The Meeker herald., 1897-02-13
FORTIFYING BOSTON.
Heavy Guns to Be Planted on Long
Island Head.
Other Points That VIII De Supplied
with Large Cannon To He Pre-
pared for Possible Interna-
tional Differences

Active preparations are now being
made by the representatives of the war
department in Boston for the defense of
Boston. The appropriation for this
work, which was passed by the last CON
grcss, is now available, and work has
begun il; fortifying the different har-
bors throughout the country. Boston
will receive portion of this appropria-
ton, and Lieut.. Col. Mansfield, who is
in charge of this district, has received
orders from the department at Wash
inston to provide enplacements for
three ten-inch rifles and two five-inch
rapid-fire guns. The fact that these
guns were to be placed in the harbor
WAS learned from the war department
the other morning, and the expense of
them is to come out of the new appro-
pration Of S11 100000.
These guns are to be placed on what is
commonly known as Long Island Head,
situated on the eastern end of Long
island. The department has n ppointed
Lieut.. Meriweather L. Walker to assist
Lieut.. Col. Mansfield in placing the guns
in position, and to aid generally in car
ryiDg out the plans us far us the fort;fy-
ing of the harbor is concerned. For
some time it has been contemplated to
put guns on Long Island Head. During
the early part of this year work was al
ready begun in making the preliminary
arranE5 for it, and the cxcayatlng
has almost been completed. There is
no doubt but that the department in
tends to push the work rs rapidly rs
possible. now that the necessary appro-
priation is available.
The carriage for the first ten-inch
gun is being built at the Watertown
arsenal, and will be ready in the near
future for shipment to Long Island.
Lieut.. Col. Mansfield has advertised for
proposals for cement, sand and stone
for the battery at that place, and they
will be opened at his Office il the post
Office building at noon Gu August 13.
From present indications the work will
be completed on or about December 1.
1t is stated that there is the same ac-
tivity displayed in other cities Us well as
in Boston; and al the present time all
the government stations where guns
and carriages can bc manufactured are
in full operation. A large number of
contracts have also been made with pri
vate firms in different parts of the
country for the manufacture of both
guns and carriages. There is no doubt
in the minds of the officials that the
slight controversies that the United
States government has had with for
eign countries has awakened an interest
III the matter of strengthening he diff
ferert harbors for defense, and it is as
signed rs one reason why there is so
much haste in fortifying them with
modern guns. lu frgrHr.r
In the last six months, it is stated on
eSceller, authority, the Watertown ar
senal has shipped about so gun-car
riages to various harbors in the United
States. Among these are the six or
eight that were placed in position at
Fort Warren in Boston harbor n few
weeks ago. Others were sent to san
Francisco, New York, Rhode Island and
other places. There is other evidence
that the department is desirous of hay
ing the harbors fortified as soon rs posi-
BILE, especially those OF New York and
Boston. Previous to the beginning of
the fiscal year on July /, the war de-
partnept notified Lieut.. Col. Mansfield
to clean up the work at Fort Winthrop
so that the place is now in excellent con-
dition and ready for service at nny time.
The guns to he put on Long Island
Head are of the disappearing pattern,
and will cost the government about $780,
600 each. There is u possibility that all
the guns will not be erected at that
point, but distributed at one or two
other places.--Boston Transcript.