The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-12-12

made In this important undertaking since the
date Of my annual message to the Fiftv-tbird
congress at the opening OF its second sesston a.
December, 1898 At that time l Informed ,ha
congress of the approaching completion ~ rtne
R-incn. 20 lO-inch and "a S-inch high mower
steel guns and 20 Pinch riied mortars ,rhts
total, seemingly insufficient when con,naras
with the great work remaining TO he done a.
fact was none the less source Of satisfa ton IN
every citizen when he reflected that n ran-s
scented the first instaliment OF the new Ordnance
OF American design and American rnanufact,,ra
and demonstr ated our ability to supply from oui
resources guns OF unexcelled power and o.
curacy. At that date, however there were
practically no carriages upon which 10 nnonr,
these guns and only 81 empiacements for guns
and 81 for mortars. Nor were all these i'm
PIGMENTS in condition to receive their arrs
ment. Only one high power gun was at that
time in position for the defense of the entire
coast.
An Era OF Gun-MaIxinr
Since that time the number Of guns actually
completed has been increased to p Pinch 5s
1O-inch and 81 S-inch rifled mortars In addJ ~
ton there are in process Of construction ono
16-inch type gun, 80 Pinch, Sc l0-inch "a s-inch
high power guns, and Sc l2-inch rifle mortars in
all 42S guns and mortars. During the same
year Immediately preceding the message re-
ferred to- the first modern gun carriage had
been completed and IL more were in process OF
construction. All but one were OF tba nov
disappearing type. These, however were NOT
such as to secure necessary cover for the ar
tillery gunners against the intense IRE of mod
machine rapid fire high power guns The
inventive genius of ordnance and civlian ex-
perts has been taxed in designing carriages
that would obviate this fault, resulting II is
believed, in the solution OF this difficult prob
lem. Since 1898, the number Of gun carriages
constructed or building has been raised TO a
total of 1923. of which 80 are the disappear
ing principle, and the number Of mortar car
riages to 1852, while the % emplacements which
were provided for prior to that time. have been
increased to $50 built and building
Liberal Appropriations.
This improved situation is largely due to the
recent generous response of congress to the
q ne war artrr
we shall soon have complete about one-ffth
of the comprehensive system, the first step in
which was noted in my message to the congress
of December 4, 1898.
When IL is understood that a masonry en-
placement not only furnishes 4 platform for
the modern high power gun, but also in every
particular serves the purpose and takes the
place of the fort of former days. the Importance
of the work accomplished is better comprehend
ed.
In the hope the work will be prosecuted with
no less vigor in the future, the secretary Of
has submitted an estimate of what If al
lowed, will be provided AMI either built or
building by the end Of the next fiscal year such
additional guns, mortars, by gun carriages and
emplacements well represented not far from
one-third of the total work to be done under
the plan adopted for our coast defenses, thus
affording a prospect that the entire work will
be substantially completed within six years.
In less time than that. however. shall have
attained a marked degree Of security.
The experience and results OF the past year
demonstrate that with continuation of pres
ent careful methods the cost of the remaining
work will be much less than the original esti-
mate. We should always keep in mind that of
all forms of military preparation. coast defense
alone is essentially pacific in its nature; while
II gives the sense Of security due to a con-
seriousness Of strength, it is neither the purpose
nor the effect of such permanent Notifications
to involve us in foreign complications but
rather to guarantee us against them. They
are not a temptation TO war. but security
against it. They are thoroughly in accord with
all the traditions of our national diplomacy.