, 1862-02-14

4AC EStNtlA PlIPOtklAOA Ill 1Cf33aFH u LUZ
fenses Of the Northern frontier, is the establish
"es.t .f national foundry on tie nplA7. tasss,
and Of asara[ deEots-
Attention hls already been called to the
superiority Of the American lake marine oypr
that Of Canada, on tue Upper Lakes.
In 1861 the number OF American vessels of
all descriptions on the Upper Lakes, was /, ,1t;;
Of Canadian, SI6 Our superiority WAS So
Our superiority in tonnage was 2ssS, 127 tous.
Our superiority in sailors was 10,9l1.
This superiority, without arms, is uuavail;ng
and would only invite attack-and this i'm
ncnse merchant marine would, unarnled, fur
nlsh rich prizes to British gunboats- Great
Britain las been collecting IN abundance of
the best arms in Canada- The Lakes nrc ut
terly without arms. It is therefore Of the ut
most importance that means Of ar1uinG these
vessels and the foFtitications to be construct
ed should be- provided Ut the earliest possible
period.
Fortunately We Lave all the materials for
the manufacture Of ordnance Of tile best
qIality at command, aud skilled machinists
and artisans, so that with proper action of
the Government, the work OF making heavy
guns may be Immediately begun. We iuseTt
the following extract from the official report of
Mcssrs- Morris Of the navy and Totten of the
army, On this point:
Nearly al the steam vessels, and many sailing
FcstefF could be yery soon prepared to carry heavy
guns Some Of them could caI1y several without
ine2nvenience T. therefore, Government shall
Etorcs at convenient posts and be prepared to OIL
Ger and man the Vessels which they could pur-
chase, the naval control Of these important lakes
may Be considered sscuTs against any ai{aek:'
In this connection the Committee desire
to call the attention Of Congress to
the fact that such is the nation's
need of ordnance that We are told by very
high authority. that it will require three
Row at the command Of the Government, to
furnish the ordnance necessary to arm the
fortfcations now constructed or in the pro-
cess Of construction. The Committee, there
fore, earnestly recommend the immediate es-
tablishnent Of foundry on the upper lakes.
This foundry your Committee recommend
should be located at Chicago: Some of the
reasons Why, in our Judgment, it should be
located there arc as follows: Chicago is the
center Of the region to be supplied with arma-
tion are unequa1cd. She has direct water
communication By lake, canal and river with
every portion Of the West. Thirteen great
trunk railways radiate from her as . common
centre, with more than ,000 miles Of track,
and upon these railways nov centezing at
Chicago, the Government can obtain 5000
cars for transportation She Is in convenient
and cheap water connection with the best ores
and metals for guns, and especially with the
inexhaustible mines of Lake Superior, which
it shon1d be the policy Of the Government to
develop. With the best materials at com
mand, with abundant supply Of labor and nc
claDical skill, Chicago, in the Judgment of the
Committee, combines more advantages forthis
location than any other.
In regard to the necessity Of nanufactory
Of ordnanse as Of primary importance 10 the
defence Of the northern frontier, the commit
tee call the attention Of Congress to the fol-
Gen. Totten:
1.-THE great superiority of our steam and other
merchant vessels on the upper lake. including
Lake Erie. Gany portion Of which may be promptly
converted into war vessels, greatly s1mp1lhcs the
defensive arrangements on the shorrs OF these
lakes But that this superiority may be assumed
with the requisite prpnptitude bff0rs ttess means
haze tEe7. Ss1T75std 0nd dtstroyed By the earlier
readiness Of an enemy, there should be at hand
actually stored and kept in perfect condition all
the means foz converting these large and swirl
steamers &c, into vessels Of war-that IS to say,
Ill the armament aud its supplies. &c,
Moreover, If for want Of adequate protection Of
this nature. the towns and cttics had resort to
local defenscs these IL many instances could only
be made sufficient at great e1pe7est. &c. y
The Committee are permitted also to quote
the following paragraphs from communica-
ton Of Gen. Mcclellan:
s.The accumulation Of ordnance material in an
p1op1iste localities is highly important and meas
uIcs for the establishment Of national founlrv
and manuf1ctorJ Of small aEma In the Nofthxeat
ehculd at once be taken. Chicago Is saitabje
point fer these establishments"
M=7a= Of srming tho merchant service Of the