Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-21
OUR SEA COAST DEFENCES.
The Presidents Message.

The following is the message OF the PreSi-
dent To the House of Representative yester-
day afternoon on the subject of coast defenceS:
To The Senate and House Of Representatives,.
In my annual message OF necemberI I. 1873.
while inviting general attention TO all the
recommendations made by the Secretary of
War. your special attention was invited Ia
the Importance of preparing for war in time
OF peace by providing proper armament for
our sea-coast defenceS. Proper armament is
ofvastly more Importance than fortifications.
The latter can be supplied very speedily for
temporary purposes when needed; the former
cannot"
These views gain increased strength and
pertlnenCe rs the years roll by. have now
again the honor TO call special attention 10
the condition of the armament of our forti-
ficationS," and the absolute necessity for inn
mediate provision by Congress for the pro-
curement OF heavy cannon. The large eN-
penditures required To supply the number of
guns for our forts iS the strongest argument
that can be adduced for a liberal annual
appropriation for their gradual accumula-
uon. In time of war such preparations can
not be made, cannon cannot be purchased I'm
open market or manufactured at short notice
They must be the product of years of eNpeTi-
ence and labor.
herewith incloSe copies of a report of the
'hlef OF Ordnance and of a board of ordnance
officers on the trial of an eight-inch rifle con
verted from ten-inch smooth bore. which
shows very cOnclUSiYely an economical
means OF utilizing these useless smooth boreS
ana making Them into elght-inch rifles Capa-
bic OF piercing SeYen-mcheS of iron.
The ,2g4 ten-inch Rodman guns should i'm
my opinion, be SO utilized. and the appropFi-
alton requested by the chief of oplnauce of
S2Jo,oon, To commence these conversions il
earnestly recommended.
While convinced of the economy and ne
cesSlty OF these conversions the determina-
ilOn OF the best and most economical method
OF providing guns of still larger caliber should
no longer be delayed. The experience of other
nations, based on the new conditions of de
tence brought prominently forward by the
introduction of iron-cladS into every navy
ahoat. demands heavier metal and rifle guns
of not less than twelve inches in caljber
These enormous masses, hurting a shot of ,Oo
pounds, can alone meet many of the reouire-
ments OF the national deienceS. They must
be provided. and experiments on a large scale
can alone give the data necessary for the de-
termination Ofthe question.
suitable proving ground with all the IA
cliltleS and convenienceS referred to by the
chief OF ordnance, with liberal annual ap-
preparation, is an undOubted necessity. The
guns now ready for trial cannot be experi-
mented with without funds and the eSti-
mate of $4,000 for the purpose is deemed
reasonable, and IL strongly recommended
The constant appeals for legislation on the
armament OF foTtificationS' ought no Ion
ger To be disregarded if Congress desires i'm
peace to prepare the important material
without which future wars must inevitably
lead TO disaster.
This subject is submitted with the hone
that he consideration il deserves NAV be
given ii at the present session.
L. 6. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION. January 20 1875