The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-09-05
FORTIFYING BOSTON.
Heavy Guns to BE Planted on Long
Island Head



department. in Boston for the defense OF
Boston. The appropriation for this
work, which was passed by the last con-
gross, is now available, and work has
begun in fortifying the different har-
bors throughout the country. Boston
will receive q portion Of this appropria-
tion, and Lieut.. Col. Mansfield, who 10
in charge Of this district, has received
ORDERS from the department at Wash
ington to provide emplacements for
three ten-inch rifles and two Ave-inch
rapid-f3re guns. The fact that these
guns were to be placed in the harbor
was learned from the war department
the other morning, and the expense Of
them Is to come out of the new appro-
priation Of $ll ,oO0, 900.
These guns are to be placed on what is
commonly known as Long Island Head,
situated ON the eastern end of Long
Island. The department has appointed
Lieut.. Meriweather L. Walker to assist
Lieut.. Col. Mansfield in placing the guns
in position, and to aid generally in car
rying out the plans as far as the fort:fy-
ing Of the harbor Is concerned. For
some time 1t has been contemplated to
put guns on Long Island Head. During
the early part of this year work was al
ready begun in making the preliminary
arrangements for It, and the excavat,ng
has almost been completed. There is
no doubt but that the department in
tends to push the work as rapidly as
possible, now that the necessary aPpro-
priation is available.
The carriage for the first ten-inch
gun is being built at the Watertown
arsenal. and will he ready in the near
future for shipment to Long island.
Lieut.. Col. Mansfield has advertised for
proposals for cement, sand and stone
for the battery ut that place, and they
will be opened Mt his office in the post
Office building at noon On August IL.
From present Indications the work will
he completed on or about December 1.
1t is stated that there is the same ac-
tivity displayed in other cities as well as
in Boston; and ut the present time all
and carriages can be manufactured are
in full operation. A large number of
contracts have also been made with pri-
vate firms in different parts of the
country for the manufacture of both
guns and carriages. There is no doubt
in the minds of the officials that the
slight controversies that the United
States government has liad with for-
eign countries has awakened an interest
in the matter of streng gthcning the diff
fercnt harbors for defense, und it is as
signed as one reason why there is SO
much haste in fortifying them with
modern guns.
In the last six months. it is stated on
excellent authority, the Watertown ar-
seual has shipped about 50 gun-car-
riages to various harbors in the United
States. Among these are the six or
eight that were placed in position at
Fort Warren in boston harbor a. few
weeks ago. Others were sent to San
Francisco. New York, Rhode IsiandIand
other places. There is other evidence
that the department. il DESTROYS of hav-
ing the harbors fortified as soon as possi-
bile, especially those of New York. and
Boston. Previous to the beginning Of
the fiscal year on July Il the war de-.
partment notified Lieut.. Col. Mansfield
to clean UP the work at Fort Winthrop
80 that the place is now in excellentcon-
dition and ready for service at any time.
The guns to be put on Long Island
Head are of the disappearing pattern,
and will cost the government about $780,
600 each. There is a possibility that all
the guns will not be erected at that
point, but distributed at one or two
other places.--Boston Transcript.