The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-29
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE on SEA
COAST DEFENSES.
Fear of a War With Spain.

The President sent the following mes
sage to Congress last week:
ITO the Senate and House of Representatives;
an my annual message of December
l, 1873, while inviting general attention
to all recommendations made by the
Secretary of War, your special attention
was invited to the importance of prepar-
alton for war in the armament of our
sea coast defenses. Proper armament is
of vastly more importance than fortifi-
cations. The latter can be supplied very
speedily for temporary purposes when
needed. The former can not. These
views gain increased strength and per-
tinence as years roll by. /. have now
again the honor to call special attention
to the condition 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 own forts is
duced for liberal annual appropriation
for their gradual accumulation. In time
of war such preparations can not be
made. Cannon can not be purchased in
open market nor manufactured at short
notice. They must be the product of
years of experienced labor. l herewith
inclose copies of the report of the Chief
of Ordnance and of the Board of Ord
nance Officers on the trial of an eight
inch rife converted from a ten-tnch
smooth-bore, which shows very conclu-
these useless smooth bores and making
them into eight-inch rifles, capable of
piercing seven inches of iron. The ], :
| 294 ten-inch Rodman guns should, in
my opinion, be SO utilized, and the ap-
preparation requested by the Chief of
Ordnance, of $3.50, 900 to commence these
conversions, is earnestly recommended.
While convinced of the economy and
necessity of these conversions, the de-
| termination of the best and most eco
nomical method of providing guns of
still larger caliber Should no longer be
delayed. The experience of other Ma
! tions, based on the new condition of de-
fense brought prominently forward by
the introduction of iron-clads into ev
cry navy afoat, demands heavier metal
and rife guns of not less than twelve
inches in caliber. These enormous
masses, hurling a shot of seven hundred
pounds can alone meet many of the re-
quirements of our defenses. They
must be provided, and experiments on a
large scale can alone give the data nee
essary for the discrimination of the ques-
ton. A suitable proving ground, with
all the facilities and conveniences referr-
ed to by the Chief of Ordnance, with a
liberal annual appropriation, is an un-
doubted necessity. The guns now ready
for trial can not be experimental with
without funds, and the estimate of $780,
900 for the purpose Is deemed reasona-
BILE, and is strongly recommended. The
constant appeals for legislation on the
armament of the Notifications ought nc
longer to be disregarded, if Congress de-
sires in peace to prepare important mat.
erial without which future wars must in.
evitably lead to disaster. This subject
is submitted with the hope that the con.
sideration it deserves may be given it al
the present session.
L. S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 2C
1875"