National Republican., 1884-06-16
COAST DEFENs sEs.
Report OF the Army and Navy Ms 60 n
Proper Limo OF Waterways for That
Purpose.

Report OF the Army and Navy Ms 20
Proper Limo OF Waterways for That
Purpose.
Tho army and navy board convened to
consider tho subject of resolution Of the
house of representatives Of April s, 1884,
requesting tho secretary Of the navy and tho
secretary Of war to report TO said house, "at
tho earliest day practicable, upon the feasi-
bility and oxpodienoy of constructing an
interior coast line Of waterways for the
defense OF tho Atlantic and gulf seaboard.
together with an outline plan Of the same,
and the general estimate of the cost thereof"
have submitted tho following preliminary
report:
Tho line OF waterways referred to In the rosolu-
| tlon, in all probability, would consist In whole
or in part of the following line: :,
Commencing in the bay north OF Cape Cod, IL
would cross that narrow neck into Bugzards' bay,
| to follow tho line Of Long Island sound 10 New
| York harbor thence by canal across the state OF
| New Jersey to deep water in the Delaware river
| or bay; thence by convenient line across the
| peninsula between the Chesapeake and Delaware
| bays; down the Chesapeake bay and up the
Elizabeth river, and by canal and river into and
through the sounds that border the coasts OF Ntr.
| ginia md North Carolina, following this general
| direction to some point on cape Fear river;
| thence the line would continue TO the coast OF
Florida by canal rivers, sounds, and channels
southern portion of this coast across the penin-
sula of Florida by canal, or by river and canal,
| to the Gulf Of MeXico there to enter and follow
the almost unbr6ken chain of sounds, bays and
lagoons along the coast Of that gulf to the delta
THE Mississippi, and thence by the same general
route along the low coasts of Louisiana aud Texas
to the mouth of the Rio Grando.
| Previous TO the assembling OF the board, the
| members and the recorder were diligently en-
gagged in collecting from all available sources in
| formation in regard to every point OF this exten-
slye line. This information consisted mainly o
| the reports of previous surveys and oXaminn.
tions, where such had beon made, supplemented
by such facts of more recent date as could bo OBJ
l'ained from masters, pilots and others at various
pofthis information the board has collected such
an amount that 1t docs not think 1t Will be possi-
Bile TO properly cOllate and systematic 1t for EN-.
bodiment in report during the present session Of
congress.
The board is convinced that sufficient data arc
available to enable 1t, after proper analysis care
ful study, and a general reconnaissance Of the en-
tire line, to report upon considerable portion o
the route, viz, that part extending from Charles
ton, S. G., to the mouth of the Rio Grande.
But the board is not satisfied with the informa
tlon that exists in regard to several links in what
II considers the most important part of this chail
of communication. This Is especially the case ii
regard TO the route for a ship canal between New
York harbor and the Delaware river or bay; also
the route from Cape Fear river to Charleston, S.
The magnitude and Importance Of tho subject
are such that II Is deemed ineXpedient to render
the report contemplated in the resolution Of til,
house Of representatives, until after a genera
reconnaissance Of the entire line, and careful
examination OF the two sections before mentioned
In regard to which information is hacking.
This reconnaissance and examination has no
been made owing to u want of time and funds.
To complete IL the board is of the opinion tina
thesum Of $4,000 will be necessary and sufficient
and, therefore, recommends tho appropriation o
that amount. JOHN NEWTON
Brigadier General Chief of Engineers.
Q. A. GILMORE,
Colonel of Engineers
Is. II. MCCALLA,
Lieutenant Commander, U. 8. N.
In forwarding tho report to the speaker o
the house of representatives Secretary Chaud
ler and Gen. Benet, acting secretary of war
concur in the conclusions of the board AM
recommend that the appropriation named b
made for tho purpose of making the desire
reconnaissance and examination They So!
the subject is one of such Importance to th
country that it should receive careful an
full investigation aud consideration befor