National Republican., 1873-01-10

The Secretary Of War yesterday transmitted
10 the Senate the following letter and the papers
referred 10 therein
OFFICE or CniEI oT ENoIsIEns,l
wAsHIHaIoN, d. T., January T. IsTl
stR In answer TO The resolution Of the Senate
Of the United states, calling for any information
relating to the expedlency OF reservlng the island
OF lcrba Buena, or Goat Island, for military pur-
poses, aud also relating to the effects, u any,
upon the harb0r Of San Francisco In approach
ing said island from the main land with railroad
structures, have the honor to transmit here
with report upon these matters by the board Of
engineers for fOrtincati0ns, aud also report
upon the same subjec by the hoard OF engineers
for fortlncations for the Pacific coast, together
with several tracings and maps to illustrate these
These reports substantially agree that certain
portions OF the Islands may he rellnqulshed to
accommodate the wants of commerce without
materially impairlng the power Of the sea-coast
defences protected for that island. After q care
fu review Of the subject, concur In this con
cluSOa. The portions Of the island that may 10
thus occupied by commerce include twcnty-elBht
acres Of the northern portion OF the Island, to-
gether with the northern, eastern, aud southern
portions OF the shores, rescrying sufficient space
on the eastern shore for two Government
Respecting the effects upon the harbor OF sau
Francisco Of railroad or other structures extend
lnR from the Oakland shore TO or towards the
island OF Yerba Buena, II IL to be remarked that
no material injury TO the harbor or channel
leading 10 IL will be caused by such structures,
provided they he built upon pieces Of minimum
dimensions, placed In the direction OF the cur
ents.
The letter Of instructions from this once to
the two boards, their reports In reply, and I'll ,
drawings accompanying them, are transmitted
herewith, the papers being numbered from l
tOh
Very respectfully, your ohedlcnt servant,
a. A. HUMPHREYS,
Biigaller General and Chief OF Engineers.
The board Of engineers for fOrtl1cations,
headed by General Barnard, In their report to
uenepl Humphreys say; We deem II indispen-
sable for the proper defence OF the city and ha T.
bOr Of San Francisco that the island OF IeTba
Buena should be strongly fortified, aud we con-
slider that Its Joint occupation by the Goyeril-
ment and any company or individual Is very oh
jcCtlOnable,
nut "upon the suppositlon that the wards OF
commerce require the construction Of q railroad
from the eastern shore Of San Francisco bay TO
the island Of lerba Buona, and the occupation
OF considerable portion OF the island and Its
shore line with railroad depOts, wharyes, piers,
warehouses, aud the appurtenanccs OF large
trade, as presented IN your Instructions, the
board report what portions OF the island may be
rellnquished without materially impaiTinR It's de-
fences. The board also state that the nlllnR In
OF the lhoal waters on the Oakland shore TO the
line Of deep water would improve the harboT,
but that bridge properly built would not.
The Pacific Coast Board Of Engineers, headed
BY Gen. Alexander, say, In their report TO Gen.
should be retained by the Government for the
defence OF the harbOr and city Of San Francisco,
and that the effect Of approaching the island by
bridge OF piles or by a causeway would work
serious damage to the harbor Of San Francisco. I"
The board also say; III 4 portion OF this island
must be surrendered TO railroad purposes, the
Government will sacrifice a part Of the security
OF the city OF San Francisco In time Of war 10
supposed commercial advantages In time OF
peace" They further express their belief that
II portion Of the island Ia thus given up, the
cesslOn will result In the building Of a CONNER
cial town In the middle Of the hay, which In
time OF war might easily he set on nfe, and thus
necessitate the abandonment OF the fOrtlncatlons
on top OF the island, and lead to the capture Of
the city OF San Francisco. They, therefore, sim
ply condemn the proposed REIMBURSEMENT.