The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-22
oUn SEA ooAsr DrrrxoEs.
T~onty-two rorts where Modern Portiaca-
lions Are Under Construction,

N-U Wv
WARRINGTON, Oct. eileen. John NJ. Wilson,
Chief OF Engineers, tells in his annual report,
made public to-day, OF tho progress OF tho great
work Of 'ortifying the coast of tho United States.
This system of defence was based on the report
ofthe Board OF Fortiacatlous appointed in 1885,
but 1t was not until March 90 last that the
BOARD or Engineers, under Instructions from
ten. Wilson, undertook the study and prepare
ton OF tho detailed D .ojcct for the ar
tiIlery and submarine dctencos Of the prin.
cipal sen and lake ports. Up to the pres
ent time projects have been prepared and
hive received the 9pproval OF the Secretary OF
lorlland, Portsmouth, Boston, New Bedford,
Ni,Ss% ESnsett BY, New Yors, Phllaaelr4ip.
mington. Char eston, and Savannah, on tho
Atia1tiG coast; Key West. Pensacola, Mobile,
sSeW orleans, and Galveston, on tho Gulf coast;
San Diego; San Francisco. the mouth of the
G4.1moiA River, md Puget Sound, on the Pa
cue coast, and Lake Champluin. Projects for
the defence OF other ports are still u der con.
sideration. but they are, with the exception of
not require a very extenslve or costly arma-
hent.
No 12inch disappearing carriages or rapid Ere
guns nave yet been Issued, although a limited
number Of each are now in process OF manufac-
turc. An increase in the number OF l2.inch and
OF rapid fire e~mplaeements. particularly tho
latter, Is at present the most urgent need OF our
sen coast detences. Rapid fire guns, by reason of
OF tire, constitute a highly Important clement in
coast defence. Their emplacements arc compar-
ativ.iy inexpensive, and can DO rapidly con.
truCted whenever the guns and carriages are
available for issue.
The funds appropriated for the construction
OF gun and mortar batteries have now been
either allotted or pledged. and 1t Is expected that
by the end OF tho fiscal year, ls91.9s, these funds
an appropriation Of S5,60o.o 900 Is Requested.
its application to fortidcations, is open to grave
objections, chief among which Is the undue pub
iicity necessarily given to the plans to enable
Intending bidders 10 submit proposals intelli-
gently. The character of the work Is euch,'
he says, that perfect freedom to Introduce
changes during construction is extremely To-
sirubie, n freedom that is seriously hampered by
the existence OF q contract. comparison OF
year between tho contract and hired labor sys-
TENS shows that tht latter Is In every way SUMO
rior, being moro rapid. satisfactory. and equally
Gen. Wilson gives a summary o. the work
done during the year on each Of the new f%ortit-
CNt!ols. -Mt.or smith 5, Leach, who nus charge
O % defences ~ the eastern entrance 70 Long
Island Sound, has made favorable progress In
inch, guns on disappearing carriages. A new
site has, been secured on which will be con-
appearing carriages and a mining casemate.
WORK. has been concluded on two emplace-
T,sgSs at the eastern entrance to New York
Harbor. and commenced on an emplscoment for
a Pinch gun on a disappearing carriage. an
ing carriage, and eight platforms for l2.inch
mOrtars. In addition to this the defences in
clude IL mortar battery for sixteen l2.inch NOR
tars aud em~placements for two loinch and one
S-inch gun on disappearing carriages, which
are completed and armed, except the S.inch en-
placement for which no gun carriage has been
received.
Emplacements for Eve s.inch guns on disap-
pearing carriages and emplacements for four
10-inch guns on disappearing carriages have
been completed on Staten Island and arc watt
Ing their armament. At the close OF the fiscal
year 1895 the modern defences OF the southern
entrance to New York Harbor. on Long Island
and Sandy Hook, consisted Of a mortar battery
for sixteen l2-inch mortars, two emplacenents
for Pinch guns on lifts, one emplacemenJ for a
10 ina Eun on "a disappearing carriage, and two
caseinates for 6.pounder rapid.h fire guns. These
were all completed and armed except the To-
inch emplacement and the rapid-tire casemates.
During tho last fiscal year four em placements
for loinch guns and two for
t-pounder rapid hre guns have been completed,
except mounting q portion or tho
A contract WAS entered into for constructing
three emplaCements for l0inch guns on Gisap-
geSrinS CARRIAGE. to be completed NOv. !. 1897.
The progress made has been slow and unsatis-
factory. With FUNDS Appropriated by the act OF
M"rrh3 3. 1897. the construction OF two e%nIplace-
in=nts for l2-inch guns and OF one emplacement
Tor 1o-tnch guns waG commenced.