Omaha daily bee., 1884-12-02
PRESIDENTS PERIODICAL.
Continued from first page

bors were prosecuted during the past year
were derived from the Appropriations Of tbs
act Ut August 2, 1889, together with
such few balances rs we're on hand
from previous appropriations. The balance
n the treasury subject tn requisition july LIST,
! 1888, was Sl0,0Il 649.5j. The amount ap.
Appropriated during the fiscal year 1884 was
Sl3, l96, 1867, and the amount drawn from
the treasury during the fiscal year was IS.
22S, 70S "a, leaving n balance ot IS 12, $50 GS
in the treasury subject to reuGisition July LIST,
1884
The secretary of war submits the report of
chist OF engineers as the practicabi.ity OF
PROTECTING OUR IMPORTANT CITIES
on the seaboard by Notifications and other
d~efenseS able to repel modern methods Of
attack. The time has now com when such
detenses can be prepared with confidence that
they will not prove abortive and when the
possible result Of delay in making such pre-
paration is seriously considered delay seems
inexcusable. For the most important cities,
those whose destruction or capture would be
a national humiliation, adequate defenses,
inclusive of guns, may be made by the
gradua! expenditure of $50, 00J, 900, a sum
much less that O victorious enemy could levy as
a contribution. An appropriation of about
one-tenth of that amount Is asked TO begin
the work, and 1 concur with the secretary of
war in urging that 1t be granted. The war
department is proceeding with the conversion
of ten.inch smooth bore guns into eight.iuch
rifles by lining the former with tubes of forged
or Of coiled wrought iron. Fifty guns will be
thus converted with the present year. This,
however, does not obyiste the necessity of pro-
viding means for the construction of guns OF
the highest power, both for the purpose of
coast defence and for the armament of war
vessels. The report Of the gun foundry board
appointed April 2, 1883, in pursuance of the
act of March 3, 1888, was transmitted to con.
gress in the annual message of February s,
1884. Ia my message of March 26, 1884, l
called attention to the recommend alton of the
board that the government should encourage
the production Of private steel works of the
required material for heavy cannon, and
that the government factories, one for army
and one for the navy, should be established
for the fabrication of guns from such material.
No action having been taken the board was
subsequently reconvened to determine more
fully the plans and estimates Necessary for car
ryipg cut its recommendations. 1t has re-
ssived Information which indicates that there
ara responsible steel manufacturers in thii
country who, although not provided at present
with the necessary plant, are willing to con-
struct the same and to make bids for con
tracts with the government for the supp y of
the requisite material for the heaviest guns
adapted to modern warfare, If q guaranteed
order of sufficient magnitude accompanied by
u positive appropriation extending over n
series of years shall be made by congress. All
doubts as to the feasibility of the plan being
thus removed, / renew my recommend alton
that such action be taken by congr ass as will
enable the government to construct its own
ordnance upon its own territory, and so pro-
vide the amendments demanded by the con-
alterations of national safety aud honor.