Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-10-19
NATIONS DEFENSE
Secretary Lamont Presents a
Little Bill Therefor.
A MATTER OF SEVERAL MILLIONS.
Quite . Large Proportion Of Which Il
Wanted for Big Guns In Coast Fortifica-
tions-Details Of the Cost Of the Regular
Army-Progress of the Building and
Mounting of Modern Artillery Since the
Beginning OF the Work in 1890.

Washington. Oct. 10. - Secretary
Lamont today transmitted to the secre-
tary of the treasury his estimates Of
appropriations required by his depart
ment for the next fiscal year. The ag-
gregate is So, ,s15, ,63S. The estimate for
the running expenses of the war office
in Washington is 81. .46i 236. showing, the
secretary says. a reduction in the an
nual expenses for salaries and con-
tingerciesin that office of 2l.942 from
the estimates of four years ago. The
other estimates in detail, are as fol-
lows: Pay of the army. as fixed by
law. s13 $50: subsistence of the army.
sl.659.S3, quartermasters' supplies. 81
10000: Incidental expenses of the army.
5000, 900; barracks and quarters. includ
ing hospita! !construction .SS35. 900: shoot
ing ranges. $4,000: cavalry and artil-
lery horses. sl30.c00: army transporta-
ton S2,500.0c0: >.othing Sl.l00. .0O0;
medical supplies $4,000: ordnance de-
partment s1.l3l zoo: military academy,
S521 .Si2: arsenals. Sl39.7 1876: military
posts. national cemeteries and national
parks, s1,55S.3S0.
The above is the total cost of the
regular army proper-a little more. in
fact, as the national cemeteries and
parks are a sequel of the rebellion.
There are also the following items in
the report: National soldiers homes
IS, 445.2li artificial limbs for soldiers of
the late war. sl91.000: public buildings
and grounds in Washington. Sl39 992:
miscellaneous items, Si02. 200: rivers and
harbors, s5.3i9.O00 The estimate for
Notifications and sea coast defense has
been increased to SIS, ,S2i 29S. an amount
which will be required to continue this
| work at its present rate of progress
| which has been appreciably advanced
| under the large appropriation which
became available on the ist of July
last.
How the Work Is Progressing.
In connection with his estimate the
! secretary has made public a statement
of the condition of this work, the ad-
| vance that has been made. and the
| results that can be effected by the in
| creased Appropriation which he asks.
On the lst of July. 1893, but one modern
| gun had been placed in position. on
| the 1st of July, 1897. the department
| will have completed defenses with
| armament as fOllOwS: Thirteen L.
| inch. thirty-seven 1O-inch. eight s.
inch. and four rapid-firins guns and
eighty Finch mortars.
Coast Defenses Are . New Thing.
The remainder of Secretary La
mont's letter transmitting the esti-
| mates is of historical nature review
ing the progress made in sea coast de-
| fense. He says that for the fifteen
| years preceding 1890 no appropriations
had been made for engineering work
on our permanent coast defense ex-
| cept the small and steadily decreasing
sum annually allowed for the ''protec-
tion, preservation and repair of exist
ing works. but small amounts had been
| granted for the construction of MILL
tary minig easements and pur-
| chase of material for submarine de-
| fenses. while in 1883 and 1889 a total
of about $4,000. 900 had been appro.
priated for modern guns, mortars and
carriages. In 1890 was made the first
appropriation, 81 .221 900, for modern
gun and mortar batteries.