The San Francisco call., 1898-02-26

The two ten-inch rifed breech- loading guns for the fortifica- tions of San Francisco which were delivered at the freight yards of the Southern Pacific Railroad Thursday will be moved to-day to Fort Point, where they will be at once placed in position, along with other high-pow- CT guns of the disappearing battery. The contract for transporting the rifles was closed yesterday. In view of re- cent orders from the War Department the military authorities of this depart ment will lose no time in getting the guns in place.
 Each gun of this pattern weighs thirty tons. A large truck drawn by thirty-four horses will haul each gun from the freight yards to the point of destination facing the ocean on the bluff near Fort Point. The contractors will begin the work at an early hour this morning when the streets are com- paratively free of traffic. The easiest grade to the Presidio will be sought. When a rife of similar size and weight was moved some months ago the truck
 
 Market to Lombard street. It is pre- sumed that the contractor this morn ing will follow the same route ap- preaching the avenue along the easiest route south of Market street from the freight yards. The truck tire is fully 10 inches wide, so there is little danger of damage to the street pavement.
 Word comes from the Ordnance De- partment that other high-power guns will soon be ready for shipment by rail to this city. The Engineer Corps is keeping pace with the Ordnance Corps in preparation for coast defense.
 Colonel Charles R. Suter U. s. A., is the division engineer of the Pacific Coast, and the construction of works for the defense, of the harbor of San Francisco is under his immediate direc- tion. He is executing plan devised by the Board of Fortifications, and it may require six or seven years time to fully carry out the plan as adopted by that board. Colonel Suter declined to talk on the subject yesterday. He said that so far as the Engineer Corps was con- cerned the strictest secrecy was en- joined, and therefore he was not per- mitted to disclose the nature of any PASNith' AOt lIC uGlGIlS6 OI tHS SitJ. l1O was not advised as to the shipment of any more high-power guns from the East, as that was something that per- talned to the Ordnance Corps, of which General Flagler was the chief. No in- formation could be obtained from Colonel Suter regarding the proposed battery at Point Bonita. From other sources It is ascertained that the plan adopted by the Board of Notifications provides for formidable battery of 12- men rifles at Bonita The works there Will doubtless be of unusual strength, as they would be exposed to the first Ire or fleet of hostile ironclads.
 Colonel Suter was very courteous in ms refusal to impart information re- gardlng the work in contemplation. When direct question was propound- ed he remarked: You should not ask me that question because all officers or the engineer corps are required to observe secrecy regarding the location and strength of engineering works. A commander of department Is allowed some discretion in giving out military information to the press, but the. rule Tn the engineer corps is absolute against giving out any plans"
 everything was quiet along the Pre- sldio line of works yesterday. The usual guard is maintained to protect the high-power guns from injury. Am munition has been distributed and placed in the magazines. Officers and