The Portland daily press., 1890-11-22
DEFENCES OF PORTLAND.
Important Works To 8e Constructed
at Portland Head.
Lines of Torpedoes to Surround the
Harbor.
A Powerful Electric Search Light FOR
Foggy Weather. LIZ

Col. Jared A. Smith, commanding the
U. s. Engineering Department at this post,
has lately received orders from the War De-
partment to prepare the plans for the defenc-
es ofPortland which are to be entered upon al
onco. These plans are now being made by
Col. Smith and his assistants. Col. Smith
expects to begin work early in the spring OF
1891 and have them completed by early au-
tumn. The last Congress voted a lump sum
for the fortification Of the leading ports Of
the country and portion Of this sum has
been devoted to Portland.
Some years ago the United States govern
ment bought a large tract Of land Just beyond
Portland head light, expecting to make II
useful at an early day. 1t is at this point,
which is very high ground. and commands
all approaches to the harbor, that Col. Smith
will commence his work.
The plans as outlined, contemplate, for
the present, the construction of subterran-
can casemate on the proposed ground. This
casemate will be large underground room
perhaps 100x30 feet in siza, which will be i'm
pervious to shot or she'll. This casemate will
be the operating room where a telegraph
operator will be located. From this case
ment underground trenches will be laid
through which electric cables will run and be
connected with line of torpedoes running
from Portland Head to the outside of Cush-
ing's Island on one line, and through Hus
sey's Sound on the other. Stations for OBJ
servers will be constructed at proper places
along these lines. From these observation
covers the observers will note the location of
any war vessel belonging to the enemy. over
particular torpedo. Immediately telegraph
the number of the torpedo to the operator at
the operating casemate on theHead who will
Immediately apply the current to that par
ticular torpedo and blow up the vessel.
Adjoining the operating easement it is al
so intended to construct another OF equal
size, If not larger for tine electrical applanc-
es to be used in operating powerful search
light. OF coarse during the day time the
position of vessel could be seen without
much difficulty provided the weather was
clear, but at night, or when the weather was
foggy it would be almost impossible without
aid. This search light will be so powerful
that the harb)r will be made light as day by
Its use, and the GynamOs to run it will be
located in the electrical casemate.
So much for the protection of the harbor
from an enemy's vessels that seek to enter
to use it for the purpose of rendezvous for
q squadron. sOr aport Of refuge tor fleet OF
single vessel. As long as the classmates
remain unimpaired, and the connections
with the torpedoes hold good. war vessel,
while 1t may be off the coast beyond the
reach Of such guns as arms Forts Preble,
Gorges and Scanned are concerned, and
shell the city. cannot get inside the harbor
land her mon or exact tribute from tho citi-
zeus. But this matter of defence will not
stop with these easements and torpedoes.
At least one, If not two, OF those enormous
guOs, of which mention has been made Of
late, will be mounted and then the projec-
tiles propelled from it will be able to reach
any war vessel located within shellng dis
tance of the city and have force enough to
penetrate its armor, smash in its decks and
place 1t hors de combat. Col Smith says we
have now facilities in this country to make
as large and as powerful guns as any ma
tion, and we shall not be dependent upon
any foreign power for them. Other nations
may make all the preparations they like for
assuming belligerent attitude but we
shall be fully able to protect ourselves out If
our own resources.