The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-10
WAR DEPARTMENT
More effectively Managed Than It
Has Been for Thirty Years.
THE MOST MODERN FACILITIES
For Making Cannon Practically Gre
ated by President Harrison's Ad.
minIstrutlon...The Army Used to
Improve the Altlitla-..A Splendid
Record.

upon the administration Of the affairs
Of the war department, which Is per-
haps one of the most important under
the government, asitinvolyest the expen.
dlture OF upwards Of s50,0OO,oOo anpu.
ally, the superintendent OF river and
barbor improvements and various pub
lie works throughout the country, and
necessitates IN ever watchful eye on
tho free and unobstructed commerce
along the seaboard and through nayiga-
bic waterways. 1t requires the most
energetic action respecting defepces,
and ordnance in connection Herewith,
and, in addition to the various incident.
al matter pertaining to preserving. and
perfecting tho records Of the war Of the
rebellion and pensioners, q CAREFUL man
agement Of tho entire military system,
not only with respect to tbs United
States army, but the relation which 1t
bears to the state military organizations
throughout tho country, the improve
ment and encouragement Of which de-
pend largely upon the interestglfelt re-
garding them by the Presidentsaud sec
rotary Of war.
In ali these respects the administra-
ton OF the war department for over
three years has been more successful,
and marked by greater actiyitys,than in
any previous period for thirty years.
Nearly two hundred millions ot dollars
have been managed and expended with
out the loss through detalcation, or
official mishap, OF q single dollar to the
government. River and harbor i'm
provements have steadily advanced,
without prejudice to the rights Of In
dviduals or corporations, and resulting
In untold public benefit Under the
improved law Of 1900, authority was
given to put certain public works
under. continuing contracts, that is
contracts made for tho entire
work, to be paid for as
appropriations might from time-to time
be made. In the instances wherein
such contracts have been entered into q
saving has been effected OF from ten to
thirty-three per centum OF the esti-
mated cost and average prices paid for
like work in the preceding ten years.
Under that law greater care is also
taken to prevent tile obstruction or i'm
pairment of navigation. All in all, it
may be stated that, under the present
methods OF conducting river and har-
Dor improvements, the best results are
obtained at a less cost and with greater
satisfaction than ever before in the his
tory Of the country.
In the matter OF sea coast detenses
steady progress has been made. De.
spite the repeated reports OF the chief
Of engineers OF the army year aftar year,
setting forth the deplorable condition
Of our national defenses, the same in.
efficient condition that had existed
since the close OF the war was allowed
TO continue until August, 1890, when q
Republican Congress began the creation
Of a system Of proposed detenses, and
appropriated nearly o million and q
quarter for the construction OF gun aud
mortar batteries at Boston, New York
and San Francisco-the three great
national gatew0ys to the American con-
tinent. This appropriation was of vital
Importance to the country. Itgave life
to the system which had been prepared
BY the engineer officers Of the govern.
ment, and urged by Republican admin
istrations for years before. The system
embraced:
First-The armament Of the heaviest
rife guns mounted on disappearing car
riages, which, while widely dispersed,
can concentrate theirfire on the enemys
vessels, and which in range aud peno.
tration OF proiectiles will equal,'h not
exceed, the heaviest fire that can be
brought against them by the most
powerful feet, thus keeping tina latter
ats safe distance, or destroying 1t while
attempting to pass the mined areas.
second-A well-developed system of
submarine mines planted in the chan
nels and roadways, for the purpose of
holding the vessels Of the enemy under
the Are Of our guns, and preventing
their running the batteries and reach
ing the harbors and cities.
Third-The protection Of these mined
areas from counter.mining and re-
moval, by batteries Of rapid-fring guns
OF small calibre and wide field OF fire.
Based upon this system, detailed
projects under the direction OF HPresi-
dent Harrison for the defence OF our
principal seaboard cities and roadsteads
have been or are being prepared. Such
projects for the defence of Charleston
and Savannah arc now under consider
alton. Last year an additional sum Of
S750,000 was appropriated to continue
the work OF construction OF seacoast
detences, and its application extended
to include the defence OF Hampton
PnoIs on1 Waaktnnkan
In addition to this a Republican Con-
gross, upon tho Recommendation OF
President Harrison's administration,
took into consideration the necessity
for removing tho exterior line OF de-
fences to a greater distance from the
object which it was intended to cover;
mother words, the keeping Of the enc.
my's fleet at a point beyond lombard
ing distance. The increase in heavy
range or modern heavy rifled gunsiover
those OF former years was found to be
80 great as TO make eight and ten miles
not an unreasonable distance from q
city for its outer line Of defences. Hence
arose the necessity OF acquiring sites,
which in former years were not deemed
either necessary or favorable, and Re-
publican Congress appropriated one
million Of dollars to carry out the gen
eral plAH, US proposed by the war de-
partment. The point has now been
reached when, by tho continuance OF
appropriations Tor coast deiences, the
proposed work can be carried on sys.
tematlcally and judiciously, aud, II con.
tinued, will ensure greater protection
than was ever dreamed OF in former
years.
With regard to heavy ordnance It