Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-10-06
DEFENSE OF WASHINGTON.
Gigantic Works Which Ought to Have
Been cSs.sn "A Generation Ago,

Gigantic Works Which Ought TO Have
Been o~%an "a Generation Ago.
The grim and gray battlements OF
old Fort Washington, onthe Potomac,
thirteen miles below Washington,
will witness scene ofunusual activity
as il is understood an increased force
of men will be employed in the con.
struction of the great torpedo plant
at that point for the protection OF
this city from invasion or lombard.
ment by the war vessels of any enemy
of the future. Both the war derart.
ment aficials and those employed
about the old fort maintain the
strictest secrecy regarding the pro-
posed plant.
A great three-maSted schooner has
been moored to the main wharf, loaded
with broken stone and other material,
while surrounding it are several large
barges with cargoes ef building mat
ter. This material is taken to the
warehouses on the brow of the
wooded height, of which the fort is
situated by means of al inclined rail
way which rims up the steep declivity.
There are many indications about the
place of the quiet but effective work
that is going IN.
The project conuemplates a most
destructive torpedo and modern gun
defense. For the commencement of
this work the sum of STAT, $50 was
allotted from the general Qualification
appropriation OF Feb. "a, 1891, and
any deficiency will be supplied from
the general appropriation made last
month by the present congress.
There will be great mines under
the river capable of blowing skyward
the greatest val vessel afoat should
it attempt to pass that point; These
will be operated in perfect security
from the shore, while around the
entertainments lining the beach will
be mer torpedo outlets, much
resembling the sewer openings about
Washington.
From these Outlets ii is proposed to
launch torpedoes of the most power
full kind at any passing vessel of the
enemy, and this, il Is said, can be
done with the greatest precision and
accuracy. As the proposed plant
will be thirteen miles from Washing
ton, the distance will be ample 20
protect the city from the range of the
modern rifles, which can throw a
p~rojectile twelve miles.
In addition to the torpedo plant
the approved project Of defense con
templates e~mplacements for four
twelye-inch guns on lifts, six ten-inch
and three eight-inch guns on disap-
pearing carriages, and eight twelve
inch mortars, the submarine torpedo
mines TO be operated from two min
ing easements. This completed will
form n of the strongest defensive
points in the United States, and it is
proposed by the engineer department
to make advance arrangements for
thoroughly obstructing the river in
front Of the old fort, where it des-
cribes a sweeping curve, and thus
helps to checkmate any movement Of
war vessels from below.
The great guns about the fort will
also be able TO sweep the Potomac
and have perfect command of the
bend with both front and broadside
fires.
In order TO give the United States
forces plenty of room for any warlike
operations in the future the last con-
gress appropriated a sufficient sum
for the purchase of 200 acres of land
at Sheridan's Point, on the Potomac,
contiguous to Fort Washington, and
the land has been purchased and
added TO the site.
This improvement should have
been made long ago. said a promi-
nent army officer yesterday. "The
capital city OF agreat nation has been
left too long comparatively at the
mercy of any little two-penny foreign
gunboat which could run up from the
bay while q feet OF its sister warships
kept guard at the mouth of the
Potomac, and do millions OF dollars
worth OF damage, and then retire
down stream in good order, without
being seriously molested. Congress
have considered this matter
Iong ago, but the average rural
representative places too much
reliance in the patriotism of the peo-
pie and the great American eagle He
believes it is only necessary for this
American bird to flap lis wings to
the nations of the world quake
With fear. IL the battles of the
uture were TO be fought in the air
birds, our eagles would no
Ioubt come cut winners. But. the
is, enemies will not agree
Q so into the air and fight our en-
birds. What we need is big
uns, destructive torpedoes and mines
modern Notifications. Fort
when completed, will be
model defense, worthy OF imitation
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