The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-18
GOVERNMENT BUREAU REPORTS.

Annual Report of the Chief Engineer OF tho
Array.
The annual report OF General A. A. Humphreys
Chief Engineer OF the Army, for the fiscal year end
ing on the Soth Of June last, has been submitted to
the Secretary Of War. 1t is the most volumnous OF
all bureau reports. General Humphreys says the
number OF officers in the Corps OF Engineers at the
end OF the year was ia on the active list, and i've
retired. He reports that material progress has
been made during the year upon those parts
OF the seacoast and lake frontier delenceS
which are not affected by questions respecting
the increased use to be made Of iron In covering
the action OF heavy projectiles fired from armored
batteries; and he thinks this special question OF
armor requires deliberate and prolonged examlna-
ton. =
coast has been continued; and . large part OF the
have been again placed in condition for use.
The Board OF Engineers, OF which General b. ).
Alexander Is president have had under consldeTa-
ton the subject OF the defences or the Pacific coast
and have selected sites for works. and directed their
survey. ,. ,.
artillery seacoast batteries and the protection OF
forts against sea attacks. Experiments with steel
prOectiles Of various forms and plates or iron anu
steel have been carried with interesting results
concerning the penetration OF sond wrought iron
plates, laminated plating, combinations OF wrought
and chilled cast iron and OF cast and rolled BesSe
mer steel. Experiments upon the effect OF different
forms OF head upon the penetrating power OF pro-
ectiles have also been carried on but without reach
ing the desired results Other experiments In pro-
iectiles and covering are in progress, as well as In
designations into devices for allowing barbette guns
to descend under cover Of the parapcts including
Captain Moncrief3s counterpoise barbette carriage,
recently experimental with at shoeburyness. which
Is claimed by English articr1sts 10 he asuccessul
solution of this problem.
General Humphreys says his estimates for the sea-
board defences for the next fiscal year are founded
upon very moderate progress In defeces, and
strongly urges that the appropriations asked for be
made. The following are the principal sums re-
Fort Niagara, n s2s 600 Fort Preblc Me- $50 600
III. Ontario, n. Y. $1,000 Fl Scanlmct Me-. $4,000
RI, Montgomery, 1T. CARY, y. H.... $4,000
N. Y............. $4,000 RI. Warren Mass loo, 900
Fl. Knox, Me-. 5000 FtWtnthrop, Mass 200
II. Popham, Me-. $1,000 castle William, n.
Ma ,a"ep.u." 10000 south Batiery,NY. $500
TT. at New Bedford $4,000 Bedlow's Island, N.
f. H. sG az W N '0'O IT TompIlns 5000
Point n. Y...... $1,000 III. at Sandy Hook. $4,000
Fl. Columbus New Fl Minin, Pa. $1,000
York harDor. 1900 III. DclaN are, Pa. 10000
Fort George, Me-. $4,000
Appropriations are also recommended for forts on
on the Pacilc coast, 900; for barracks at eng
neer posts and depots, $4,000.
General Humphreys SAYS the contractors on the
river and barber improvements very frequently fail
10 comply with their contracts. unless they are
greatly TO the advantage Of the contractor. change
in the mode OF procedure Is recommended and 1t rs
advised that authority be granted TO the engineers
in charge OF these works To purchase material 10 the
open market ans ePy sSs oy ,g
rence has proved that the system or contracts pre-.
scrbcd In the appropriation acts ID the worst possible
mode OF carrying ON the improvement OF rivers and
harbors
He submits estimates showing the @nosnt r.
quired 10 complete the various improvements. aud
also the amount which can be probably expended
during the next year. Appropriations asked for
under the latter ncal amounting 10 60, Us, 0sS liz
Guiding the lolowin. items:--
For the improvement or Western ana Southwest.
ern rivers aud barb0rs, s.t55, $50 ; Susduehanna
aud Patapsco rivers and Delaware Bay, Sloi,OgO
Erie harbor, Ia. So, $50: Dunkirk harDor, y. y.
$4,000 Bufalo hatbor y. ". 1880 Gswcao
haroor, n. u. 100000; burlington harbor ",
$4,000; improvement OF the hudson rYer Sigo 00J
Improvement OF the East river hafbor. y. T.,
sil5,00o; to remove rocks In New iieycn harhor,
s65oooO: Improvements in the Connecticut river he
low Hartford, $4,000; improvement o. the prov-
dence river, Sl01,O90; improvement. OF the Paw
tucket river, $500; Improvement Of the plymodta
beach, Mass, 5000; Improvement OF Boston hai-
Dor, s2ol, 900: improvement OF Great Brewster har
Dor, Mass, Sl00,OOl improvement OF Saco river,
Me-, $4,000; Improvement Of Kenncbcc river, Me-,
SSO,0O0 TO complete the Washington aQucduct,
S6S5O00i survey 0 the Northwestern laScs Sl65, O0G
surveys for military deicaces 100000.
General humphreys reports the result OF the sur.
vcy Tor ship canal around the FAILS OF Niagara the
cost OF which lie estimates Will be Sl.Clo,pJp Ito
also submits vouminous reports OF The surveys OF
different rivers and harhors.