Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-10
SATURDAY MORNING, JAN. 10. 1868.

hundred thousand dollars, for the manufacture O
ordnance suitable for the defence of its coast
put with the restricting provisions tina
advertisement should be made for proposals 70
these contracts, and that the work should be dom
under the supervision of officers TO be appointed
by the government of the United States By al
estimate based on the data procured from tn,
war department., and revised by consultation
with such federal ordnance officers as were &C
cessl0le the cost of completing the armament OF
the Massachusetts coast, according to the proieCt
| OF the engineer bureau was calculated Mt about
twelve hundred and twenty thousand dollars 70,
| guns OF The calibre of eight inches and upwards
| after making allowance for all such ordnance
| which could be expected to be received from the
federal government during the years 1862 and
| 1868; and the cost of the lesser calihres would
swell the amount TO much more than fifteen hun
dred thousand dollars. The Legislative resolve,
therefore, had it been susceptible of execution,
would have made provision for about one-third
of this amount. Directly upon Its passage ap-
plication was made to the war department for the
detail of an ordnance officer to superintend the
work ;fbut the request was declined from unwil-
llngness to spare any such officer from strictly
federal service. While this application was vet
undecided, the conflict occurred in HAMPTON
Roads between the Merrimack and Monitor: the
former theories of naval attack and coast de-
fence were suddenly disturbed; and a serious
doubt was cast upon the stability of any projects
of foritication or armament Of our harbors At
this time my presence at Washington was Off
cially requested by the department of war. and
was there urged TO propose 10 the legislature to
concentrate its expenditure upon the immediate
construction of iron-clad vessels for coast de-
fence. The result was the passage of the resolve
of March 25th, authorizing the use of any Dor
ton of the sum provided for ordnance by the
resolve OF February 18th, in building one or more
iron-clad steamers for the protection of the coast
OF Massachusetts. committee of two mem
bers of the executive council, to whom were ad.
0e0 the president of the ROStOn Roar6 ofT
and an eminent civil engineer, was forthwith
charged with the execution of this resolve. The
plans for such vessel were in progress, and par
ties stood ready TO contract for the construction
when protest against the work was received
IRON the department of the navy, alleging that
that department was willing to put "under con-
Strneuon IN every part of the country, all that
The utmost resources of the people could accom-
plsh, and that it was Sorry to find state en-
tering the market in competition with govern.
ment, the result of which could only iniure both
parties. TO this the answer was returned that
there were at least two mechanical establish
mcnts in Massachusetts capable Of building such
vessels Immediately, but that it did not appear
that government had attempted to engage either
of them. The reply Of the navy department
was an offer TO each of these establishments ola
contract for hui. ding an irou-clad steamer; and
on the same day the war department advised me
that as the department of the navy desired to
have exclusive control OF the building of such
vessels, twas "glad to have it do So" and with
drew its own desire that Massachusetts, should
proceed further in the enterprise. Almost stimuli
tancously the ordnance bureau of the war de-
partment replied 10 my inquiries, that it had Cen
gagged to the full extent of their capacity all the
foundries which are known 10 be prepared to
cast suitable and reliable heavy cannon" ''for
armng the Notifications on the coasts" and that
twas mot thought that any aid from the state
legislature is necessary to expedite the work"
A renewed application to the department for the
detail of ordnance Offipnr in pOrdo 9Th
the resolve of February 14h was now again re.
fused; and by this refusal that resolve seemed to
be practically annulled for the result of the con-
hct between the Merrmack and Monitor had
rendered the advertisement for proposals for any
armament unless of very large cslibre, of at
least doubtful expediency, and the want of a
proper officer to frame the proposals aud super
intend the work, rendered it impossible to exc
egte ,.lhe PROVISIONS of the resolve. Neverthe-
could he inferred from the letter of that cabinet
minister who was the exponent of the foreign
policy of the nation, there was need that they
should be instantly armed, and by the states.
But while the reports of the engineer bureau
showed that it was of more Importance to arm
the land batteries which were ready 10 receive
their cannon than TO throw up new works, those
of the ordnance bureau further showed that all
the fOundries in the country which were capable
of casting suitable ordnance, were engaged to
the full extent of their capacity; and the protest
of the navy department had prevented the con-
struction by us of floating batteries for harbor
defence Il became evident, therefore, that the
only mode for the state TO supply its needs, would
b., by inducing established foundries TO greatly
enlarge their works, or new parties to build new
foundries for the proposition urged upon con-
gress for the establishment OF great nation
al foundry had failed, from causes to which
it is needless to aude. In pursuing Ill
quiries in this direction, it was believed that
Professor Treadwell, and gentlemen with whom
he was associated, could be induced to build i'm
medately, new and extensive works to make the
ordnance which bears his name, provided that
contract could be entered into with the state, to
an amount sufficient 10 justify the large invest
ment of private capital which would be required.
| at once submitted to an able commission, con-
sisting of the master of ordnance, an officer OF
my personal staff and two very distinguished
civil engineers, the question of the ascertain
ed or probable merits of the lreadwell gun, es-
pecialiy with regard to the attack or defence.of
iron.cla bate les and 10 its capacity to pene-
trate iron plates with solid shot, and also the
question of the feasibility and advantages, or
otherwise, of an attempt to supply IN part by Its
manufacture our deficiency of ordnance. Their
report was unanimous in favor OF the merits OF
the gun, and recommended that the State should
enter into a contract for one hundred rifled nun
dred-pounders of that pattern, ana make sucn an
appropriation as would enable the construction
Of n greater number, if their early success should
render such an incre ase desirable. On ms part,
professor Treadwell, with responsible associates,
was ready 10 engage to establish foundry whlch
sbonld leliyer ten of these hundred guns within
six months and the remainder within eighteen
months. The report of this committee, together
with all the communications from the bureaus OF
the war department, and other documents Illus
trative of the subject and of the difficulties whicn
hampered action under existing legislation, were
laid by me before the joint committee OF the
General Court on federal relations. The commit
tee. on April oath, reported resolve Tree from
the provisions which were impractlcaDle OF exc
cuton in that of February l4th. This resolve
was adopted by the house OF representatives
without division, and received its several read
ings in the senate where on Its passage 10 DC
enacted. during the last night of the session, 1t
was defeated by single vote, the opposition 10
il proceeding in large part from senators repre-
senting seaboard counties; result exhibiting
sense of security from danger
Constantly mindful of the vast interest IN
yolycd in the whole subject of coast deienses.
have continued correspondence with the appro-
pirate bureaus of the departments OF war and
the navy; and am prepared to eXhiolt 10 COM
mittee of the general court their latest conciu-
sions with the facts on which they rest, Doth rs
contained in unpublished documents and in prl-
vate though official COMMUNICATIONS
HARBoRs AND FLATS.
nv n resolve of the last general court COM
mission was established upon the harbors and
Aats of the commonwealth, with directions to
renort TO the legislature by the 18th day of the
nresent month, | am advised that probably no
rrenort embracing any system for the care and
nreservation of the larbors, and the use and dis
posal of flats, belonging to the commonwealth,
can he made during the current session. But it
is believed that during the approaching spring,
-. aa.,,,,,;ee;onars will he enabled 10 receive