
proo-and the upper batteries n tdrb1te. An enemy
could not enter the barber by The Gciney ship or Swsh
cannelihe only channels available Cor vessels OF large
sizc--wthout cncounering at every point o distance
Of three four miles, the concentrated fire Of sixty
seventy guns Of the largest cabre sectors of Gre
presenting themselves every approach OF tho hardy
saiiant Few vessels could survive the effects Of
nonade 20 destructive.
Tho accessory works on the land side were an ample
guaranty against sudden assault any siege ope atoms
even Of the most skiu antagonist until the place could
be relieved by combined naval ani military movement
the effect of which would very likely be the simultaneous
raising Of the siege and the destruction Of The bescgers
The Of this work ~as estimated a. about u 100000,
OF with its armament, about 81 sou 900. THIS plan
made the basis of an appropriation ny the Congress Of
1851 Of s25o,oo0. Officers we're detailed Tor the con
such wharf barracks and stores, were At once com
m,nccd, and have long since been completed.
About the autumn q last year 4 occarrod 70 some wise
economists that the hundreds OF millions Of property IN
the city and harbor 81 New York might BE- secured by
fordcaions costing two or three hundred thousand dol
lars less-modcrn siege operations having demon
stfatei their satisfaction, We must suppose, thai
the means of attack we're becoming moro feeble,
and that the cheapest defcnccs would be sufficient
In accordance With tiis luminous idea, for which
the poor New Workers and citizens Of Ncw Jersey
cannot be too grateful, SPECIAL bsard ~ Engineer
Isxtth
They ~.re expected ~ IN Dccvmbcr but did not
nice, until April, sine which time they have been 70 con.
s,rue,ye SESSION Ich member 81 the board las his
individual charge and is doubt attending very well 10
that. No 10 care any te about New York aud
IL arbog defence Tho csefs IA command II tue corps
az engineers seem 20 be satisfied With this delay. 20
does each member cf the erd, aud 20 10 All conntcd
With the woss, a. for a. We are informed except the -
Rotary of wsr. All To other parties rejoice 10 nativity
too FAR Fast 10 about our mctrOp0E II View YORK
should ~ some sudden surprise be ai ia cindcrs and
ccsposd her commercial greatness, their feelings II
pai,olis M would probably receive no wound.
II reflects di-credt, We SUPPOSE on american engi
u.as tina, seven months dcllera,on anil all tho vision
II two majors one captain and tbc colonel commanding.
cannot elaborate pan foe one little fort How aim
rsby these gentlemen would have defended scbHfopo
The allies out II pure yencraon for science, would
have acd la their the working cf their won
ac,ous problem what capital blundcr r,es 10 TIL.
M morahc defence not invoking their assistance. We
cannot suppose tha, engineers - eminent had never
been heard o. They would no doghi have saved T. tn
defence some hundreds Of ruuhsN, or rcti - ao r-r
hans Res rediin,re csIptdndo would have ssstel th.
case of Sehagfopol quite rs well ~ that 81 Vow York
while this ,rumvre,c = cndcaycTing 70 cuigci PIN
from heir astuic bransshh about thu degree "i sue
cess a. Tar informed ~ the wizard ssndower
la eyoking sprs from the Vastly deep work i At
= sisn,l, and j. likely - - continur.
Az the United States engineers VI present organzed
there be prompt action Every pan sni project,
and every expenditure, even 10 The purchase u dwelling
STAFF must receive the sanction Of the Chief Engineer, be
fore can adopted incurred, aud suits his -h
ma hlncss, the Chief Engineer ~ put yco-fron any
caprice ~ s own.I an sGsh Plan o. expenditure, Va"
~bole mssleS musi ~ s.s.d y. u any cnc csa
bring forward substitute project ~ thinks a worth
chances about ia that the work may prcesd
al N. 1arulcts"
nothing in the engineer reryicethe present setting Cf
Engineer resides In Boston lis m-sivca b. tho
cccts charge reach their destination by very curt
ons ,ircurngy ration through M. bureau which spt
Washington under the charge ~ an assistant
Ectics the chicf must BE- male ~ rciracns this
The III which iii this affords 10 tho scientific proirsc
ton Of business truly wonderful system % bcanti
ri could only perfected by gentlemen Of leisure: and
country As ours which should 81 the world cxsiaple
bcraiy, should rejoice in the rosscsssonnot ~ Gu
| fie Fabius but in whole corrs Of cvpctccres.
:, s,rc, is the code well the wages, under which
al this is effected. that Secretary g War mus, extend
hs administration thrcugh more NAN one presd"n'ai
We hope however, from What we have e,rned az the
pest the present bead OF the War Department.
Ne independent and original views, aud lis treatment OF
other nveterate shgsesthat b. wn ~ once put DOVE
these time honored error, arr st'@' 1cscn i"r a'o
etiquette and endless currespoadcoe Ia not 80 are
assured, in any rsy 9 q vxs,ols d,isy, ani
/ dsapproves Il entirely
| a. the matter i nov vragres az ,Gfre 20 use The
wordfl after two years e ca We may 10
treated engineering novelty mbina the Csstic
Of S. Angelo ct Hme or r.rhsps restoration !" 'hs
pan ef the old Janculum. We have known such fossil
l architecture 10 emsnafe from such
| meanwhile, we expect that New yors merchants and
captalsts--who will have 90 pay the piper should war
expce,cily arifew art IN this matter fhfovgb theF
Representatives and cal upon the Prs'dent and secretary
i 10 reform the most imbecile administration ~ the IN
\ gneer department.
Let NOT b. deceived by he present hsering calm
ie temple OF the headed .ci il now shut IN, ere
l long possibly,
l The mailed Mars shall on his altar Sit.
Il tn, bfc In, hon1