Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-19

Report OF the Chief of Army Engineers
for 1883.


Report of the Chief of Army Engineers
for 1883.
The annual report Of Gen. Wright,
Chief of the Army Engineers for the pres
ent year. has just been published. The
following is what he has to say about the
defenses of Savannah:
Fort Jackson. Savannah river, Georgia,
in charge of Col. q. A. Gilmore, Corps OF
Engineers, except from November %,
1888. to March 81, 1888, when temporarily
in charge of Capt. J. c. Post, Corps Of
Engineers. This work, commenced IN
ls42. is situated about four miles from the
city of Savannah, and forms the inner
line of defense for that city. Modifca-
tions Of this work, approved January II,
1870, so as 10 ut it for the reception OF
heavy guns, were commenced in the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1873, but they were
suspended some years since for want OF
appropriations.
Operations during the past fiscal year
were confined to making some repairs to
the wharf at the fort, and cutting grass
on the parapet and slopes Of traverse
magazines.
The four wooden platforms for 15-inch
guns at this fort are rotten and unseryice-
able.
No appropriation having been made, no
work was done at this fertilization dur
ing the fiscal year beyond its protection,
preservation and repair, as far as was
possible, with the general appropriation
made for this purpose, and no other work
is contemplated during the current fiscal
year for the same reason. Appropriation
asked for next fiscal year, $4,000.
Fort Pulaski, mouth of the Savannah
river, Georgia, IN charge of Col. q. A.
Gilmore, Corps Of Engineers, except
from November 2S, 1882, to March 81, 1888,
when temporarily in charge Of Capt. J. {.
Post, Corps of Engineers. This casemated
work commenced in 1929, is located on
Cockspur Island, covers the ship canal
leading from Tybee roads into Savannah
river, and constitutes the principal de-
Tense of the city of Savannah against ma
val attack.
From 1872 to 1879 the work of remodel
ing the demilune was carried on at inter-
walls and nearly completed. Its gun plat
forms were built of timber. and two 10
inch guns were mounted on the north face.
All these platforms are more or less de-
cayed.
Nothing has been done as yet toward
making the required notifications of the
main work except to lay the foundations
OF nearly all the piers for extending the
| classmates on the north face.
The work done during the past fiscal
| wear was confined to the renewal of the
| wooden fronts of the classmates, and of
| the magazine roof, and in making slight
repairs to the wharf.
The seven wooden platforms for 15-inch
| guns in the demilune are practically I'M
! seryiceable. Each of them contains
| large proportion Of rotten timbers: the
/ oaken pintle blocks are nearly all thor
| oughly decayed.
No appropriation having been made, no
. fr~Hf fisssaF lion
/ during the last fiscal year beyond its pro-
/ lection. preservation and repair, as far as
was possible with the general apprOpria-
! ton made for this purpose, and no other
| work is contemplated during the current
/ fiscal year for the same reason. Appro-
/ priatiOn asked for next fiscal year,
/ $4,000.
New fort on Tybee Island, mouth Of Sa-
vannah river, Georgia, in charge of Col.
| Q. A. Gilmore, Corps of Engineers, ex-
/ cept from November %, 1882, to March 81,
/ 1888. when temporarily in charge of Capt.
/ J. G. Post, Corps of Engineers. Plans
/ have been prepared for defensive earthen
works to be constructed on the north
/ point of Tybee Island, for the double pur-
| pose of preventing the occupation of
/ Tybee Roads by hostile vessels and de-
! Tending the channel OF approach to the
/ Savannah river. The land necessary for
!
| States in 1915.
/ For several years past the northeast end
/ of Tybee Island has been washing away.
| Tine heavy gale towards the end Of Au-
| gust, 1881. aggravated the evil and con-
| siderably cut away the shore of the gov
| ernmcnt property. The depth of water
/ over the bar at the entrance of Tybee
| Roads was liable to be reduced by the
sand removed from this portion of the
/ shore and by the enlargement of the
| throat of the harbOr.
For the protection Of this shore three
| substantial spar jetties, composed OF log
mattresses OVERLAND with brush and
/ covered with rip-rap stone, were con-
| structed during the fiscal year ending
| June 80, 1882. An allotment Of $1,000 was
made from the appropriation for preserva-
ton and repair Of Notifications, 1888, for
the purpose Of increasing the height Of
these jetties, and a contract for the work
was awarded to j. ;. Lawrence, Of Sayan-
nah, Ga.
A. .~ryt,r@yr,. tIsvfI JrCUiUH
has vet been made. Appropriation asked
for next fiscal year, $4,000.
Courage is a noble trait. With some it
requires greater courage TO live than it
does to die. When disease racks the
frame, when sores cover the person, when
aches are in every joint, when the mus
Giles are soft and fiabby, when the least
eXertiOn gives fatigue, when the mind is
filled with gloom and dependency, what
is there in life worth living, and yet many
exc out Just such a miserable existence,
living only for those who love them. When
it is generally known that Browns Iron
Bitters Will cure the above disorders how
many hearts will be made glad! How
many homes made happy!