The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-01
Defend the Coasts.

Defend the Coasts.
Along with the need of accelerated
internal improvements, to when seha-
tor Quay has recently called attentioh'
the next congress should give heed TO
the equally pressing need Of adequate
and trustworthy coast Notifications.
During the past few months there mas
been random talk, by newspapers ana
public men, Of diplomatic complica-
tions with foreign powers the ending OF
which may possibly involve war. Win
in the period of a year the relations Oh
the United States with Spain, with
England and with France have. at va
rious times, undergone pressure suHi-
cient to justify more than passing ret-
erence to the possibilities of an appear
to the sword. 1t Is not true that Amer
leans desire war or that they would
sanction it except where 1t should seem
clearly required to defend American
rights or uphold the honor of the Amer
lean flag. But 1t is true that In view OF
wars possible occurrence as result OF
the failure of peaceable negotiations
with foreign nations, We should so
fortify our great coast cities that their
many millions OF exposed human
lives and their billions of dollars worth
of exposed property would be measur-
abIv safe from attack by the guns or
foreign fleet.
The plans of the war department at
Washington call for forty-four SIX
teen-inch guns, weighing. 12O tons
apiece and capable of throwing sphere
of metal the size of large pumpkin ten
miles. The cost of each of these great
guns, exclusive of mounting and incl
dental expenses, is estimated at $l4o,
900 apiece, or Sc, 16O, 900 in the aggregate
Allowing for mounting and other COSTS
probably $1O,0O0,0O0 would be required
to put the exposed coast line OF the
United States in such condition of de-
fense that, in the event Of war with q
foreign power, an invading fleet could
do little IL any damage. 1t Is easy 10
see how to rural statesman unfamiliar
with the perils Of the present practic-
ally defenseless condition of our great
coast cities like New York, Boston and
San Francisco, the expenditure OF this
sum on idle guns would appear to be a
most reprehensible bit ofnational prof.
ligacy.
Dat ,,,ba,, uuc1, n ronpresSman from
the interior regions pays'a visit, say, to
New York city, and reflects that as the
case now stands IL war should be de-
ciared with England tomorrow. Eng
land could within two months put such
fleet within shooting distance OF tall
lowered Gotham that the damage in
flicted within one block by the dis
charge of that fleets broadsides would
pay for these forty-four coast-defense
guns three, five, or possibly ten times
over, we suspect that he will undergo a
change of opinion. There Is no excuse
for failure to provide against foreseen
emergencies. The extravagant thing
is to neglect precaution which would
II taken in time, save its cost many
times over.
One of the first duties to which the
Republican craftsmanship Of the next
congress should address itself, after
the Democratic deficit shall be pro-
vided for by the restoration Of an ade-
quate protective tariff, will be the prob
lem of insuring the property along its
now 1eaporded coasts by the erection
and maintenance Of proper coast forti-
fications.