Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-08
Coast Deiences.

dresses in old Granite hall. In The
course Of this address he had occasion
to refer to the condition Of our coast
defences, and asked his audience how
MANY big guns Of the first class they
supposed the United States had Aftera
moments pause, he continued. We'll,
it has just two. ! suppose our
Democratic friends will tell us that one
of them is for the Atlantic coast. ana
the other is for the Pacific coast
The recent debate in the National
House Of Representatives revealed the
: fact that there has been a gratifying
advance in the United States. in the
/ matter of coast defences, since Mr..
Reed made this address. althou2h
much still remains To be done. At the
present time We have available for
coast defence ten Pinch guns, forty
nine l0-inch guns, fifty S-inch gums.
and seventy. three Pinch mortars. 1t
is estimated that there viii he compile
ted and on hand, June 20, 1S9S, eighty
eight S-inch guns, one hundred and fiji
teen lo-inch gums, sixty Finch guns,
a.lninety-six inch mortars. 1t is also
estimated that. ny the end OF The next
fiscal year the prinicaal ports of the
country VIII be in a good state of de
fence
The steps by which these results
have been attained arc full OF interest.
1t is we'll known fact that the Cleve-
land administration had no heart in
any expenditures Whi"h tended 10 add
to the national proWess, or to maintain
our standing and dignity, either at
home or abroad At the same time il
/ could not lie altogether oblNious Of the
popular demand for a better system Of
coast defences For this reason Il
board was appointed in 1SS5,called after
the then secretary of war the Endicott
board. To investigate the whole sub
iect. and report comprehensive plan
Of coast defence. with careful estimates
of the cost of putting it into operation
This was undoubtedly a wise move,
ana it may "dato th1''aS ANaI'9 COZ
SutHteH' lile f'li"lc"t' p'"iu vas il'd"'
up Of members well qualified, both by
training and experience. to cope with
the WORK IN hahd lheii l3"oTS "pl't"-
10 nave Deer 'I'"''uSh All" l''e eS0i''
pfactlca'' me Sci'e''F u '"'S'
fences reported ny theih WAS an eN-
ct'''IHS y '"i' ~ 'iV'"'1N N"i''
Tor an expenditure OF ABOUT Sl-''''''''''
tfat' parry SH"Ne" tile NSl''h "''" so
ctfllN III IT'S oeN"'i'" 70 III" cause ~
coast delthceS' ny N"tl'it' curing -
lease OF power an average Oh i l1(''"
| over $-'"V'oVo year |" carry INTO e
! Iecl the pan submit te"' Al Inns RAJ
/ IL would nave required apout % yeas
TO nave competed ''e WORK for'"-
hateIy Tor thecouitl! tAe carrying lo'-
Waro u inns great N"ih 90 consul "N'
ing adequate coast "eie"re7 was noe
ueS'iileu 10 ne ieil "hoIIS - l'eiii'oi a
nc MINUS IN 'he DIST '4'h anu '''"
Congresses the hepupilcahS We're ~
control Oh the National House ne
annual appropriations Iof coast "e-
fences during the years covered by tae
DIST ana 'fth congresses averaged ~
22''e9l' on ABOUT 'hf8e 'ihieS lhe ave.
age anhuai appropriations Hiaae IN 'ii'
'oth' End ana '5fd congresses Whel
the oenocratlc party was IN c"l',Fol'
During the '4th Congress two lof'ihca-
tIoh actS were passed carrying &PPf0-
nriations amounting to $loH'''o29- 1ht
various acts Tor the purpose OF carry
ihg INTO effect the great plan OF tn"
s.ndicott board. which we're passed Tor
! Inc ten flsCaI years lHo'-IH'" aESrt@d''d
%j9,.Hl ,-'''.'o. rms IS certainty me
/ beginning, ana may Wen be gwen
] some consideration ~ those people
/ no nave wholly lost sight OF ne NOl X