New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-27
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
RIVER AND HARBOR WORKS.

STATEMENTS FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERs-Es-
INMATES FOR PROPOSED IMPRovEMENTs-HAR-
Dor DEFENsES-HELL GATE.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-The annual report
Of Gen. A. A. Humphreys. Chief of Engineers has been
completed. The man features OF the report are in
cluded in the following synopsis:
The number Of officers holding commissions In the
Corps of Engineers of the United States Army at the
end OF the fiscal year was LOT on the active list and five
Jan. 81 1870 are not available for duty. duties
devovng upon the corps by law, the employment OF
number OF scientists and assistant engineers been
necessary.
On the subject of seacoast and lake frontier defenses
Gen. Humphreys says:
During the past year the work upon sea-coast de-
lenses mas progressed as rapidly rs good workmanship
and the amount OF thcappropratios granted would per-
init The CLOSE of the late civil war found the naval
ornaments OF maritime nations provided with new ana
powerful devices which they had not possessed prior to
tho Experiences OF that conflict. The system to govern
the future construction of our works was elaborated In
1869, and Will be found stated IN detail in Executive
Document No 27l. House OF Representatives, XIIst
Congress, second Session. Tho main features OF THIS sYs
tenn are the use OF heavy srthen barbete batteries
with paades and traveres OF heavy mortar batteries
and OF INSTRUCTIONS IN the misunderstanding electrical
torpedOes-tO hold vessels from running past the
batteries and reaching the cities or depols be-
yoDd them Works of this character have been steadily
progressing since 1869, and in many Of our harbors
are wei advanced toward completion but none OF the
harDob are these alterations finished whle IN some OF
cur important harbors along the Gulf coast the works
are fearcey begun | again urge the preparation Of our
Of the pow orlul rOn-clads Of the present day.
The estimates for appropriations which he earnestly
recommends include the following:
For completing the defensive works at the points
named: Fort Warren, Boston Iarbor, $4,000; Long
Island Head do. $50 OOO Fort Winthrop. do $4,000;
New-Bediord, Mass, $4,000 Fort Adams, Newport
Harbor $4,000; Lutch Island, Narragsnsett Bay
Schuyler East River, Nev-YOrk, $4,000 0he chief
engineer says with reference 10 this estimate that the
vast Importance Of the chanue aud the fact that the re-
moyal Of the distractions at iIcl Gate Is RAPIDLY pro
crossing renders 1t highly important That work should
be resumed at the earliest possible inOmenll ;
fort at Wilctt's Point New-York Harbor, $4,000
lths appropriation Is advocated IN the following terms
Of the Importance Of the channel to De protected
but also because tie condition Of the work Is such tGa
rapid and costly deterioration results from leaving II e1
posed Ia it, Present hnsn.shed condition foIt Conm
BUS Governors Island, $500; Casde hiLiani, $4,000
fine site of Fort Tomukns. Ssw-YOrk HarbOT $4,000
Battery Hudson, Staten Island, S3lOOO
Gen Humphreys also invites special attention to IN
estimate OF 100000 for tOrpedoes. lie says:
II 10 procure and store such portions Of the ap-
parats NJ cannot be speedily obtained IN the event Oi
sudden hosiilitcs, that the appropriation Is asked
In regard to river and harbor Improvements the re-
port says:
The net Of Congress OF March D. 1873 provided for 1856
works OF Improvement In sums varying from 5000 Ia
100000. and amounting IN the aggregate To more nah
S1jOOCOO. The sum available on the lal OF Jy - -
including the balance OF prcvlous appropriation, lor tlt
several works, was SS,66lJlo aud during tne hSea'
year cuded June 80 1876, FG27l OO0 were c}ptndea.
The following statement exhibits some OF the
Of the S2OOOOOO appropriated last Sunlner fOr iih.
pfOycmrnt OF Boston llrb0r, Mass, FZO'uOV;- GlSt
Liycr and Hell Gate. F22JUOO Hudson River, f2oOOOi
Delaware RIVER below Petty's island $4,000 sehlyl-
Nil River. 600; mouth OF Mississippi RIVER fJouDVi
Chicago Harbor, II 900; Cleveland liMbOr slouOoi
Erie Harbor $50 900; Buffalo HarDOr, $4,000; Os"ego
narbur $4,000; Connecticut River below Hartford,
$4,000 James River Virginia, siO.OOO AploInhtyoA
River II 5000, aud Duluth llarb0s Minnesota SO,OVo'
Operations have not begun upon the new works
The report also cpitomzo the detailed accounts given
by the various officers OF the river and harbor improve
meus &c, In progress under their respective man
agcncnts together with statement OF ;he amounts
which these officers estimate be- prOftably expended
during the next fiscal yeag Among these estimates are the
following:
For Improvement Of the Mississippi River between The
mouths ~ the Illinois aud Ohio rivers, SJOOOOO; Tor
tho mouth or-rnc Mississippi River, ol5oouoi Tor inc
Inner River S3l, 800; for the improvements
of he Hudson River, 100000 for removing ob'tric-
lions IN the East River and Hell Gate, F6OOOOo; dtedg
ing he Hudson River opposite Jersey CITY, b9OOi IN
proYeiHcni OF Harlem River, S5O.oOO improvement 81
PORT Chester IinrUor 100000 Improvement OF EOd"ut
Uarhor S5i 900 Improvement OF the channel between
StIicn Island and NcwJersey 100000 Improvement OF
Dunkirk Harbof, $4,000; improvement Oh Buialo liar
Dor, 100000.