The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-22
SEA COAST DEFENSE WORK.
gen. Wilson Makes His Report 10 the
Secretary OF War.


chief of the engineers of the army. has
made his annual report to the Secretary
of War. 1t is devoted to the fortified tions
and river and harbor improvements of
the country
Estimates for coast defense for the years
1S9S-99 are as follows: Gun and mortar
batteries, 5000 O0O purchase of land for
fortificatons, $500. 600; protection, preserva-
tion and repair of fortihcations, 100000;
preparation of plans for forti6cations
5000; sea walls and embankments, $55 600;
torpedoes for harbor defense for the pur-
chase of submarine mines, and necessary
appliances to operate them, for closing
the channels leading to our principal sea-
ports; for needfu estimates cable CALLER
les, ETC., to render it possible to operate
submarine mines, $150,O00. Total S5,s1O.OOO
To this is added $41.O 900 for the engineer de
pot at Willets Point, N. Y
On the subject of fortihcations the re-
port says: The system of seacoast de-
fense now in progress of construction is
based upon the report of the board of for
tihcations and other defenses, appointed
by the President under the provisions of
the act of March 8, 1885 The report of
this board generally known as the Endi-
colt board was published in 1885,
Under instructions from the chief OF en-
gineers, dated March 20, 1851 the board of
engineers undertook the study and prepa-
ration of detailed projects for the artillery
and submarine mine defense of the princi-
pal 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 of War for many ports,
among which are the following: Hampton
Roads, Va; Wilmington, N. c.; Charles
ton, S. c.; Savannah, Ga; Key West, Fla;
Pensacola, Fla; Mobile, Ala; New Or
leans, La, and Galveston, Tex.
Projects for the defense Of other ports
are still under consideration. The great
range of modern high power guns com
pels the establishment of defensive lines
at distances from the cities and harbors
considerably greater than heretofore deem
ed necessary. At many harbors the sites
of the older type works are at distances
from the objects to be protected insufficient
to admit of a proper defense under modern
conditions. At other harbors, the areas
of the older sites, when
otherwise suitable, are too small to ac-
commodate th6snodern defense. The ac-
QUESTION of suitable sites has, therefore.
been a necessary feature of the construc-
tion of modern system of sea coast de-
fense. During the past fiscal year title
has been obtained to sites at Portland,
Me; eastern entrance to Long Island
sound; Baltimore, Nd; Charleston S. c.;
Key West, Fla; Galveston, Tex. San
Diego Cal, and Puget sound, Washing
ton. Negotiations are still in progress for
sites at Portland, Me; Boston, Mass;
Narragansett bay, Rhode Island; eastern
entrance to Long Island sound; Key West,
Fla; Galveston, Tex, and Puget sound,
Washington. All available funds for the
purchase of sites for sea coast defenses
have been pledged
The operations attending the ACQUISITION
of sites are frequently attended by tedious
and unavoidable delays. An appropria-
tion of $4,000 is earnestly requested TO
continue the purchase of necessary sites.
Congress authorized the contract system
in work on fortifications, but it is not
approved by Gen. Wilson.
Gen. Wilson says that during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1897, there was ex-
pended on river and harbor improve
ments $13, 461, 295. For the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1899 his estimates are: Con-
S760G for other works not provided for
by continuing contracts, $29, ,452,153 The
principal estimates in detail in a number
of the states follow:
Virgina-Jamcs river 100000; Norfolk
harbOr, $56,774; Nansemond river, 100000;
Appomattox river $4,000; Cape Charles
harbor, $4,000.
North Carolna-Roanoke river, $41, 900;
Pimlico and Tar rivers, $3s50O; Cape Fear
river at and below Wilmington, $25O00O.
South Carolina-Waccamaw river, $4,000;
Winyah bay, $450,O00; Santee river 800, 900;
Wappoo cut, $25,500.
Georgia-SaYannah harbor $450, GOO; Sa-
vannah harbor maintenance, $4,000; Sa-
vannah river, 100000; Darien harbor, $75,-
COO; Altamaha river, $40, 900; Oconee river.
$4,000; Ocmulgee river, $4,000; Cumber-
land sound $450000; inside water route be.
tween Savannah and Fernandina, Fla,
$50. coo; Flint river, $26, 800.
Florida-St. Johns river $780, 900; Indian
river $29,000 Key West harbor, 1925 900:
Charlotte harbor and Pease creek, $4,000;
Sarasota bay, S42,50O; Manatee river, $29,-
600; Apalachicola bay, $50 900; Pensacola
harbor, $4,000.
Alabama-Chattahooc river, 500. 500:
Alabama river, $4,000; Coosa river be-
tween Rome, Ga, and the East Tennessee
Virginia and Georgia railroad bridge, $780,
822; Coosa river, from the bridge to We
Mobile harbor maintenance, $4,000; Black
Warrior river, $3.50, 800; Warrior river. $780,
600; Tombigbee river, from mouth to DEM
opolis 100000; Tombigbee from Demopolis
Ala, to Columbus, Miss, 100000.
Mississippi-Yazoo river, 100000; Upper
Mississippi river, removing snags, $l0O, ,OO0;
improvements between Ohio and Missouri
rivers, S90O000; between Missouri river and
GO; lock and dam. be-
tween st. Paul and Minneapolis, 1895. .357;
reservoir at the head waters, $50, 900; for
improving the Mississippi river from head
of the passes to the mouth Of the Ohio
river, including salaries, clerical office.
travelling and miscellaneous expenses Of
the Mississippi river commission, 81 .9s3.-
S33; for improving harbor at New Madrid
Mo-, $4,000; Memphis, Tenn, $3G, 900; Hele-
ma, Ark, $50, 900; Greenville, Miss, S1O0 COO:
Delta Point, La, S150,000; Natchez Miss
and Vdalia La S3l7 600; New Orleans.
La. 100000; for improvements at head of
Atchafalaya and mouth of Red river. La.
$50, ,00O Total, 1886. 1893.
BRYAN To SPEAK IN OHIO.
A n n sat r.e