The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-21
PRICE-FIVE CENTS.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20-The President sent
the following message to Congress to-day:
10 the Senate and House Of Representatives
In my annual message of September I,
1913, while inviting general attention to all
the recommendations by the Secretary of
War, your special attention was invited to the
Importance Of preparing for war in time of
peace, by providing proper armament for our
seacoast defenses; proper armament is of
vastly more importance than Notifications.
The latter can be supplied very speedily for
temporary purposes, when needed; the former
cannot.
These views gain increased strength and
pertinence as the years roll by. have now
again the honor to call special attention to the
armament Of our Notifications and the abso-
lutte necessity of immediate provision by Con-
gress for the procurement Of heavy cannon.
The large expenditures required to supply
the number of guns for our forts is the strong
est argument that can be adduced for liberal
annual appropriation for their gradual accu-
mutation. In time of war such preparations
cannot be made. Cannon cannot be pur-
chased in the open market, nor manufactured
at short notice. They must be the product of
years of experience and labor.
herewith lnclose copies of a report of the
chief OF ordnance and of board of ordnance
officers, on the trial of an eight inch rifle, con-
verted from ten inch smooth bore, which
shows very conclusively an economical
means of utilizing these useless smooth bores
and making them into eight inch rifles,
capable OF piercing seven inches of iron. Tho
1874 ten inch Rodman guns should, in my
opinion, SO be utilized, and the appropriation
requested by the chief of ordnance Of $3.50, 600
to commence these conversions, is earnestly
recommended.
While convinced of the economy and neces-
sity of these conversions the determination of
the best and economical method of providing
guns of still larger calibre should no longer
be delayed. The experience Of other nations,
based on the new conditions of defense,
brought prominently forward by the intro
duction of iron clads into every navy afioat,
demands heavier metal and rifed guns of not
less than twelve inches in calibre.
These enormous masses hurting a shot of
700 pounds, can alone meet many of the re-
quirements of the national defenses. They
must be provided, and experiments on large
scale can alone give the data necessary for
the determination of the question.
A suitable proving ground, with all the
facilities and conveniences referred to by the
Chief of Ordnance, with liberal annual ap-
preparation, is an undoubted necessity.
The guns now ready for use cannot be ex-
perimented with without funds, and the esti-
mate of S25OOO for the purpose is deemed
reasonable and is strongly recommended.
The constant appeals for legislation on the
armament of Notifications ought no longer to be-
disregarded, if Congress desires in peace to
prepare the important material, without
which future wars must inevitably lead to dis
aster.
This subject is submitted with the hope
that the consideration it deserves may be
given it at the present session.
(Signed) U. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Jan. 20, 1875.