The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-22
SECRETARY LAMONT'S ESTIMATE
OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR
NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
WAR OFFICE RUNNING EXPENSES
Show a Reduction in the Annual Ex-
penses of 0,000-Details of the
Various Guns. Etc. in the Pro-
cess of Construction.

ihohI VIII tolnoTToW tTuHSHlL 10 tne Sec
rotary of the treasury his estimates of ap.
preparations required by the war depart.
ment for the next fiscal year. The ag-
gregate is $50, S75,63S.
The estimate for the running expenses
of the war Office in Washington is ST.
AGA, 236, showing, the secretary says, a
reduction in the annual expenses for sal
aries and contingencies in that office of
$621 ,942, from the estimates of four years
ago.
The other estimates in detail are as
follows:
Pay of army, as fixed by law, $13, So, :
$50; subsistence of the army, 81, 1853, S37
quartermaster's supplies, $2,200,OO0; res
ident expenses of the army, 100000; bar
racks and quarters, including hospital
construction, $S36,0O0; shooting ranges,
$4,000; cavalry and artillery horses,
$4,000; army transportation, $4,000
600; clothing, $1,1OO,0OO; medical sup
plies, $14 Zoo; arsenals. $1S4,96O; mill
tary posts, national cemeteries and ma
tional parks, 81 ,5SS 300; national soldiers
homes, 81, 443,314 artificial limbs for SOL
diers of the war, $151, 600; public build
ings and grounds in Washington, $139,-
992; miscellaneous items, 100000; riv-
ers and harbors, S5,349,OO0.
10 meet payment ON existing contracts
the department at this time is unable to
say what sum will be required for future
contracts for which authority exists.
The estimate for fertilization and sea-
coast defense has been increased to $15,-
2S4 ,29S, an amount, Secretary Lamont
says, which will be required to continue
this work at its present rate of progress,
which has been appreciably advanced
under the large appropriation, which be-
came available on the list of July last.
In connection with his estimate the Sec
rotary has made public statement of
the condition of this work, the advance
that has been made and the results that
can be effected by the increased appro-
priatiOn which he asks. On the LIST of
of July, 1893, but one modern gun had
been placed in position. On the list of
July, 1897, the department shall have
follows: Thirteen 13-inch, thirty-seven
10-inch, eight S-inch and four rapid-frng
guns and eighty Pinch mortars.
The remainder of the secretary's let
ter transmitted the estimates of a his
torical nature, reviewing the progress
made in seacOast defense. He says for
the fifteen years preceding 1890 no ap-
preparations had been made for engineer
ing work on our permanent coast defense
except the small and steadily decreasing
sum annually allowed for the "protec-
ton, preservation and repair" of existing
works, but small amounts had been grant
ed for construction of mining easements
and for the purchase of material for sub
marine defenses, while in 1888 and 1888
a total of about $2,O00,0OO had been APP
prOpriated for modern guns, mortars and
carriages. In 1890 was made the first
appropriation, 81 ,221 900 for modern gun
and mortar batteries, followed by one of
$750,OOO in 1891, and by another of $780,
600 in 1892. This money was allotted by
the department for construction work at
various points, including a total of four
Pinch, twenty 1O-inch, five S-inch and
two rapid-fring guns emplacements and
siXty-four Pinch mortar emplacement.
None of them, however, could be made
ready to receive its armament until af-
ter the first small appropriation made in
1892 and the two succeeding years. Prac-
tically it has devolved upon the war de-
partment since 1898 to make provisions
for the completion of nearly all of these
emplacements.
1T appears" the secretary says, "that
seventeen out of twenty-one Pinch en-
placements, twenty out of twenty-five
S-inch emplacements, fourteen out of six
teen rapid-tire gun emplacements and
ninety-two out of 1876 Pinch mortar en-
placements have been entirely provided
for during the last four years and that
during the same time large part of those
previously provided for have been pre-
pared to receive their armament.
For this favorable showing much is
due the liberality of congress at its re-
cent session. The number of emplace
ment provided by the act of June 6, 1896,
is just fifty in excess of the total provided
by all preceding appropriations.
The progress in armament has been
equally satisfactory. Figures are given
to show that prior to last of June 6, 1896,
there had been completed twelve S-inch,
sixteen 10-inch and twenty-one Pinch
guns, and eighty Pinch mortars COM
pleted, while there were twenty-seven
finch, twenty-five 10-inch and twenty
nine Pinch guns in process of construc-
ton.
The appropriation of June 6, 1896,
while leaving the above completed totals
raised the totals in process
of construction to twenty-seven S-inch,
fifty-six 10-inch, fifty Pinch, ten g.
pound rapid fire and seventy-siX Pinch,
all steel mortars.
"By the time new appropriation can
be available" says the letter, ''al the
details of every type of carriage will
have been determined. With sufficient
therefore, the limit to the future
rapidity of progress in coast defense in
this country will be the capacity of pub
lie and private plants to supply ordnance
Upon this fact are based the esti-
mates. These estimates will provide the
Guns-One 16-inch gun finishing and
assembling forgings already provided,
.wenty-one sets Pinch gun forgings,
,ixty-one sets 10-inch gun forgings, IA
Ill steel Pinch mOrtars complete. fifty
i've 6-pound rapid firing guns with
mounts and 200 rounds per gun and
wenty-four 5-inch rapid fire guns with
MOUNTS and 100 rounds per gun.
arriages-Twenty-one Pinch disap-
bearing carriages, twenty 10-inch disap-
bearing carriages, eight S-inch disappear
ne carriages and 1873 1o-inch mortar car
iages.
For engineering work-Twenty Pinch
.mplacements, disappearing; nineteen 10
nch emplacements, disappearing; twelve
'-inch emplacements, disappearing: 113
Mortar empacements.
Thus, if the present estimates of the |
var department for permanent defenses |
~. r