New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-06
TIE UiR DEPARTMENT.
SECRETARY BELKNAP'S REPORT.
sFA-CoAsT DEFENsEs NAMING GOOD PRoGREss-THy
TogPEDoEs 4 GREAT ELEMENT or NATIONAL
SAFETY.
~ TELEGRAPH 70 THE rRmUNE.l

SEA-COAsT DEFENsTs NAMING GOOD PRoGREss-fHY
ToHPEDoEs GREAT ELEMENT or NATIONAL
SAFETY.
BY TELEGRAPH 70 THE rRmUSEl
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The Secretary of War. in
his annual report Will mention the satisfactory pro-
grrss which tho works for the defense of our sea-
board. under the Engineer Corps, have made during
the last fiscal year. The class of works adopted IN
1859 are heavy earth batteries. thoroughly pro-
tecied and arranged for guns and m0rtars suitable
To resist the attack of the most powerful ronclads.
Already some positions selected, particularly IN our
Larger commercial ports have a large proportion OF
their gun positions prepared. He continues:
The battalion Of Engineers under the Law OF June 16
1874, reducing che army mas Deen limited 10 ~" en-
Fneinrers - too small for the efficient performance
the required OF them. II war shonld occur tn
maritime power the want Of trained soldiers to plant
and operate torpedo de1enss would be seriously ie
and Il submitted whether the needs OF TINS branch 81
the service NAV not Justify minimum organization Tor
battalion Of not less than 300 enlisted men, For inc
torpedo service alone, that number Is requisite Inc
duty requires Intelligence aud training when cannot
be -uppled in an emergency.
Trials with torpedoes have continued ana nave con,
frIncd previous expressed TO the Importance OF
this auxiliary in e defense OF our harOoTs as vel a. the
certainty nat thelr isc III time Oh wa WI prve.
enemys vessel from running past our bait rle- ana VIII
enable hold them under the fire OF ouI artillery
Tue fourth sectlOn of the last river ana haIpor ac au
thurZes James r. EanS with ruch others ~ may ne az
ISOLATED with bin. under certain conditions 70 CONSTRUCT
such permanent ietiies aud such auxiliary WORKS az may
be necessary to secure and maintain VIDE deep anu
channel bet the Mississippi RIVER the
tuf Of Mexico through the South Pass Of the river.
All tho provisions of the section preliminary To the exc
Of the work have been Carried Ou me results O
the survey directed by the be made ny the Coast
survey. been received from hc superinlonde or
hat service, supplied TO Mr. Eds An Onlcer
al Engineers Major c. Il. COmstOck, has been detailed
duty Is. under the law, 20 report the depth OF
water and Wild OF channel secured ana maintained from
time In said channel togci herewith sch 0thef III
formation respecting the progress OF tho Improvement
the materials used aud character and pernBDence OF the
works may be .sary 10 Keep tCOnsiess fuly IN
formed ana advised To enable this oicer to make me
required surveys and Inspections an annual appropriation
necessary, estimates f0r which may be fOnnd IN the
report CHIEF OF Engineers. winch also contains
further Information IN regard 70 TINS Work Inc amount
rcuurr for -uryevs aud examinations during the
present fiscal year Is $1,000, and ~ no means Tor lhrn
nave A. set been provided the appropriation of that
nrd To be made AT the earliest day practical
Ole after the meeting O Congress. -.
There are, AZ nearly all the headquarters or me ouf
military dyiions and nine military departments, officers
OF the corps OF engineers whose ciet dty is 20 cleot
geographical and other Information and these oincers
do. by means Of their own explorations anh surveys anu
By cOil.rtnH notes, chetclrS am maps nlte ~ u.t1
and soldiers belonging ~ tine Western posts on thelr
and cOmpas, add year by year to The knowledge
interior country whit Is not only essoht 10 tue
generals command OF these departments en1 dlNib-
IONS. but which s useful 10 the country gcnerHly Maps
cnbOtying the Information gained IN thls way WIN
little cost 10 the country, finally published by the
Engineer Department, and II VIII ne ob,eN Ell lnat me
Chief Engineer Reports unusually larae number of
late var ~ printed ana punahed during me i5l Hsra
year commend ~ Congress the appropriation asked
ur for The surveys 10y the engineer OiceIs attached 10
the various dN-iun anh department h.anplirtts' anu
for tine construct and printing of maps ny the En-
rincer Department for the OF the war Department
ana the army. aud which, TO great degree, stlinl-
tug interior domain The estimates OF the Chef
Engineer submitted separately, ~ presented Oy tina
officer VIZ: FOriitcaons aud other works 81 dclenSe,
+gOiiOOO: bubble buildings and grounds, and Washing
ton Aaueduct, S711.4Tt: surveys sl7OO0O; engineer
depot AZ Nloits Point " ! - SJ",oovi ONCE ehpeiss'
si JOO lmifos einent OF rivers aud harpors nl lJol
100; tDial, 81 ,2bN,1i