The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-21
Message from the President ON Sea
coast FortfHcations.

coast FOrtfGcations.
WASHINGTON, January 20.-The President
sent the following message to Congress to-
day:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives :
In my annual message of December /,
1873, while inviting general attention to all
the recommendations made by the Secretary
of War, your special attention was invited
to the importance Of preparing for wafa in
time of peace by providing proper armament
for our sea-coast defencrs. Proper armament
is of vastly more importance than fortitica
tions. The latter can be supplied very speed
lily for temporary purposes when needed
the former cannot.
These views mean increased strength and
pertinence as the years roll by. | have now
the honor TO call special attention 10 the con
dition of the armament of our Notifications
and the absolute necessity for immediate
provision by Congress for the procurement
of heavy cannon. The large expenditures
required to supply the number OF guns for
our forts Is the strongest argument that car
be adduced for liberal annual appropr:.
ton for their gradual accumulation. In time
of war such preparations cannot be made
Cannon cannot be purchased in open mar.
ket, nor manufactured at short notice. They
must be the product of years of experience
and labor.
I herewith enclose copies OF report ol
the Chief of Ordnance and of board of ord.
nance officers on the trial Of IN eight-inch
rife converted from ten-inch smooth bore,
which shows very conclusiyely an economi'
cal means OF utilizing these useless smooth
borcs and making them into eight.inch
rifles, capable Of piercing seven inches oil
iron. The 1924 ten-inch Rodman guns
should, in my opinion, be so utilized, and
the appropriation requested by the Chief ol
Ordnance 1880, ,O0W to commence these con-
versions is earnestly recommended.
While convinced of the economy and ne.
cessity Of these conversions, the determine.
ton of the best and most economical method
of providing guns OF still larger caIbre
should no longer be delayed. The experience
of other nations, based on the new condi.
tions of defence brought prominently for.
ward by the introduction OF irou-clads into
every navy afloat, demands heavier metah
and rifle guns of not less than twelve inches
IN calibre.
These enormous masses burling shot OF
seven hundred pounds can alone meet many
OF The requirements OIL the national defence
They must be provided, and experiments on
large scale can alone give the data neces.
sary for the determination of the question.
A suitable proving ground with all the ia.
cilities and conYenieDces referred to by the
Chief of Ordnance, with liberal annual
appropriation, is undoubtedly necessary.
The guns now ready for trial cannot be ex.
perimented With without funds, and the es.
Innate Of $3.50 600 for the purpose Is deemed
reasonable, and is strongly recommended.
The constant appeals for legislation on the
armament of fortitications ought no longer 10
be disregarded if Congress desires In peace
to prepare the important material without
which future wars must inevitably lead to
disaster. This subject is sui omitted with the
hope that the due consideration thereof may
be given it at the present session.
[Signed] US. GRANT.
Erecutire Mansion, January 20, 1875.