The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-24
The Dangers and Defences OF New York.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD,

The Dangers and Defences OF New York.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Eajor J. G. Barnard, Il distinguished officer of the
United States Military Engineers who has charge of the
construction OF important portion Of the foracaons Of
this harbor feeling that many aud mischievous
aoobs were being propagsted respecting system of
coast protection particularly applied this pors adj
dressed last winter to the Secretary Of War very lucid
and comprehensive report upon the Dangers and De-
of New York." which called In the Senate
BY Governor Seward but not being furnished time for
publication by that body our Chamber Of Commerce, in
Of the vas. importance of the subject treated Of has
printed IL for the information Of our citizens
The dangers which We had escaped in 1929 in our
with great maritime Power, warned the nation Of
The importance OF defending coast, aud, accord.
pey in 1918, tbs great subject committed 10 our
able Board Of Engineers In 1920 1t designed all then
deemed necessary for closing the gates this har-
nors the Narrows and Throggs neck-aud for protect
ing the outer bay against bockading fleet. Since that
time notifications and increased defences have been
deemed necessary by engineers but the prodgious
growth Of this city, and the colossal of maritime at
tack devised of late years and first put play during
the late Eastern war have outmarched with their GIANT
Strides existing contemplated defences; SO
that in truth, Notwithstanding We have been, for
third Of century, piiDg up bss'ioas aud bat
tcries which mount 726 channel besring guns wo
relatively weaker than were 1872 Then we had
only TO fear some maraudng Cockburn sailing flee,
Of few frRates and nerE but now New York has be.
tho Sebastopo Cronsadt of the nation whereou
ty swift steamers and 0C0 guns may be ated
for the great strategic contest Of Upon great
nariroe Of population, wealth and mower will ire
enemy's ble~s fall heaviest particularly upon the great
outlets OF our resources ano depos u aupples
New York New Orleans and San Francisco especially tte
6rNt
Ihe defence OF this city against ordinary fleets,
ssys ksjor Barnard, is logger the question: but
TN ousn the ceeptye works to be here ration
e 10 measure irs strength asaas, the lavs Use Of
the resources o. great maritime Power, aided By all
codeTp science and mechauica ingenuity in creating
ioVentng meaps OF attack can bring ayaluet lheu in
fhort IN oryiD New York we are realty preoarpg the
ssts is ~ be decided wa
From no fault Of our system Of 70 tfca.ions nor lack
OF % oor engineers does This great dagger to our
CITY ana the Eaton arise, but the want of material
aid so rnsinoDous doled (at an average rate OF aes
tbap St0oole per annum for all our wo-ks from SANDY
sympathy for batteries heb a. ns not y. the rolls nor
for the mastery Inactivity OF stone was which do not At
iend conventions.
shall We continue 70 tTust this great question 70 po
cisDs and sposReu, snail citizens Of oar CONNER
ca metropolis demand protection of Coogess from the
bnndeIbot which may fan upon Us at a0y moment? In
1885 about ST. GOO COO Of property were copsuoei IN
Wall street in few hours. Such fer defr a, ranad
IN september 1885, sebastopol froo ove 500 guns
during the iast hombar1ment OF the Allies. would Law
New York III ashes and destroy thousand millions OF our
-eoith The nation too would feel the ehock through
every uon qua wafer WaV, raUlaknR lfOu TINS
our strength and resources to the circumference the
Atlantic, Gulf, Pacific and lake shores The teencqs Of
this city, therefore, is not local but great national
question: upon which hang the resco
ana war and OF that which above all price, the honor
OF our fag and the invioabity Of our soil.
Row, II will NJ once be aaked, escaps this CO.
amityP Ia there any mode OF scaling barcor against
foreign ioef Notwithstanding the doubts enscrtuued,
even in high places, of stem Of oeiepcc tnnk
cur deecienoles exist in tho amount, kind Of
proposed projection. Every maritime nation OF the
nzed ~old has manly relied upon foruicaoDs for
hor defence, ana at this day France is aysning millions
upon hunknk, Calais Bouioene. Dieppc, Havrc, Coer
oourg, Brest, Rocheiost, Msseies roucn wne the
coasu OF the Baltic Mediterranean aye hristug rth
forts aud castles, and Albion grt
sboes 10 The safeguard alone Of her colossal navy the
broad moat which Surround her fortress se Ia the last
seven yeare austria has spent than 900 20
make Pola the seusstopo Of the Adristc