The news & observer., 1897-02-21
AT CASWELL.
The Work There-The Outlook-Plan Of
Defense.--Lieut. Jadwin Located

The Work There-The Outlook-Plan Of
Defense.-Lieut. Jadwin Located
The work done so far on the battery
mplacements has been only preparatory
as nothing has been done on the actual
location. The track from the dock is
about finished and the rails laid, and
work is being done on the trestles at the
rise.
About sixty hands are being employ
ed, spiking down rails on the tres
ties and in other work. Quarters for
those directing the work, foremen, and
others, are under way, and when fin
shed the men will remain on the ground
during the progress of the work, instead
of crossing to and from Southport twice
a day.
The steamer Wilmington has brought
down lumber daily for some time past
mainly long sticks Of heart pine about l.
inches in diameter. Each stick weighs
bout 600 pounds. Each day TOOLS iron.
and other material are brought also.
There has been some talk about the
number of men that will be required to
look after the batteries when they are
completed. A battery numbers 60 men,
ard it has been said that the force To-
eated here would amount to $50 men, or
three batteries. All that can be said
the present time is, that it is the pur-
rose OF the Department to have n force
at each port capable of managing the
guns, and that an increase in the artil-
cry system has been asked for; upon the
granting of which will depend the num-
Der of men that will be available for
ach place.
| The strengthening Of old Notifications
as well as the placing OF new batteries
has been going on at the ports on the
coast, The plan, as outlined by Secre-
airy Lamont, is to place every important
| port in a state OF defence sufficient to
ward off one or two war ships that might
attempt to enter and create destruction.
In case Of war with a foreign power our
white squadron would be relied upon to
defeat hostile feet, but from such a
fleet one or more vessels might be de-
tached to destroy weak points on our
coast, and the first efforts Of the authori-
ties are directed to protect the ports
against smaller plans Of attack.
The steamer General Thorn was
brought to this port last week from
NeWDeTn, ~. -, anu VIII IN unueA tuc
rders of Lieut.. Jadwin of the u. S. En-
glneering Corp, for use on the river, car
rying supplies, and for other service be-
tween here and WilmingtC-I and back
and forth from CasweH
The government building on the gar
rison has been put in good repair, roofs
painted with new cutters and the outside
brick walls whitened. The interior has
been changed, number of new windows
inserted in the walls for better light and
air. and water brought into the building
from the tank.
Lieut.. Jadwin has made his residence
in the main building and western wing
and uses the upper rooms, formerly oc-
cupied by the signal service, for his Of
fees. New desks, chairs and furniture
make the place look bright as we'll as
business-like
Since the time that Mr.. Henry Bacon
moved the offices OF the Corps to Will
mington, there have been no headquar-
ters here, and it is quite a feature for
Southport to have an Office re-establish-
ed 1t has been often said that the Of
fees would never have been removed but
for some very unfortunate actions. 1t
would appear that the services Of Mr..
Bacon and the advantage of the location
Of the Offices here were not fully appre-
lated, but Southport has grown wiser
II it's day and generation