Morning journal and courier., 1890-06-21

gunpOwdef are purchasable so cheaply to- day, ard never can again become expensive, unless foreign complications should result in closing our ports. Our government is sims ply providentially taking advantage of fa- vorable conditions to secure and store such quantities as will render us independent of any exigency possible for human care to forestall. Nine million pounds have already been purchased st prices ranging from twelve to eight cents per pound; and each year hereafter other millions of pounds will be added to the tremendous quantity already in hand.
 In the latter part of the seventies the wis., dom of provision for some such great pew- der and nitre reserve became 30 patent to the authorities at Washington that it was deci- ded one should be established at or near the Atlantic sesboard. The question of exact location then presented many difficulties. Contiguity to land and naval necessities, g point of sufficient natural ssragetie situation to render 1t defenaibie, means of transporta- ton and quick communication, and above all site sufficiently removed from the actu- al seaeoast to eliminate the rsvaging effects of sea afr humidity upon steres, had all to be taken into account. Southwestern Con- neeticut, southeastern New York, eastern New Jersey and Long Island were all thor oughly explored by representatives of the ordnance department, and site, seven hum dred feet above the sea level, was at last se- lected in the elevated Picatinny valley lying in the Appalachian mountain chain in north eastern New Jersey. Here a splendid tract of nineteen hundred acres was purchased, and in 18s0 the New Jersey legislature sanc- tioned the sale of the land to the govern meut. The tract is about forty miles from New York city, and lies four miles north of the lovely little oity of Dover, which neetles between the most beautiful Of north Jersey hills. The Kittatinny or Blue mountain range, called the Shawangunk in New York state, looms along northern New Jersey, crossing the Delaware at Delaware Water gap. The Highland range of lesser hills, q epur of which termtnates in the noted Pali-
 sades of tho Hudsoa, hugs this closely on
 the east, forming a number of stream
 threaded, picturesque valleys. The almost precipitous red eonglomerate escarpment of one of the broken spurs of this Highland range, Picatinny peak, forms the western wall of Pioatinny valley, hiding to the west
 some Berkshire. Copperas mountain and Hickory hill two huge granite knobs, shut in Picatinny valley on tho east. Lake Hop tecong, fsher's paradise, gleams along the southern point of the valley. Green pond Qake), one thousand feet above the sea, shim mers in it's upland reaches; and Middle Forge pond, lake of no mean dimensions, teem l ing with bass and pickerel, covered with lily 1 pads and bordered with verdure and bios
 soms, sets like a gleaming sapphire in th' center of the tract itself. Ten years ago tht Pioatinpy valley was an almost uubroker wilderness. A single wagon road, older thar the independence of our country, skirted Il st the foot of the mountains on the east Half way from Dover to the present gigantic powder warehouse now known as the United States Picatinny Powder depot, on another 1 old colonial road, is the little hamlet of Spi. certown. From this point the government has constructed, and maintains, splendid ] road two miles in length. This threads | along a gentle depression of ths bases o | Copperas mountain and Hickory hill 90 tha | the grounds are almost hidden from view un til, on ascending trifing grade, the en- trance is immediately before you; and th' 1 entire portion of She valley owned by th'
 government is brought in view.
 l To the south the grassy valley brsakl
 away, line of waving green against the rec l where you pause before entering the ground l wooded hills rise almost sheer above you fo
 between five and six hundred feet. Oppo site Picatinny peak circles to the north ant
 soutb, rising in perpendicular ragged masse like Q natural wall from the almost leve
 plain. Ones eye instantly comprehends tn
 stragetic and defensible advantages whic have been secured; for from each of at leas fifty emlnsnces, any one of which canno
 stand upwards of two miles from all th
 others, such artillery could be planted a
 would command every rood of the depo grounds as well Gs any near approach
 them from the south, or to the horse-sho
 shaped encircling crests of half-mountai hills. One cannot but at the came time re fleet that any foreign enemy could enter Ne
 York harbor, practically unopposed, and b oE vaiI hyy
 march, possess, fortify and defend for hi
 own use this gigantic store against our ow
 most desperate valor; and, finally, if com
 pelled to abandon his position, with hal dozen we'll directed shelis, explode and de
 stroy every vestige of the Picatinny depot.
 The entrance to the grounds along the gov l ernment road is guarded by immense fro
 gates, Their design is striking and unique
 Huge cannon form the four posts suppertin
 the gates. Their brooches rest in inmens
 granite blocks, and cannon balls placed o their muzzles form most suggestive cap
 while the splendid wrought iron gates al
 paueIed and emblazoned with the insignia (
 the ordnance department, consisting (
 crossed cannon and cannon balls. To th
 left of this imposing entrance massi1 granite wall sweeps straight across the nal row valley from base to bsse of mountain The view across the enclosed level plein is , singular blending of natural beauty and fo !, bidding austerisY.e The well kept ground , are shayen and neat The handsome offici buildings, employer quarters, guard and el ; zine houses are bright and fine. The sple ? did rim of chestnut groves at ths base of tl , mountains. with the imposing line of glean 2 ing rcd rocks above, and tho mountain crea { covered with frs and spruce, cutting ii 7 horizon edge against the sky, are filled wi q rich aud picturesque beauty. But tho
 long, low, dark structures, solitary al
 alone, in seemingly the most remote place ' have weird suggestlveness, giving mt = forbiddirg aspeot to Bcene otherwise p f. feet in exquisite beauty and repese. All ,l gether few structures are required. There h the guard house, square brick buildi a with granite trimmings and heavy bait ' mented walls, in which, apparently to. rs 'Is der the place easy of destruction, there z never any guard; the engine house contai inu fire engine, and nobody to man 1t; t $. ooamandant,s office, fine, commodfo Y hn,ldine with large offices for the connan ' ant. Major Frank H. Phipps, of tho ol ,- nance department, who has been ln enal ,- since August, 1887. ard the dspots en z. clerk, Mr. Robert w. Hughes; the keepe l. ro1Lmen's quarters. These, with the DO l- 6ar magazines themselves and the tall ha y staff and regulation flag flying from it's hea r oumprise every thing within the entire wall y to suggest the tremendous import Of It's q. cupanoy.
 a It was at first intended to erect ten mag T. ainss within the grounds. >but the numl i. was subsequently, limited to five, so tf c. each could be placed at least half m n from any other, in order to reduce the de e. ger from explosion. The first was built 1n 1sSO-s1, under the direction of Major F. l. Parker, of the ordnance corps, then is charge. Four are completed and in use a. storage, while the massive foundations e. the fifth are already in. They are practie e. iy alike. and the dimensions of each are ar hundred by fifty feet. The central piers ( '. Foundations are of granite, quarried fir d. the near mountain sides; and the twen ng four inch walls above are hollow and prt la ded with apertures for free circulation of ns during a few hours of sunny days. ye ceilings are low, of corrugated iron. laid all wrought iron trusses, forming low ct n. above. The interiors floors, walls. ceilil Ie. iron door frames and supporting iron pill no --are all sheathsd a perfectly as sh nd deck with yellow pine; while each are