The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-24
THE HARBOR DEFENSES.
The Half Million Appropriation Will
be a Good Starter for the Work.

It VIII Not be Spent on One Gun,
! However, but Probably as the En-
cheering Department Directs in the
Construction of Fortihcations-A
12-inoh Gun Costs Only $50, 900,
and There viii be Three Of Them
Before the Work is Finished-Tybee
and Cockspur Islands to be the
Places Where the Fortihcations VIII
be Constructed.
The MORNING News day or two ago
stated that in the Notifications bill pro-
vision was made for twelve-inch gun at
Fort Pulaski, to cost $500, 900. This state
ment was, no doubt, an error, as the ord
nance used by the United States is made
irrespective Of the place at which it is TO
be located. 1t will probably be ascer-
tanned. when a copy of the bill is received
here, that the S500,000 referred to have
been appropriated for the purpose of
building foundation and masonry at either
Fort Pulaski or Tybee Island, or, In gen
eral terms, for the defenses at the mouth
of the Savannah river, TO be used as the
discretion of the engineering department
directs
For the defense of Savannah river
it is proposed to erect at Tybee Island
a mortar battery and a heavy gun
battery. AS Fort Pulaski is not of much
value as it stands to-day, 1t will be re-
modelled, so as to be capable Of mounting
modern ordnance. There will also be
made provision for covering the channel
with submarine mines, or what is COM
monty known as stationary torpedoes.
THE RIVERS ONLY DEFENSE.
Fort Pulaski at present forms the sole
military defense Of the mouth of the
Savannah river, and commands the inner
anchorage at Tybee roads and of the
northern channels of entrance to the city
Of Savannah. Although the fort in its
present condition, would be almost
modern ships of war, the site is far more
important than ever, on account of the in
creasing depth of water in the river. At
present vessels drawing twenty-three
feet of water can anchor in Tybee roads,
and drafts of twenty-one and twenty-five
feet can be taken at high water up to the
city wharves. The whole of Cockspur
Island, upon which Fort Pulaski is stu
ated, with the exception Of about thirty
acres, belongs to the United States Ju-
risdictiOn was coded in 1903. The only
quarters for a garrison are in the case
mates of the work. There is cistern ca
pacity within the fort of about 175,000
gallons. Within the past few months an
artesian well was driven, and now there
is supply of good artesian water.
NEW FORT ON TYBEE.
The fort to be constructed at this point
will command both the outer and the
inner anchorages at Tybee roads and the
channel of approach to Savannah river
The reservation, comprising the northern
end of Tybee Island, was acquired by the
United States in 1873. A portion of the
reservation is occupied by two lighthouses
and set of quarters belonging to the
United States lighthouse establishment.
The Martello tower, built about 1912, is
occupied by the Southern Bell Telephone
and Telegraph Company as a signal sta
tion.
The plans and specifications for the
fertilization and defense Of the mouth of
the Savannah river and the Savannah
harbor, have been approved according to
the recommendations made and have been
on file in the engineering department at
Washington since 1886.
THE COST OF THE WORK.
The estimated cost for these fortifica-
tions and their equipment is 81, 1857 600, of
which $685., 900 is to be spent for fortihca-
tions, earthwork and masonry. The cost
of the guns, carriages and mortars, all
told, will be $650,000. The cost of the
mines or stationary torpedoes, will be
about $250,000.
The specifications for the armament of
the Qualifications is as follows: Three
twelve-inch guns which cost about $50, 900
each, six ten-inch guns which cost about
S27, 900 each, four eight-inch guns which
cost about che same as the ten-inch guns,
and sixteen twelve-inch rife mortars.
These specifications have all been ap-
proved by the war department, but the
exact location of the different defenses
has not yet been made public Most of
them, however, will be on Tybee and
Cockspur Islapds. The appropriation
mentioned above is the first in accordance
with the recommendations.