The San Francisco call., 1897-11-13
Mayor Phelan Communicates
With Leading Officers Of
the National Guard.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INTERESTED.
Drill of the Third Artillery, Q. s. A.
in Predicted Piring-Results
Highly Gratifying

The subject of harbor defense and the
enlistment CT more men to handle high
power guns is engaging the attention of
the press aud public in New York, and
has also commanded the earnest attention
of the Chamber of Commerce OF San
Francisco. No people in the United
States have 8 deeper interest in the ques
tion than those who reside in this city.
Yesterday Hugh Craig. president of the
Chamber of Commerce, escorted by First
Lieutenant J. D. Miley OF General Shat
ter 5 staff, visited the batteries constructed
to defend the harbor of Sar Francisco
and gained many interesting points on
the work. Recently Mayor Phelan decided
to enligbted himself on the same topic,
and therefore communicated with Mr.
Miey. The following correspondence re-
suited;
san Francisco Nov. 10, 1897.
Hon. James d. Pie Gll Mayor Of the Citu and
county OF San francisco, CdtJ0rnfd-MY DEAR
MAYOR: Your question over the telephone
Sht before last y as suggested 10 me the pro-
prIety OF sending The following data to you for
your information:
The system of coast defenses now in course
OF construction in this country has resulted
from the recommendations of beard OF army
ana naVg officers and civilians IN 1886. This
board was appointed in accordan Ct with au-
thority conferred bv an act OF Congress- ap-
proved March ). 1885. This system Included
about 800 hiEh-pOwer guns, 1000 12-inch
mOrIars and 800 rR pid-fre guns, 10 be grouped
at about ITO points in TWENTY-FIVE har bors
beginning at Portland, Me, extending to Gal
weston, lex. ana including the harbors OF san
Diego aud san Francisco, the mouth OF the
Columbia River and The entrance TO Puget
Sound on this coast. The estimated cost at the
time the board made rs report OF these de-
lenses wss about $4,000 600 Since that
time II has been found that ;hese defenses can
be erected aid stun be effective al much less
cost.
By June OF 1898 half OF the guns and NOR
ars are expected to be in place In the pro-
posed scheme San Francisco receives So high
power guns and 144 l2-lnch mortars, and by
next June here viii be in place in this har-
bor ii high-pOwer guns, 81 12-inch mortars
and Lot l. raPid-fre gun. You viii see by this
great many other portions of the coast are
being rushed lntu 4 state OF defense much
faster than our harbOr. To com Dlete the de-
fenses OF this harbor it VIII require further
600 and SO, 500 600.
To render the armament installed under
the present system effective it will require
about $4,000 arttlerymen. The artillery
force a present consists OF about 5000 but
this will probably be increased TO 5000 or
5000 during The sessions of the next Con-
gress. This, however, will be only sutficient I
to care tOr the guns and their carriages and
keep them in good state of preservation. In
actual service many more men VIII be needed.
believe that IN our states bordering o u he
coast, and especially in our large cities in our
important harbors, quite a considerable per
centage OF the members of the National Guard
should be heavy arti.leTymen. l think it
would be good policy il in San Franc SEQ
mere could be organized at least several ba It.
terles or heavy artillery; better still, a regi-
meht Whatever the size of the force 1t should
have the opportunity OF regularly going into
camp at the Preside and drilling alongside
OF the regular soldiers for one of'two months
OF each year, and during these periods the
men shouId receive enough pay to compensate
ihem for any salaries or wages they may lose
by reason OF absence from their business
should like much to see some su en- move taken.
Very respectfully, J. D. MILEY
First Lieutenant Fifth ARTILLERY, Aid
The. Mayors acknowledgment of Mr..
MIIey's statement was thus expressed:
MAYORS OFFICE SAN Francisco
Nov IL 1897.
SIR: Mayor Phelan directs he to acknowl ed re
receipt OF your favor Of the 10th inst. and ia
eXprsss to you his thanks for your Kindness in
supplying h i'm with this ful ana yeluahe
Information. Following your suggestion re-
gardlng the necessity for an increase in the
force Of heavy ariiilerymen, he has sent To
General Warheld, commanding the brigade
and General J-mes, commanding division
n G.. c., copies of your communication, wltn
the request that it be given that attention and
cOnsi liberation which he not onlv feels il de-
serves, but which he believes the present con-
dltlon demands. Very truly yours,
W. P SULLIVAN JR., Clerk.
subsequently Mayor Phelan sent let
ter. OF which he following is a COPY. to
General Wartield, n. G. c.:
MAYORS OFFICE.
SAN Francisco, Nov II, 1897
BTlgddier- General r. H. WdlEeid CoiamGnGino
Scc9pd BrigGde NJ q. e., California Hotel, City
DEAR SIR: | have been directed bv Major
Phelan 10 send you the .osed copy OF let.
Ter received this dav from Lieut. nant Milev
ald on staff o. Brigedier-General Shafter, U. s.