The true northerner., 1896-10-21
DEFENSE
Secretary Lamont Presents d
Little Bill Therefor.
A MATTER OF SEVERAL MILLIONS.
Quite a Large Proportion OF Which 10
Wanted for Zig Guns I'm Coast Fortifica-
tions-Details Of the Cost at the Regular
Army-Progress Of the Building and
Mounting of Modern Artillery Since tho
Beginning OF the Work In 1890.

Washington, Oct. 10. - Secretary
Lamont today transmitted 10 the secre-
tary of the treasury his estimates of
appropriations required by his depart
ment for the next fiscal year. The ag-
gregate is s52. .S75. .63S. The estimate for
the running expenses Of the war Office
In Washington is 81, AGA ,236, showing, the
secretary says, r'9rction In the an
nual expenses for S.laries and con-
tingenciesin that office of 621, ,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. 522 $50; subsistence of the army,
$1659.S quartermasters' supplies, 81,
020, 900; incidental expenses Of the army,
100000; barracks and quarters. includ
Ing hospital construction 1886, 900; shoot
ing ranges. s25,OOO cavalry and artil-
lery horses. $1SO,0O0; army transporta-
tion s2,50000 clothing sl,100,000;
medical supplies $l40, 200: ordnance de-
partment $1,131. .000 military academy.
1921 ,Sl2; arsenals, $139.796; military
posts, national cemeteries and national
parks, sl.55s. 1880
Wants Millions for Fortificasions.
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,
SO, 443, PA; artificial limbs for soldiers of
the late war, $19l 900; public buildings
in, Ua ach NJ
miscellaneous items, s4O2, 900; rivers and
harbors. s5,349.00 The estimate for
fortifications and sea coast defense has
been increased to SIS, .29S. an amount
which will be required to continue this
work at it's present rate of progress
which has been appreciably advanced
under the large appropriation which
became available on the 1st of July
last.
How the Work Ia 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 1st of July, 1898, 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 12-
inch, thirty-seven 10-inch. eight s.
inch, and four rapid-firing guns and
eighty 12-inch mortars.
Coast Defenses Are a New Thing.
The remainder Of Secretary La
mont's letter transmitting the esti-
mates is of a 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-
ton, 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 1888 and 1889 a total
of about 100000 had been appro-
priated for modern guns, mortars and
carriages. In 1890 was made the first
appropriation, 1921 900, for modern
gun and mortar batteries.