The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-03
F0RTIFICATIONS.
Important Matters to Be Con-
Sidered by the Board.
BeniGia Likely to Be Selected as the Site
for the Ordnance Foundry.
Army and Navy Officers In Favor Of the
Location Providing for Gun and
Mortar Batteries.
Special Dispatches to THE MORNING CALL

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.-The Ordnance
and Fertilization Board will convene for its
regular monthly session at the War Depart
ment tomorrow. This will be an impor-
tant sion, as there are many questions in
connection with the new Fortitications Bill
TO be considered. Many of the items were
discussed at the last meeting, which was
held in New York, but as the bill had not
then heen approved by the President no
formal action could be taken in the matter
Of The allotment of appropriations for con-
tinuing the work of gun construction and in
preparing batteries for the reception of guns
and mortars.
One of the first items to be considered is
that providing for gun and mortar batteries
at New York, Boston and San Francisco.
The plans and specifications prepared by
the Engineer Corps for this work will be
placed before the board; also correspond
encc from property-0wners and the Mayors
of three cities concerning the sale and dona-
tion of sites for the erection of these bat
teries. The Secretary of War has also been
giving his personal attention to this mater
during his absence from Washington.
Another matter that will be acted upon at
the meeting is the appropriation OF S320,000
for procuring boring and turning lathes and
rihe-machiaes, and an eighty-ton travelling
crane fully equipped for the manufacture of
twelve-inch guns at the Watervliet Arsenal.
There is a special reason for prompt action
in this particular, as it was one OF the chief
items of dispute between the conferrees, and
whom IL "a in allu aurapI n tha hic
members cast their votes in favor Of it, be-
lievng that by the time the machinery was
procured Congress would have decided to
build another gun foundry either at the Rock
Island Arsenal, H., or at the Benicia Ar
senal, Cal, and instead OF appropriatiug
money for the construction Of new wing at
the Watervliet Arsenal. necessary for the
erection of this machinery it would be
very simple matter to have the machinery
tran sferred to one of the proposed new gun
shops.
San Francisco is making rapid strides in
all matters pertaining to the navy. The
building Of such splendid cruisers by the
Union Iron Works is matter OF much
favorable comment around navy headquar-
tiers. There seems 70 be no doubt whatever
that the Pacific Coast is to have an ordnance
foundry. The good that wi accrue TO Pa
cihc Coast people and Califoinians in par
llCuldt CdllilUl Ut UNtIeStlIldVu lHt Ouly
foundry OF this character Is at the Watervliet
Arsenal, New York, where all kinds of guns
are manufactured, employing hundreds of
men and paving out thousands OF dollars an
nually, ,and there seems to be hardly any doubt
bns that such an ordnance foundry will be
located at Benicia, Cal. In the Committee
on Appropriations Morrow fought hard for
California, COuDor of Illinois contended
that Rock Island, H., should be the place,
and another member favored some point on
In1iana favored indianapolis. The result of
such a contest was the Incorporation OF the
following paragraphs In the FortfcatiOns
Bill: 1.-The President of the United States
is hereby authorized to appoint board to
consist of three officers OF the army; one
from the engineers, one frcm the artillery
and one from the ordnance, not below the
rank of Lieutenant-C Colonel. who shall in
Quire into the facilities for producing steel
fOrgings for high-pOweI guns, at or near the
Pacific Coast and in the vicinity of the
Rock Island Arsenal, ami at indianapolis,
and at some point on the gulf, and the
advisability of erecting gun-fac.ory
at the Benicla Arsenal, California, or
at the Rock Island Arsenal. or at
the Indianapolis Arsenal or at some
point on the Gulf coast, for the purpose of
finishing and assembling high power guns
to be mounted in Notifications"
1t will be noticed that the Army Board
is empowered to use its discretion in choos-
ing one of the four sites named, and Benicia
is almost certain of capturing the prize.
Indianapolis, Rock Island and point on
the Gulf coast were merely named in order
to please Bynum. Cannon and the Southern
member. Benicia is regarded by navy men
as q place admirably adapted for such an
ordnance foundry Both Indianapolis and
Rock Island are out of the question, as
neither have any facilities fol. water
transportation. The Gulf coast of course
offers better inducements than either of the
inland cities named, but not any place in the
United States can compare with Benicia
Barracks.
In the opinion OF experienced navy men
the defence of San Francisco, Puget Sound
guns. which can only be conveniently as
sembIed ut BeDicia or some other point on
the Pacific Coast. 1t would be absurd to
think of transporting such immense guns
overland from indianapolis or Rock Island.
OF course Morrow does not wish to antici-
pate the action of the Army Board ap-
pointed to choose the site, but he feels con-
fideut that Beuicia will be selected.