Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-11-10
FROM WASHINGTON.
ANNUAL REPORT
WASHINGTON. Nov. 9.

WASHINGTON, NOV .
Major General Horaiio G. Wright has sub
mitted his annual report Of operations carried
on during the year under the direction OF the
engineer of the department Gen. Wright
says that on the sea coast and lake frontier
defines, the operation has been restricted to
the preservation and repair of existing V orks,
no appropriations for new works nor for the
modification of the existing works having
been m .de during the past eight years. He
submits as part of his report the report OF
the board of engineers stationed in New 1ork
city, in which the latter express the opinion
that if a new approach of war should hnd the
coast in its present condition, there would be
no probable chance of resisting modern
naval attack. He invites attention to this
statement and the annual reports from en-
gineers, in the hope of their careful consid-
Grafton by the war department, and that Con-
gress may secure means. On the subject OF
maintaining battalion engineers and the en-
gineer school of application. Gen. Wright
speaks with great favor, and urges the neces-
sity of incre asing the number of enlisted men
of the battalion to the full number 1922 now
authorized by law.
With reference to the torpedo defence.
Gen. Wright submits the report of the board
of engineers stationed at New York on that
sebject The report recommends large ap-
preparations for the purchase of impershable
torpedo material for storage in harbOrs, and
detailed experiments with satisfactory re-
suits with the Sims movable fish torpedo and
other torpedoes, and in defensive submarine
mining.
The appropriations recommended for the
next year are $50 100, 4s5, which include
river and harbor improve nents. According
to estimates, the amount can be proftably
expended during the year of $50, l Ii, 2S5.
Examinations and surveys of rivers and har-
bors and contingencies for which there is no
special appropriation, Sl50.O00; sea coast
and land frontier defences, 1893 900; for
the construction of case mates and cable gal
leries for defences in Atlantic harbor, $500,
600; the purchase of torpedo material for
storage in San Francisco harbor, $500, 900 !;
surveys and recOnnoisances in military divis-
ions and departments, $4,000.
The sums called for to be expended on
river and harbor improvements are to be ap-
piled as follows: Rivers and harbors on the
Atlantic coast. $40, 722 800; on the Pacific
coast, 81 ,97S 900; on the Gulf coast, 50 S54,
600; western rivers and harbors, 50 ,0S3, 4S5 :;
rivers and harbors of the lake region, Sc. 444,
900.
The estimates for the Atlantic coast are
for carrying on operations in AS of the Isl
improvements in progress, and to provide for
the completion within the coming fiscal year
of 10 of them. The following are appropria-
tons asked for sea coast defenses:
Portland HarbOr. Maine, 1927, 900
Portsmouth Harbor and Navy Yard
Kttery. $4,000
Boston Harbor and Charlestown Navy
Yard, 100000
New Bedford Harbor, 10000
Narragansett Bay, 10000
New London Harbor ard Navy Yard, $4,000
Defences at Governors Island, $4,000
Seawall at Governors Island, $50, zoo
Fort Wood. Bellows Island, 10000
Fort Hamilton, $4,000
Fort Hamilton, Motar Battery, 100000
Fort Wadsworth, 100000
On outside of Fort Tompkins, $4,000
Battery Hudson. 10000
Fort at Sandy Hook, 10000
Total, 1895, ZOO
Philadelphia and League Island Navy Yard
Fort Mifflin, $4,000
Fort Delaw are, 80 00O
Fort opposite Fort Delaware, $4,000
Total, $2SO,00O
Baltimore Harbor. 100000
De1enceS OF w aSnlngt0n, lUO,UOU
Hampton Roads and Goss Point
Navy Yard, 1000
Charleston Harbor, S. c., 10000
Savannah River, Ga. 1000
Cumberland Sound. 10000
Key West, 10000
Dry Tortugas, $4,000
Pensacola Harbor and Navy Yard, lis, zoo
Defences of Mobile, 125,000
Defences of New Orleans, 10000
Galveston Harbor, $4,000
San Diego, 10000
San Francisco Navy Yard, More
Island and Arsenal at Benicia, 100000
Gen. Dwight also gives summary of the
report of the board of engineers stationed at
New York. The board has prepared plan
for two double turreted iron forts, one for
each shore of the narrows at the entrance to
New York, and also suggested the application
of the turret system in Boston and other har
bors of leading commercial interest. Turrets.
the board reports. would form necessary
adjunct to the barbette system aud no ship
yet built or designed could remain under
their close fire long enough to do them dam
age.