The New York herald., 1870-11-24
OUR HAap0R DEFICIENCIES.

General Humphreys Report on she Porfidcn-
items of the City of New York.
Tho annual report Of General Humphreys, Chief
Of Engineers Just prepared for presentation to Con-
gress. contains some important rtatements concern
ing the derences OF our harbor. The following are
the material parts
Fort Schuyler, East river, has been carefully
studied by the Beard ei Engineers. The Inodihca-
toIs required IN the work. IL order to arrange IL for
an armament OF heavy guns III ear.hen barbette
Appropriation made at tho last session OF Congress
S22s, 600 will be required 10 complete the changes.
The appropriation asked fer the next fiscal year Is
SIS, 900. The fort at wllletvs Point uniies VITA
Fort Schuyler the defence OF the entrance TO tte
halb or through the East river, ana tue operations
for the removal Of natural DISTINCTIONS 70 ntyga-
ton at He'll Gate render 1t even more important
than heretofore that this channel be pat IN proper
state Of defence The appropriation asked Is
AZ Fort Coiumsus Corernor's Tsland the new
exterior eartnen Darbette battery projected for
which an appropriation was made at the last session
OF Congress, VIII be pushed forward tho present.
year win de;patcn. further sum OF ss2Oeo vii!
be needed for its completion. Appropriation asked
for the nexs fiscal year, $4,000. DurinG the past
fiscal year no work vas done upon this tort
On Castle William, Governors island, during the
past fiscal year no work was done excepting feW
days. labor IN 1nishing the mastlc covering OF tho
sea x so b
during tile past year dry stone sea WALL l60 feet In
Neng 1 sE he m pr9seoon 4s o. hs
The approved project for the modification 0l the
exterior eurthen barbet,e battery at Fort. Wood,
Bedoe's Island, VIII require for It's completion, IN
Year, $1,000 FOR For he next sca year $4,000 is
been supplied with Conductors and connections for
the road. Until lhe question as TO the use OF IRON
posed on Fort Hamilton other tlan tnat nece sary
for Its preservation The work during the past year
has been confined 70 repairs and the alteration OF
some eInbrasures IN the OliCess' quarCeis.
The new battery near Fort Ham44son 10 an earthen
barbette, exterior TO Fort hamilton, and contsn-
fyv, ,nH a D.surD n or " In nr "a
NarrOws. Projects for It's modification ana cMten-
sion have been approved, ana the work Will be pro-
the appropriation made At the last session OF Con.
rress S50,JG0 viii be required FOR It's complexion.
dtonai batteries Tor the neAt fiscal year s5o,Ool-
During the past year the north and south magazines
and the transverse magazines have been completed,
and repairs made to slopes and parapet OF the Dat
terry o! Fort Wadsworrh. No notifications are pro-
posed at present. and no funds IRE asked Other than
for It's preservatisp. During the year operations
were confined 10 the repair Of the long eartheh
slopes IN the rear OF the work.
Inc fort on the site Of Fort Tompkins crowns the
hill in the rear the epcn batteries and other works
Oh Staten Island, defending the entrance through
the Narrows to New York Hatbor, aud, when COM
pleted, IL Will throw heavy lire from high eleva-
walton upon vessels attempting to pass before II.
Projects Tor It's completion have been approved. A
further appropriation OF 900 win be needed for
Its completion. Appropriations asked or tho mex
fiscal year for THIS work, and for North and south
naa Nea nnorseh ih praa If ta are se
slope near the south soldiers iatrlne tie erection
OF building IN the EouIh ditch, with ten dry earth
closets, and the grading Tor and erection of sron
picket fence along the western boundary line.
Battery Hudson, together with those on the north
aud south clins lornls a system OF open clrthern
barDette batteries lying exterior TO Forts TompknS
and W2dsworth, and brings q powerful fire to
bear upon the channel up To and through the Mar
rows. Plans for the modification ana enlargement
ol this battery, to suit IL for the heaviest armament,
have been approved, and were submitted in the last
annual report. A further OF s33,0uO Will be
required.
During the past year operations at this battery
have been confined to turing, Win wood, che TWO
principal magazines and repairing aad soddn, tho
the casenlated area Of The exDerme utal Casetnate
target, and IN front OF the centre plnte pia form
Tor iiiteennch gun the space between two being
nlied with earth to secure the foundation Of tho
platform.
The notifications proposed in the North Gin
Battery, Staten lsiand arc .or the Construction Of a
new magazine, aud taree uaVaFses ana Tor the
changes needed 10 adapt the battery Tor Aenyy guns
Tie estimated cost amounts TO s27, ,0JJ OPERATION,
at this battery during he past year cJlssLei only
or Slight repairs 10 the eatthel slopes IL It's rear.
The estimate OF the cost OF changes iii the oouln
Cliff Battery, Staten isi9nd amounts 10 s1Tc2o.
The operations Oh the new CasemaJed battery on
staten Island nave been suspended to await the
determination OF the question OF casanlato cover
The unexpended balances OF foimer appropriations
1or the WORK were by acs OF July IL, I5f0, trans
lerred and made applicable TO the lort the site Of
Fort Tompkins, No appropriation ID askeu.
Que OF the great Objects o the fort Sandy Hook
Is TO prevent the occupation OF The lower Cay as
an anchorage TO an enemy's neet ine work as
projected is mainly cascmated and as yes no satis-
factory plans FOR It's modification have been devised
The condition Of the work remains the same as at
asked for the next fiscal year. to be applied pre-
serving the Etlc.