The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-31
12Inch Mortar Spring Carriage For Tybee Fortacaon

hold of government work within their own
state, they will undoubtedly take pride in
completing 1t as early as possible, and
VIII besides, no doubt, give the govern
ment one Of the best fortifications it has
along the coast.
OF the amount allotted to Savannah I'M
der the continuous contract system for
CHS work, which was about $4,000, the
present contracts win require the eXpen-
diture of little more than $4,000, so that
there should still be left to the credit Of
Savannah between 100000 and $4,000 This
amount it is said, would more than two
thirds pay for the building Of the motar
battery which IS to be placed on 1ybee
and would pay for one-haf of the work
necessary for the construction of the en-.
placements for the two twelve-inch dis
appearing guns which are also to be plac-
ed there.
Some effort has been made to have the
department use this amount on the forti-
fications for this port instead of diverting
II elsewhere, but yet no
definite answer has been secur-
ed. The money has of course
not been appropriated as yet, but the con-
tracts to the extent named have been au-
thorized. There would seem to be no rea-
son under the circumstances, a Georgia
firm having accepted the present contract
on very .ow bid, why the balance of the
money allotted should not be spent on Sa-
vannah work. If some of the prominent
citizens would make the effort, it is likely
that the department would consider the
request favorably.
Among the Notifications to be placed on
the north end of Tybee about which very
little has been said, Is a mortar battery.
Within this battery will be placed several
large twelve-inch mortars on the order
of the one presented in the accompanying
cut. These mortars hurl deadly explosive
missiles for miles. and it is a lost ship for
ever that one of them strikes
In these piping times of peace, when
the faintest suggestion of war has called
forth much discussion OF coast fOrtifica-
TONS and not alone discussion, but ac-
ton. Savannah is mal1ing an effort to get
her full share of the protection needed,
and the location OF the city is such as to
make the work Of constructing fortfca-
tons sufficient for that purpose, a COM
partively easy matter.
In addition to the batteries to be con-
structed on Tybee, which include four
eght-inch and two welve-nch dlsap-
pearing guns, a mortar battery and min
ing case mate, there is Already a mining
casemate to the west OF Fort Pulaski
which was constructed about two years
ago
Then Il is contemplated to make Fort
Pulaski useful by putting garrison
there, If one can be secured. There are
many VINO nave CONSIDERED that the fort
would be practically useless In time of
war, and so it would be as against a large
ironclad, but IL would not be put to that
use. The fort. in connection with the
mining casemate, would constitute a for
midable array against the entrance into
the river Of torpedo boats or small light
draft vessels OF similar type. The guns
from the fort can be trained right on tor
pedoes stationed at certain points i'm the
river, and electrically connected, so that
when one Of these small vessels strikes
the torpedo, it fires both that and the
gun, and becomes It's own eNecutioner.
The battery on Tybee would prevent the
passage into the river OF any vessel large
enough TO destroy the fort. which would
he used as a kind of secondary defense.
The garrisoning of the fort Is matter
In which many Savannahians are greatly
interested. II Is now being pushed before
the department in Washington, and there
are many indications that the efforts be-
ing made are likely to be successful. II