Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-14
DEFENSE OF THE COAST.

Senator Stanford and Congressman Nor
row and Clunie have introduced bill
into the two Houses of Congress looking to
the provision for the naval and land de-
tense of the coast. In brief, the measure
provides that 100000 shall be appro-
priated for the establishment of plant for
the finishing and assembling of the heavy
parts of guns and other ordnance for the
use of the army and navy The plant is
to be located on or near the Pacific coast
That $250,000 be appropriated for the pur-
chase of a site or sites near Point Lobos
at the entrance 10 San Fra ncisco Bay, and
one or more in Admiralty Inlet or
Puget Sound, suitable for the erection
of defensive works. But the sites are not
to be purchased until the proper Board
has examined the offered positions, and
has reported the cost to the Secretary of
War.
Next, 100000 is to be appropriated for
the repair and preservation of existing
Notifications and works, in the Division of
the Pacific. Then S25OOOO is appropri-
ated for torpedoes for the defense of har-
bors on the Pacific coast, the purchase of
submarine mines and appliances necessary
to operate them, for needful easements and
cable-galleries, for the purchase of NOV
able submarine torpedoes to be controlled
by power transmitted from shore stations,
and for the instruction of troops in the de-
tails of torpedo service that Sl3,473,000
no ar1n-an-;a4aI CO.. 49, s,.----i- 10 "a
power coast defense guns that S2,080,000
be appropriated for the purchase of 800
cast-iron, breech-loading, steel-hooped
rihed mortars of twelve-inch caliber;
that $3,629,95O be appropriated for the
purchase or fabrication of carriages for the
guns and mortars; that S58S5OOO be APP
propriated for the purchase of necessary
materials for the construction and erection
of defensive works on the Pacific coast, in
GLIDING steel gun-turrets, hydraulic lifts,
disappearing and non-disappearing mount
ings and for masonry and earthworks
The President is to appoint Board to
select the site first referred to, and pro-
vision is made for the payment of the ez-
penses of that boly. 1t will be seen that
the bill is a very comprehensive one. 1t
does not propose any patchwork reform,
but that the systematic fertilization of the
coast shall be entered upon on such scale
that the Government can thereafter pro-
coed to any extent of development of de
ensiye works that the best military irdg-
ment may determine. Wisely the bill
does not provide for the character
of the respective defensive works, ex-
cept the aggregation for both; all such de-
tail is properly left to future determine
ton. 1t is to be hoped that the bill will
pass. 1t will probably evoke some opposi-
tion, but unquestionably the sentiment Of
the mass of the people of the nation is to-
day strongly in favor of thorough fortifca-
tion of the port of San Francisco, and of a
commanding position on Puget Sound, and
for such provision regarding guns and sub
marine appliances of defensive warfare as
will put the chief points on the coast in a
fair condition to resist assault, and at the
same time to afford the commerce of the
Pacific protection in case of war.