The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-22
Stlr0eOn-N. L Bates.

igtIrOeon-N L Bates
Assistant St0geo,l-WillIam B. Davis
NdUdl COnstyttctOr-J. w. Easily.
Assistant Consructor-G. II. Boush.
CfuH Engfneer-William N. Spear
Fdynaster-George L. DAVIS.
-, Inspector or PROVISIONS ana Ctothtn9. -PaymasteH
Nates-John McManus, John Odenhall and G. 81
Cooper.
Apothecarv-H. H. Dining.
Commander Of Martnes-Brevet Lieutenant Colot
First Lteutenants-N l. Nokes and John o.
Second ec Lieu,enants-s. W. Quackenbush and
OFFICERS or RECEIVING SHIP.
Erecstire ocice,'~Laeatenant Commander G. II.
Davis.
Lie,uenant-J. E. Naell.
Mdster-B s. Richards.
S,ugeOn-T. @. Walton.
r EassW e. Sn gsiter and George Sands
FORT NORFOLK.
Keeper or the observation-disclosures Sirian. ;
After an inspection OF the navy yard here ana
Fort Norfolk went to
FORTRESS MONROE
ana found that the spanish war fever had not YET
reached that point, the only Indication OF war
being the fact that Major General William F. Barry
to consult with the Board Of Engineers as already,
reported IN the HERALD, On the subject Of fortifca-
turned from that duty. and understand there are
to he some radical changes introduced here and the
work II TO be commenced forth With and pushed to
CANNONs AND GUN CARRIAGES
now mounted at the tort are to be taken down and
and aiieen and twenty inch smooIh bore. rms
class OF ordnance Is the largest manufactured in the
nounced the most servIceable for the fort-
san "" oarssss ana change aS IL a
there may not be room for SO many OF this largeH
ss es &c
Department are building some platforms for nteen
inch guns and they are models OF engineering skill
They are butt OF granite carefully cemented, tha
pintle stone alone Weighing twelve tons.
The carriages upon which
constructed with the greatest nicely to detail az
When It Is stated that the gun weighs ABOUT twentys
ye tons the strength OF the carriage and platform
one OF these guns is one hundred poundsf
while the shot weighs about SIX hundred
or forty degrees IL is well calculated TO test tnd
qualities OF the carriages and platforms, and unesd
Although this tort has been oui FOR over y
yet there mas never been any permanent barracks
built for the men. The buildings now occupied are
long wooden ones, winch were built In the early
part OF the war. Upon General Barrys recOmmen.
dalton, new barracks OF brick and iron are to be-
built after the most improved style, and Will pre-
sent much better appearance than those now In
use.
WORK 10 at q standst ana has been so for over .
inc a. % i los DIP to the stand.
ara by the Engineer Department, and it Is thought
that come better plan will be adopted In regard To
before long, This historic fort Is built entirely OF
brick and grauite which before the war was con-
sdere1 the best material in use but sad experience
has since shown It's weakness. ana on this account
the work was suspended. The entire force now on
duty OF TINS most Important coast defence Is three
men, who act as watchmen-a sad commentary
upon the liberalty OF government which
daily sQuandcrs SO much. The lower row
Of classmates upon the channel front are almost c0n.
peted and In case OF war 18th SPAN forty or nifty
guns could be placed in position there IN week,
which, together with the guns OF Fortress Monroe,
would make The passage Of the Roads an extremely
difficult task.
ARMAMENT AT FORT MONROE
There Is but one 20-lnch gun at Fort Monroe, and
1t IS not mounted. 1t weighs 116. 100 pounds, or
about fftyseven tons. and Is the largest in tho
United States, while there are over dozen l5.inc1
there is o large number Of rined and
sm0oth-bOre guns mounted OF the Rod.
man and Parrot class, that would do fearful
execution In case of an emergency. Just outside
OF the ut Fortress Monroe Is one oil the finest
anu most complete works, known as the water BATH
terry. It covers the Tort on the seaside and ~
mounted with 10-inch guns on the latest improved
carriages There are forty OF these guns In po
sion, and the class IL drilled on them every day.
The accuracy Of the firing and the rapidity with
which the guns arc handled Is astonishing The
guns ali have graduated sights, and tie charge Of
powder Is fixed that they Can tell to nicely luse
where the shot will lall They have also very nna
instrument for testing the initial velocity OF shot, H
Ia worked by electricity, OIL the same principle OF
Benton's electro-Dalistic machine, and determines
accurately Just how fast the shot Is travelling