The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-22
COMMISSIONS HELD UP.
OUR NATIONAL DEFENsEs.
Millions of Dollars Required to Put
Them In Condition Of SafctY


Washington, October 21.-General Will
son. chief of the engineers of the army,
has made his annual report to the secre-
tary of war.It Is devoted to the fortified
lions. rivers and harbors improvements of
tho country. The estimates for coast de-
fonses for the years lS9s-lS99 are as fol-
lows:
Gun and mortar batteries, 5000, 900; pur-
chase Of land for Notifications, $500, 900;
protection, preservation and repair of for
tifications 100000; preparation of plans,
for Notifications, 5000; sea walls and en-
banbments SIS. 900; torpedoes for harbor de-
tense. for the purchase OF sumna rine
mines and necessary appliances to operate
them along the channels leading to our
principal seaports. for needfnl cable gal
lerlos, etc, to render 1t possible to operate
submarine mines, $4,000; total. S., S1O, 600
General Wilson says that during the Hs-
cal year ending June 80, 1897. there was
expended On rivers and harbors improve
ments $l3, 46l. $40.
For the fiscal year ending June 30. 1899,
MS estimates are: Continuous work au-
tnoylzed by congress slS,S6O7O; for other
tracts. S24S2, 13. The principal estimates
IN detail follow
Upper mississippi river, removing snags
s,vo,mV; Improvement between Ohio and
river and Minneapolis. $685. G66; lock and
dam between st. Paul and MINNEAPOLIS
SsISSI reservoir at the headwaters, 800
q. For improving the Mississippi river from
the head of the passes to the south of
tne OHIO river, including salaries end
cierioii officers, travelling and miscella-
commission. $1,9S3,333.
For improving the harbor at New Mai
RIA; Mo-. 5000; Memphis, Tenn. $4,000;
iis e, Ark. $4,000; Greenville. Miss.
Miss. and Vidalia, La. $4,000; New Or
leans, 100000
F2r Improvement at the head of At
chafafaya and mouth of Red river Lou
isiana, $4,000 Total. s2ss6, ass.
Alabama - Chattlhoochee river. S93. 200.
Alapama river, $l76200; Coosa river be.
tween Rome, Ca, and the East Tonnes
s25,924; Mobile harbor, $4,000: Mobile hsr.
Dor maintenance. $50, 900; Black Warrior
river, sl9o,60; Warrior river. $500, 900. Tom
Isl seea river r from the mouth to Demopo-
~, SgpW0 Tom Bsgbee from Demopoiis.
Ala. 20 Columbus, Miss. 5000, 900.
Louisiana - Bayou Plaquemine $40 OOO.
i Bsy cN Lafourche. $4,000; calcaseu river.
Texas..sabine Pass. $4,000; Galveston
harhor. sl69, 675; Buffalo bayou, 800 600
Red river. Louisiana and Arkansas, 200.
., a A,rdkSaonsas--Ouaohita and Black rivers
M0,oo; Arkansas river, removing obsttTic.
tions, $4,000 Arkansas river $500. 900.
M Mss,iss s .Yazoo river. 100000
ro IN .ne subject } Of Qualifications the re-
port says. The great range OF modern
nigh power. guns compeis the establish.
mont of defensive lines at distances srom,
me cities and harbors considerably great
many harbors the sites of tho oIdar t,,na
works are at distances from the obiccts
10 be protected and are Insufficient ~ al
nn,,,,, 81 4 proper defense under modern
\. a thar tia
une older sites. when otherwise suitable
are 100 small 10 accommodate the mo.Jerr
ger, The acquisition of suitable sites
mas therefore been a necessary fea t,,re ~
the construction of A modern svstnr, ~
seacoast defense. The operations attend.
ing the acquisition of sites are freonantt,,
avs 'eu py tedious and unavoidable de-
lays, Az several points where defenses
are urgently required II has been in,nn.
slp'e 10 proceed with their coustr,'ct,nr |
LOT want OF necessary lard A numher ~
tn sites still remain TO be acquired
snouti be secured as promptly as nossihin
~ ~ 'hat no delays may be Experienced IN |
, sre construction OF the emplacemen,s !
wnen FUNDS become availa BILE
An appropriation Of $50 ol, /. a,r,,.
essary sites f"StSss OF noe |
: y Congress has authorized the contrac,
,ias not yet been approved ~, nut !,
" ison who says: .~rhe contr,c, " si!
70 g,, appiHation to Qualifications Is onen
The INDUS o1 neS, chief among whios is
enable intending bidders 10 smh,,p, i,"s 20
p 's s inteltsentiy The character OF wor,,
- suen that perfect freedom, 10 introd,,ne
curing construction is extremely
,,a r,na; freedom that is serIo,,siy
tanpered by tho existence Of a cor,r.nt
a r,%mPa ,t OF the results accomplisheS
cnn3r me past fiscal year between thu
lat.er RIsa hired labor shovs that the
,rora ~ ~ every way superior, belnr
inore rap'i satiFtactory and equally e ecnn
s s,,. a continuance Of the contrent
49, ~ eonecction with the constrt,c.
si' NOT oe recom-