Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1875-01-27
PRESIDENTS SPECIAL MESSAGE
lie Urges Appropriations For be-
Tense OF our Coasts,

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 20.-The Pres.
cent sent the following Message to Con
| gress, to-day:
To the Senate and House Of ReDresen
tdtiUeS.
In my annual message Of December Ist
/ 1873, while inviting general attention tc
the recommendations made by the siege Of
war, your special attention was invited
to the importance of preparing for war in
time of peace, by providing proper arma-
ment for our sea coast defenses Proper
armament is Of vastly more Importance
than Notifications. Phe latter can be sun
Piled very speedily for temporary purposes
when needed. The former can not. These
views gain increased strength and peril.
nence as the years roll by. have again
the honor to call your special attention to
the condition of the armament of our for
tifeations, and the absolute necessity for
Immediate provision by Congress for the
procurement Of heavy cannon. The large
expenditure required to supply the number
OF guns for our forts is the strongest argu-
ment that can be adduced for liberal an
nual appropriation for their gradual accu-
mutation.
In time of war such preparations can not
open market nor manufactured at short
notice. They must be the product of wears
OF experience and labor. | herewith in
close copies Of a report of the Chief of Ord.
nance and of a Board of Ordnance officers
on the trial Of an eight-inch rifle converted
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.
The l,2Y4 ten-inch Rodman guns should.
in my opinion, be so utilized, and the ap-
preparation requested by the Chief of Ord
nance of $3.50 O00to commence these CONVEX
sions, is earnestly recommended. While
convinced Of the economy and necessity of
these conversions, the determination of the
best and most economical method of pro-
yiding 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 introduction of
irOn-cads into every navy aAoat, demands
heavier metal, and rifed guns Of not less
than u inches in calibre. These enormous
masses, hurting shot of seven hundred
pounds, can alone meet many Of the re-
quirements of the national defenses, They
must be provided, and experiments on a
large scale can alone give the data necessa-
ry Tor the determination Of the question.
A suitable proving ground, with all the ia.
cilities and convenience referred to by the
Chief o! Ordnance, with liberal annual
appropriation, is an undoubted necessity.
The guns now ready for trial can not be
experimental with without funds, and tho
estimate Of $4,000 for the purpose is
deemed reasonable, and is strongly recon-
mended. The constant appeals for legisla-
ton on the armament of Notifications"
ought no longer to be disregarded, if Con.
gress desires in peace, to prepare the impor-
tant material without which future wars
must inevitably lead to disaster.
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, January goth, 1875.