The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-01-02

call to active duty would find them mad
equatcly prepared for field service. l there.
fore recommend that prompt measures lie
taken to remedy this condition and that
every encouragement be given to this de-
serving body OF unpaid and voluntary cit,
izcn soldiers, upon whose assistance we
must largely rely in time of trouble.
During the past year rapid progress has
been made toward the completion of the
scheme adopted for the erection and ada.
ment of Notifications along our sea coast.
while equal progress has been made in pro.
viding the material for submarine defense
in connection with these works. II ia ne.
culiarly gratifying at this time to note thc
great advance that has been made in this
important undertaking since the date Mt the
opening of its second session, in December
1888 At that time Informed the congress
of the approaching completion Of nine
twelve-inrh. twenty ten-inch and thirty.
four eight-inch high power steel guns, and
seventy-fve twelvc-inch rifle mortars. This
total then seemed insignificant when com,
pared with
The Great Work
remaining to be done. Yet 1t was, never
thelesS. source of satisfaction to every
citizen when he reflected that 1t represent
ed the first inStallment of the new ordnance
of American design and American manu-
facturr. and demonstrated our ability to
eXcclled power and accuracy. AT that date
however, there were practically no car
riages upon which to mount these guns, and
only thirty-one emplacements for guns, and
siXty-four for mortars. Nor were all these
empacements In condition to receive their
armament. Only one high-power gun was
mt that time in position for the defense Of
the entire coast
Since that time the number Of guns actu-
ally completed has been increased to twen-
ty-onc twelve-inch; fifty-six ten-inch. sixty
one efght-inch power, brecch-loading steel.
ten rapid-fring guns and eighty twelve-nch
rified mortars. In addition. there are in
process of construction one sixteen-inch
type gun. fifty twelve-inch. ffty-six ten
inch. twenty-seven eight-inch high-powrr
guns, and siXty-six twelve-inch ritied NOR
tars; in all. 42S guns and mortars.
During the same year. Immediately pre-
cfding the message referred to. the first
modern gun carriage had been completed
and eleven more were in process of con-
struction. All but one were of the non-dis-
appearing type. These. however, were not
such as to secure necessary cover for tho
artillery sunners against the intense fire Of
modern machine rapid-tire and high power
guns.
The inventive genius of ordnance and civ
ilian experts has been taxed in designing
carriages that should obvate this fault. re-
snltins. it is believed. in the solution of this
difficult problem. Since 1893 the number Of
gun carriages constructed or building has
been raised to Il total or 100. of which 80
are on the disappearing principle. and the
number of mortar carriages to 152; while
the 81 emplaccments which were provided
for prior to that time have been increased
to $50, built and building.
This improved situation is largely due to
the recent generous response of congress to
the recommendations of the war depart
ment. Thus We shall soon have complete
about One-ffth of the comprehensive Sys-
TEN. the first step of which was noted In
my message to congress OF Dec. 4. 1888
When it is understood that masonry EN-
placement not only furnishes a platform
for the heavy modern high-power gun. but
also. In every particular service. the pur-
pose and takes the place of the fort Of
former days. the Importance Of the work
accomplished. is better comprehended.
In the hope that the work will be prose-
cuted with no less vigor in the future. the
secretary of war has submitted an estimate
by which. if allowed. there will soon be
provided, and either built or building by
the end Of the next fiscal year. such
additional guns, mOrtars, gun carriages ana
emplacemcnts as will represent not far
from one-third Of the total work to be done
under the plan adopted for our coast de-
fenses-thus affording a prospect that the
entire work will be substantially completed
within six years. In less time than that,
however. we shall have attained a marked
degree of security.
The experience and results Of the past
year demonstrate taat. with a continuation
Of present careful methods, the cost of the
remaining work will be much less than the
original estimate.
We should always keep in mind that mil
itary preparation is alone essentially paci-
nc in it's nature. While 1t gives the sense
Of security due to consciousness OF
strength. it is neither the purpose nor the
effect Of such permanent fertilization to in
volvc us in foreign complications, but rather
to guarantee us against Them They are
not temptation to war. but security against
it. They are thoroughly in accord with all
the traditions Of our national diplomacy.
POSTOFFICEs AND POST ROADS.
Greater Increase in Receipts than In
Expenditures.
Our postoffice department is III good con-
di:ion and the exhibit made of its opera
lions during the fiscal year ending June 30,
1896. If allowance is made for impcrfections
i'll the laws applicable to it. is very salts
factory. The total receipts during the year
were $50. 49, OS.4O. The total expenditures
were S:0.G26. 22!s6.4S exclusive of S1.:HE'.-