New-York tribune., 1897-01-25
ANOTHER GUN COMING.
PUSHING COAST DEFENCE WORK AT
FORT HAMILTON.
THE TOP CARRIAGE FOR THE FIRST GUN TO
BE IN PLACE sOON-sEcREcY WITH WHICH
THE WORK CARRIED


BE IN PLACE sooN-sEcREcY WITH WHICH
THE WORK IS CARRIED on.
Colonel William NJ Graham. Of the 9Th Artillery.
who is in command at Fort Hamilton. has JUS.
informed that tho Navy Department has
ordered to be sent TO Fort Hamilton the second "
the ten-inch breechload!ng guns that are TO make
this port unapproachable TO the vessels OF a
foreign enemy. Colonel Graham said yesterday
that he believed the gun was 10 come from the
Watervliet arsenal. Troy.
The concrete foundation for the first Of these
guns has been finished and the lower carriage.
which came last November Is in place. II is ex-
pected to have the top carriage which arrived last
week, In place by the end OF the month. AS soon
as that work is finished the first Of the guns Will
be mounted and will be ready for practice
The old inhabitants OF Fort Hamilton take un-
kindly the secrecy that is maintained regarding
the work that Is going at the remodeed
fort. But is only in obedience to orders from
Washington. The real motive for keeping civilians
out of the fort is not 20 keep the American public
in ignorance 10 what IS being done but 10 pre-
vent emissares from foreign Powers from'etudyins
the forthcations and learning Just what field the
guns play over. No one gets past the senti-
nels now except those who have permit from
Colonel Graham and those permits are few and far
between.
The guns are to be mounted between four huge
mounds OF earth, and the only things that can be
seen from the outside the big derricks that are
being used place the carriages. Colonel George
L. Gillespie Of the Engineers Department. has the
work in charge and is being assisted by Lieutenant
McGregor. Watson Bennett has charge Of the $50
men who are engaged on the work The guns are
10 be mounted upon Crozler- Burlington disappearing
carriages. These enable the guns 10 be loaded and
aimed out Of view from the enemy. then raised and
fired. After being fired the carriage returns TO It's
former place automatically
ten-inch gun is about thirtyhve feet long. and
with its carriaee weighs about ninety tons. TWO
hundred and fifty pounds Of powder sends 5l5-
pound steel protectile eight or ten miles.
The artillerymen OF the fort are being carefully
trained by Lieutenant Caan In the mathematics OF
modern coast defence. The old method OF aiming
along sights on the guns has departed with the old
smooth bore guns. A man with a mounted glass
gets the exact direction OF vessel. and the gun Is
pointed in that direction with mathematical GER
anty by the Of horizontal circular regulators.
marked with degrees, on both glass and gun. Tho
distance will be obtained with accuracy by estab-
fishing a bas line between Fort Hamilton and Fort
Wadsworth. and getting angles by observations OK
the vessel from both points. Information Is ex-
used 10 get the density Of the air and the direction
and velocity OF the wind These and the velocity
OF the vessels movement are taken into consider
alton in aiming the gun before raising IL for firing.
So the gunner proper does not see the target. but
merely directs the gun and gives 1t the proper ai
tude. according 10 mathematical tables already
worked out
Ii is proposed 10 prepare observation point for
the officer in charge OF operations. that he may
direct the operations by telegraph. using charted
map Of the water surface covered.
The Government IS about to invite bids for nom
commissioned officers headquarters 10 be built
northeast OF the new brick barracks. These will
9uartermaster and principal musician and their
families