The morning times., 1896-11-01
THE SEA COAST
Ge,. Craighill Rep0r S On tLe
Progress of the Work.
DEFENSE OF THIS CITY
Negotiations for the Purchase of
Sites for Fortifications-Prep
ing EmplaceInent for the Big Guns.
Scheme VIII Be About One-fifth
Completed i'll 1897.

Under the Lead OF fortifications, in his
annual report submitted yesterday, Gen.
CraiSniil, Chief OF EHgineers says That
detailed projects nave been approved Tor
the artillery defense of Portland Maine,
| Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Bosl on ;,
Nairasansett Bay, eastern entrance to
Long island Sound, tpartiall, New York,
fhiiadeipnia, Baltimore, Washington, II amp
TON Roads, Wilmington, ". c.; Charleston,
savannah, Key West, Pensacola, Mobile
New Orleans, Galveston, San Diego, San
Francisco, mouth OF Columbia River. and
Puget Sound
in addition partial projects have been
approved Tor the defense OF the lake ports
Cumberland Sound, kennebec, New Bed
lord, fenUuscOt River, New Haven, and
new London. Complete projects Tor the
defense of these places are under con
sitefatlon and also for Port Royal, S. c..
; ana TOrLugas, Fla.
/ In these projects use is made of the
existing old type fortifiCations which are
ei'her strengthened and given in part
modern armament or utilized as an idJunct
OF tAe newer and stronger WORKS.
PURCHASE OF SITES
During the year there have been nrgotia-
tons for the purchase OF sites at Charles
ton, baltimore, Narragansett Bay, and
For land, Me. AT several points where
iorurcauoiis are urgently desired nothing
Idli NE tnc lluO ll = not vet
been acquired.
The appropriation of S5OO 600 made by
the last Congress for the purchase IF sites
| had been pledged, and TO continue the
work an appropriation of the same amount
for next year is requested.
| Gen CraiGmll urgently recommends an
| appropriation OF SltO 600 for the preserva-
ton and repair of rortifications, saying that
| as a result of the failure OF Congress to
! make pFpyiSinn In 3. b,, for ,t,air
| care the ungarrisoned fortifications and
reservations are now III a dcploTablc state,
| with the perlShable portions now almost
| worthless and the heavy masonry work
slowly being destroyed.
PLACING THE GUNS.
He says that the work of preparing EN-
placements for guns has been rushed with
much VIgor where the money was available,
particularly at New York. Delaware River
and Charleston. The first considerable
| was 10 provide for the needs of all our
sea ports. lor which projects are approved
So as TO protect as many as practicable
against Isolated cruiser attacks.
OF guns of large CALLERS there are a
Total OF GIG, and of mortars, ,O72. for
| which einplacenIcnts Will have to be con-
structed, and CT these Congress has pro-
Vided for 19 per cent of the guns, and 10
| per cent of the mortars
These figures, says Gen. Craighill, show
| approximately what will be the condition
| OF The country at the end of 1897 to resist
| attacks on our coasts by frst-class
| power, as Judged by expert opinion-t that
| Is, as regards coast defense, the country in
another year Will be about one-fifth pre-
| pared.
In concluding this part of his report.
Gen. Craighiil submits concise detailed re-
ports by the officers in charge of the work
| lhat mas Deen ,Jne at each fortified point
| during The year.
| RIVERS AND HARBORS,
Under the head Of rivers ana harhors
1t Is said that experience has shown that
the system of providing funds for carry.
Ing on continuously and completing Ger
tain works, has resulted in materially re-
ducing costs and granting benefits to com
merce within reasonable periods, and il
this system is restricted to works full,
! justified by the interests of commerce.
1t Will prove an economical one provided
| appropriations are So made as to avoid
delay in payments to contractors.
Because Congress has fallen into the
custom of making river and harbor appro
priations every second year only and con
| sequcntly the act of June, 1896, is moi
likely to be supplemented by similar act
In the coming session of Congress, Gen
| Craighill restricts his estimates for mex,
! year to the amounts necessary to NEE
obligations under contracts. They. aggre
gate $72,71S,O53.