Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-22
JIM. Fourqurean & Co.,
f!3 East Broad Street.
OUR sEACOAsr DEFENCE.
River ard Harbor improvements
Virginia Estimates.

WASHINGTON, October A.-General
Wilson, Chief Of Engineers OF the Army.
issued his annual report to the Secretary
of War. 1t Is devoted to the fortified.
tions and the river and harbOr improve
ments OF the country. The estimates Tor
coast defence for the years ls9s-'99 are az
follows: Gun and mortar batteries. 500.
900; purchase Of land for fortihcatons
$4,000: protection. preservation. and re-
pair of fortifications, 10000; preparation
OF plans for Notifications. $500; seawals
and embankments. $4,000; torpcdoes Tor
harbor defence, for the purchase Of sub
marine mines, and the necessary appli-
ances to operate them; for closing the
channels leading to our principal sea-
ports: for needful classmates. cable gall
leries, etc, TO render It possible TO ope-
rate submarine mines, $4,000. Total.
s.. $4,000
To this is added 900 for the engineer
depot at Willetts Point, n. Y.
On the subject Of Notifications, the re-
port says:
The system of sea-coast defence now in
progress Of construction is based upon
the report Of the Board OF FOruncati0ns
and other defences appointed by the
President under the provisions OF the act
of March 3, 1850 The report Of this board
generally known as the EndlcOtt Board,
was published i'm 1856.
Under instructions from the Chief OF
Engineers, dated March y, 1871. the
Board of Engineers undertook the study
and preparation of detailed projects FOR
the artillery and submarine-mine defence
OF the principal sea and lake ports OF the
United States. Up to the present time
projects have been prepared, and have
received the approval OF the secretary OK
War. for many ports, among which are
the following:
Hampton Roads. Virginia; Wilmington.
N. c.; Charleston, S. c.; Savannah, Ca
Key West and Pensacola, Fla; New Or
leans La, and Galveston, Tex
Projects for the defence OF other ports
are still under consideration.
The great range Of modern h!sh-pONer
guns compels the establishment ot de-
fensive lines at distances from the c'ces
and harbors considerably greater man
heretofore deemed necessary AZ many
harbors. the sites of the older-type wof@
are at distances from the objects 70 NJ
protected insufficient 10 admit OF proper
defence under modern conditions AZ
other harbors, the areas OF the older
sites. when otherwise suitable. are 700
small TO accommodate the modern DE-
fence. The acquisition OF suitable sites
has therefore. been necessary feature
OF the construction of a modern system OK
sea-coast defence. During the past fiscal
year title has been obtained 10 sites az
Portland, Me-. eastern entrance 10 Long
Island sound: Baltimore, Md; Charleston,
s. c.; Key West Fla, Galveston, Tex;
San Diego. Cal, and Puget sound WASH
ington. Negotiations are still in progress
for sites at Portland. Me-; Boston Mass;
Narragansett bay. Rhode Island: eastern
entrance 10 Long Island sound; Key
West, Galveston. and Puget sound.
Washington. All available funds FOR the
purchase OF sites for seacoast defences
have been pledged. The operations atiena-
ing the acquisition Of sites are frequently
attended by tedious and unavoidable de-
lays. An appropriation OF 10000 is earn
estly requested, 10 continue The purchase
OF sites.
Congress authorized the contract sys-
not approved by General Wilson.
RIVERS AND HARBORS
General Wilson says that during the
fiscal year ending June 30. 1897. there was
expended on river and harbor Improve
ments 49, 461, 1886. For the fiscal year ena'
ing June 3d. 1899, his estimates are. con-
tinuous work authorized by Congress,
SIS. $40 O7; for further work not pfoFideH
for by continuing contracts, Ny.f2. l15.
The principal estimates In number OF
the States follow:
Virginia-James river, 100000: Norfolk
harbor $J677i; Nansemond river ~vp,
Appomattox river, $4,000; Cape ChafleS
City harbor $4,000. o,n.
North Carolina-Roanoke river, Al"Di
Pamlico and Tar rivers. $500: Cape Fear
river below Wilmington, SZJ1'Wo