New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-09
New.York Hnrbor Defenses
The Assembly Committee on Militia and Public
Defense, last week, submitted the following report
ON New.York Harbor Defenses:

The Assembly Committee on Militia and Public
Defense, last week, submitted the following report
Cd New.York Harbor Defenses:
Th, Committee en- Militia and Public defense" 70 whom
the CIV Of New-York on the n.ocisncy the defsl'es
the hsrbor OF said City, would respectfully report
Mach directng this Committee to examine
thu condition of said defDses aud TO report what sc'ion
should be taken on the taft OF the Stse 20 AID ~
the ssms your Comuittee IN company with several mem
be Of sAf of bis Excency the Governor have meds
personal examination OF Ihe conpesed ana IN
Tho Committee were accompanied % their tour Of eIsm
nGiou by Col Richard DeaheIa Of he s. Engnesr, who
vsy DE- putaon Of the CnaDbcr OF COMMERCE and num-
OF other d,nzul'hsd gentlemen who have bad large
experience In directing the deenss Of our hsroor ana 500
TIL. limited time Of tho Committee prevented them from
vnx the orheaons defending tho East River en,rsnce to
h, babor but through the kindly service OF Col Deahed
who exhibited the maps aud aawns, OF these work. and
tho very free consultation which Major Gen. John Wool
andnx the Esiern Department favored u.s. the Com
nttse regard themselves well informed concerning them
Your Committee fally concur with the memorial Of the
Chamber of Commerce. suousd to thu House that tho
defense. of the harbor OF are entirely inadequate
70 tho protection Of the vast Interests and wealth OF city
which 10 Il once the pride CT state the great financial
center the nation aud the c0nmsEea metropolis OF the
I continent" -,
DOR state has often found Il consistent with her duty 10
herself and to tho nation to MAKE appropriations Tor the bar
Dor and dsenses within her oorder, BY
10 former legislation this subject Is wiz Do that on
the 10th March 1894 the of thirty thousand pounds
ws appropriated "or the purpose Of repairing aud erecting
f5rhcaons Of or the City sud Port Of Newly olk
Arsn IN i3 there further appropriation, amounting
ss' 90 & & va. % The same pafpos. 70
wit: ITO be expended ia erecting en,rgog and completing
sta,s." In 1905 OF thi. stats authorized
10 purchase Ella Island, for the erection Of iorthcaons
10 ise3 and 1918 respectively appropriate made
completion Of foihcatons on station leland and again
Ia 1915 1877 and 1918 further appropriations made for tho
purchase Of land. and the erection - ortircaoni at various
points in the State.
These various passed at times when the United
States were engaged In actual when their international
such as to mahe precautionary measures nece,
The action Of the State therefore forms abundant precedeu.
for the action which your Committee recommend at the pres
ent time Your Com Dttee must not onit 10 that the
United States has not been unuindf Of the i'm.
pance properly deeudHg tho hasbor Of New York Tho
defense. conpstod and in process Of completion
liberal and magnificent scale Fort Richmond locsted
t the Nsrows the eastery shore Of sten Island with
battery adson south and Fou Tonpkins the bluff
n the rear Fort Hamilton Long lslaad shore opposite,
with Fort Lafayette In front and redoob In tho when
viii 40 eectualy sweep the channel with such weight
metal will make all aemps ct inssss by wooden vessels
A, the lower su,ranco OF the bay the worn. Sandy
arc being fastened forward with all possible Indeed
hs worS on foicsons Is In advance OF Armament and such
Il the demand for wsrifo material thst the Government 10
unable procure wotkmen and workshops TO furnish such
Armament a. required SA. much being done. Several
5nch guns have been recently mounted and 20nch gun
with cspecity to throw solid shot Of thousand pounds
weight Is on the way fom tho Ptsburg foundey and viii
mounted at Bort Tompkna 10 soon as practicable
wa dnS R make q tho saScr Of psab TS.
works OF cha sctor unsurpassed in the world With
th... works gradually sSv,1S gao 40 s, .S 81 war nrn
reposed in apparent security Now recent improvements In
the science OF indicate tina. additional OF defense
are necessary The and forthcsiious, when completed
In the Of the Committee Inadequate to defend tho
hsIbor against iOncsd steamers, but after foil consultation
with the Engineer In charge the Committee believe tho har
Dor may rendered impregnabs by placing steamers OF light
Iss se. speed at ready command to cooperate with
the forhca shore These steamers ,hould DO ball
proof and AIMED with submarine explosives aud such other
means Of attack aud defense ~ is believed tho inventive
genius Of our mechanic and naval engineers can readily
supply.