The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-17
7Hf. COAST DFFENCEs.
Ss""nno Mortar Batteries nnd the Sites
Needed for Them.

Needed for Them.
WASHINGTON. July 16-The Senate has made
70 noticeable increases In tho Fortiiications
NH "a passed by the House. Ono raises from
SooOaNN to S750.0OO the item for the con-
ett'ictton OF gun and mortar batteries: tho
o'hcr Increases from S25O,0OO to $500. 900 the
Appropriation for the purchase Of sites for
sactf Batteries.
1t should be said. however. that those are. in
one sense. RESERVATIONS OF old legislation The
last Congress appropriated the amounts which
the Senate has now set apart for these two
purposes. and the House this yenr seems to
nave reduced tho Items more In q general
spirit OF economy than because tho former
amounts were excessive. The purchase Of
sites for Notifications and tho erection OF new
batteries will require annual appropriations
Tor q long time. and tho sums hitherto fixed
seem to be moderate and worthy Of continu-
snce at lcest for several sessions to come.
The Engineer Corps asked S2.847.OOO for
gun and mortar batteries. on tho ground that
this sum would be needed to erect empace-
ments for eighteen guns In addition to tho
enplacements for twenty guns which had been
partly provided for by tho Fiftieth Congress
and the Fiftynrst. 1t has been shown that
there will lie ready for mounting In less than
year f"rty-two guns. and that provision for
the cnn placements OF twen.y-four ofthem must
still be made. In addition thcro will be fifty
seven mortars ready within year. The cree
ton OF cmplacements FOR thirty-two OF these
has been provided for. hut for twenty five no
provision has been made. The Engineer Corps
accordingly estimated $4,000 as needed for
expenditures at Portland. S3+6. 600 for Boston.
SaTaO0O for Now York. 100000 for Washing
ton. S3i6.C00 for Hampton Roads. and $780,
600 for San Francisco
1t will be seen that since all these guns and
mortars are 40 soon to be ready. there should
be liberal provision at the present time for
mounting them and $3.50 600 is certainly not
an excessive proportion of tho total estimates.
1t is true that the main point Is to get the guns
House COMMITTEES. ''ff war should Freak out.
10 few But sS tsat
the pressure of an emergency in which thou
i would take about nine months to construct
nent use. 1t is a, very pleasant prospect
coasts hy next June: hut for that very reason
receiving them. so that then the country may
feel degree Of security in the preparations
Yer Te mot
this purpose was lately $500 900: hut ali OK.
cept $4,000 had been set apart Tor contracts;
s750.ooo instead Of s50o.0oo for this purpose se
it might all be laid out to advantage within
AZ to sites, two approximations of s5ooooo
each have already been made at successive
Sha ss 'Sd s'ss Hs Rth
Sl:0D00oo already devoted to this purpose.
%1gs S01d the hs Re
In letter or q r. iSst Gem
delay in Securing these proposed sites must t
result in increased cost to the Government.
she lines wou the estiasa s@
ed" He stterward expresses the oriini lon that
LOO more acres will have to be acquired be-
fully ca car pi out There was lately on hand.
unexpended. it arrears about sl75.0O II
+; conclude to increase the amount by S.uO.O0O
! at the present time no doubt the facilities Of
the war Dep Depart would 90 GiniaTRed not
| rondsm nation nf sites. but for making private
! contracts oi purchase.
iron morIaTs: hooped With steel: and sutsti:
SHOULD cause ' little dissension. Both types OF
mortar are good but the Ordnance Depart.
ment is inclined to make the advance to steel
ter very fairly in the House:
u bs Of Is sa Sp 3. !.
build twenty twentytw" steel ort amt have tho
S 81 s T Mt Ps IT,,
classes Of guns and see ~hGm WIS q: best and then
mere matter Of exprdiency Tor tho gun Indicated in
~ xentlenans an,entmen: has nssn accented by the
nsnt can 10 made with ten Steel nortsrs =. wei as
mem: /. /. matter which involves principle. '
Whatever the decision. " liberal provision
also be added that. whether with or without
tho Other Senate amendments. the pending
n good one. and creditable to the Fifty second
Congress.