The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-25
MIGHT eETA MORTAR BATTERY
THERE Is A GOOD $4,000 OF THE
SAVANNAH MONEY LEFT.

600 VIII BE Taken Up on the RES
emit Tybee FortiheauOns Contract.
balance of the Appropriate OR
should BE Secured For Carrying
on the Work as Contemplated.
yenabIe Bros. TO BE Notified TO GO
on with Their WOrk-Coast Forth
AcaIOns Everywhere Being Put
in shape-War Gossip as II Is
Heard by snvannah's Tourists.
If the people Of Savannah take hold Of
the matter and push 1t through the proper
sources they can doubtless secure addi-
tional fortihcations at Tybee along with
the present contract, which Venable
Bros, Of Atlanta have for putting UP
the 'emplaeements for the four s-inch dis
appearing guns.
The last congress appropriated $2,5OoOW
In cash and authorized contracts for $780,
BOO more to be made for coast defenses.
The war department expended the first
appropriation around New York harbor.
and the larger ports of the north, and the
contracts for work at other smaller ports
are being let out now. out of the latter
amount the department allotted $4,000
to build the fortihcations al Savannah
Messrs. Venable Bros, a Georgia hrm'
which owns quarries in the state and could
furnish the stone at a low figure, bid less
than $4,000 on the contract for the en-
placements for the four s-inch guns. This,
together with wharf, which is to be
constructed on the north end Of the Island
Tor the purpose of landing the material
will bring the total cost OF the present
work up to about $4,000.
AS viii be seen this leaves $4,000 of the
amount allotted to Savannah. which will
not be taken up by the present contract
This amount Of money would construct
the emplacements for the mortar bat
terry, or it would put up the emplacement
for one Of the two big Pinch disappearing
guns that are to be put alongside the g.
inch guns.
The Georgia firm having made low bid
Influenced in part, no doubt, by the Iact
that it is a work in Georgia's interest
there is no reason why the balance or the
appropriation under the continuous con-
tract system should not be used in carry
ing on the work as contemplated as far
as IL will 60 There is no doubt that the
mortar battery or the emplacement for
one of the Pinch guns could be putt
much cheaper, at the same time with the
present work. Now that coast rortlhea-
tons are being built everywhere, and Sa-
vannah's share Of the appropriation,
which was small one in the first place
there would seem to be no reason why
At is not made TO go as far as II can. Inc
matter, If brought to the attention OF the
department through the proper channels,
would no doubt result in the Savannah
harbor being given the benefit Of the re-
mainder Of the appropriation.
It is understood Venable Bros
bid for the construction of the emplace-
ments for the four S-inch guns
at Tybee, has been accepted
by the war department as re-
commended by Capt. o. NJ. Carter, and
that the firm will be notified at once It
can proceed with the work. Under their
contract the work must begin within
about six weeks Of the present time, and
must be concluded within a year. Before
the work is begun. however, II is probable
q wharf will be built on the north end of
the island for the landing of the material
10 be used In the construction OF the for
tihcations. The department now has this
matter under consideration, and 1t is said
bids for the construction of a wharf at
the government military reservation, will
soon be called for. With this facility, it
will be an easy matter to get the material
II.
1t is said the government has plenty
Of guns on hand for these and other forti-
hcations, but Is somewhat short on car
rages without which the guns are use
less. Carriages for the disappearing guns
are now being made as rapidly as posi-
BILE. and the indications are that the coast
defenses are being put in shape as rapidly
as possible.
Col. Peter c. Haines, chief of the SOUTH
ern division OF public works under the
engineer corps, did not reach Savannah
yesterday as was expected. He will hard
ly stop here long, however, and it is I'M
derstood viii have nothing to do with
regard to the Notifications on Tybee. He
is simply the consulting engineer OF this
division, and though he may stop here
to visit Capt. Carter, his present mission
calls him farther on, to the southern coast
of Florida, where he is going to look after
the condition of affairs around Key West
and the Dry Tortugas
1t is reported as talk around the clubs
In Washington and other places north,
especially among the military men, that
the Presidents coming message will be Of
rather warlike nature, and that there is
q likelihood of SPANS taking very quick
offense at ii after 1t is made public. This
however, is looked upon more as talk
than anything else, as President Cleveland
IS not generally in the habit Of letting the
become public property.
war with Spain appears to be looked
upon as possibility, though 1t is believed
II 1t should come the direct aggressive will
be taken by that country. Several Sa-
vannahians have returned recently from
Washington, and all of them say in some
quarters the talk of the possibility of a
conflict isfgeneral there, though little or
nothing is heard of 1t in official circles.
The fact that Weyler is losing ground in
his struggle with the insurgents, is
taken as basis for rumors
of impending danger. II is said everybody
in Cuba. even the Spaniards, who live
there, are with the insurgents, and that
the insurgents are now by one means and
another getting about nine-tenths of their
ammunition from the Spanish forces.
Spanish officers, IL is stated, are being
bribed into furnishing their antagonists
with cartridges and other ammunition,
and even the women OF one class, whose
sympathies are with the Insurgents, are
said to be accepting cartridges in ex>
change, and turning them over 10 the
islanders.
Under these circumstances, It is believed