New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-10
INJURY TO 4 STRONG BATTERY.
A MISTAKE IN LEvELLING :EARTHWORKs

BEDLOws ISLAND MAY LOOK PRErTIER, But II Is
DAMAGED AS FORTRESS.
The BarthOldi Statue Committee have Tor
time had men at work removing the tops OF Tue
earhen and eveng of the crest OF the para
pet OF the battery Bellows Island Yesterday
the work completed and men were going over the
new soil rakes And yesterday for the first time
the Engineer Department learned OF what was being
DONE The of the committee was to blow up the
magazines under the traverse but they decided that s
II rather big and expensive JOB II would DO II the
tops OF the traverses leveed off and the crest Of
the parapet evelled. General schoheid went over To
the sla nd and said objection to the do
ing il so the committee, their ignorance Of military
law thinking the word OF the msjor-general command
ing the Department East and Military Division Of
the Atlantic su ticient, went ahead.
The appropriation made by Congress to remove IN
slightly Instructions partially expended by them for
this purpose For" the committee reasoned, is not
an eartnwOrk an unsighty obstruction " The
breach escapement OF the old and use
less masonry fort made TO bring in the
statue carefully repaired by them But 1t hap
pens that only thing the Island worthy OF preser
walton from military point OF view was these same
earthworks OF they did not like the looks. And
II also happens all permanent Notifications IN the
United charge Of the corps OF engineers OF
the Army, ana even the general OF the Army himself
order their demolition or aeraUOn WITHOUT con-
The last appropriation for the construction of coast
pratOn construct battery on the south side or
Bedow's siand. which formed then and stu forms
part OF the interior line of deences OF New-Iork mar
Dor The OF this harbO IN charge OF Colonel
HOus on OF the Eli gneer Corps who has MS DIS ASSIST
ant Lieutenant Sanford OF tie corps. yesterday
when Lieutenant sanford to inspect some alter
atoms that being made OF the easements or
the old stone fort for the purposes OF the
electric light plant he saw 10 his horror
that the good and effective south battery had been al
ub.iteratei.
Fortunately Major Sanger, General Schohelds senior
aid and majority OF the members OF the committee were
on the island and a conference took place. II was at
once seen that thing due 10 the ignorance
or the committee regarding military law. Nevertneless
great damage the battery. one OF the
best in the United The earhen traverses nave
been leyelled of the top or the arches
OF the magazines beneath, the west OF the
parapet has been leveed OFF and the revete-
inent OF the interior slopes had disappeared. 10
the landscape gardener the battery certainly
looks prettler han IL did before but as military Work
its usefulness Ia somewhat impaired. This earthw0rk
cost about $4,000 originally and few thousand dol
lars and three work would probably repair most
OF the damage there certain parts which have
disappeared which 1t would probably take years TO get
in effective condition again. THIS battery looks out To-
ward the NarrOws and with proper armament would
efficiently supple the fire OF the ioris there II
hostile manowar trying 10 force her way through
And n hostile fleet succeeded In breaking through me
Narrows IL would be efficient as anything except
turret OF chilled could be IL closing the ell
trance the Hudson and East Rivers