New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-26
DEFENCE OF THE COASTS.
WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY THE EN-
GINEER CORPS OF THE ARMY.
ANNUAL REPORT OF GENERAL WILSON stB-
M1rrEn TO SECRETARY ALGER

ANNUAL REPORT OF GENERAL WILSON SUB
MrrTEp TO SECRETARY ALGER.
Washington Oct. 25-The annual report Of Brig
adier-General John NJ Wilson. Chief OF Engineers.
has been made to the Secretary OF war Inc
portion OF the report relating TO fortihcatons Is
most interesting. on this subject General wilson
says
sescoast defences we're prepared ana approved ny
the Secretary OF War for Port Royal > - -, ~
IS eR kfT i fh iS aea36n IN the ' Fitted states
for which projects OF permanent Ge,eh'e sch@ne
tons and other Defences. generally known as the
Endicoit Roard AZ the Close Of The hscal year
construction Of permanent modern deience "o'h'
In conseqIience II the war with spain and ma
possibilities OF hostile attacks upon our So
tors REPRESENTATIVES and local business Interest,
for the immediate erection ot seac9as' % DSrai
scheme Of National defence. In me absence ~ ~
any available modern armament me 80 ~ lem
porary batteries mounting odstyle aTmamv,nt az" 10
Guiding some which are snpraceGi ,, ~ AT which
NJ Si6nington bridgeport and New liaVsn'
Conn: Port Royal and Georget3Wn' 49,, - p,,.er
St Augustine Miami ana iam9H I'M '' amnorary
Pass Tex. IN addition 10 the i2Ieso.E nppeshls
hostile att 1cls by overhauiing cleaning ana P
ting in seryiceabe condition Inc SitRj, them
aGditIoraI guns at he following od-type works.
T9ri Kn2E Fort Pop9F2 G1 P9ask For, tnSh
Fort Morgan. Fort Jackson and forts IN -" Inn
VINE no hostile attacks were made upon our
coasts during the war with SPAN me, oPttl Ia
vl-.- tiir, tere aforIv demonstrated the vaihe OF
coast offences including shore bat.erlt, az" I, ~
~ annti assorted hat the completion Of The
projects upon which auoass ~ - orr principal
harbors and seacoast cities against any ATTACK
one other important deduction may al'o be drawn ,
from no results OF the war, viz: The great
and efficiency Of The rapid,Tre gun consdcrabIe
Humber of these rapdhre guns been mopn5da
d'ring rho vear but that provision has been Ihtle
for he manufacture and empacing OF large au-
ditional number. oa. do,orcos con,ern-
ia =. ne eronaccrnent OF about Ave hundred heaV!
guns of : 10. l. ard 10 inches cy, aro,s cabres
5d N about one thousand mortars These tgures
subject 10 sgm chane ecaiies included The
estinated auproximate cost OF the eiiSluec.I Ie
work connected with the installation OF TINS ar'""7
Since the Inauguration Of the modern coast si ae
en- sVsten appropriations amounting to Sle.-
~ a9a Sc been made There allotted from
the $50 900 900 defence fund placed at me SlspDsl
~ the PRESIDE M Gl 600 for work under me eng
noers Provision has been made Ior moI', n5s 31o
heavy seacoas guns - rapigq ,h ,6tai project Cd
Of heavy guns 80 ger ne cent mo %, s Ills
twenty-nine harbors Of the United States , ~.
, Pgnf &c ' sc "s rsoa sS@ o S"
eastern entrance 20 Long Island SOUND ne SOU
ern entrance 20 NewYork HarooI fo't Do,
| q. KEY Wes. Fla: Galveston. rex anu -
| sound Wash The negotiations are sun III P.ps
ross for the acquisition or sites al boS,ul ONO
! gansctt Ray r. l.. the eastern entrance ~ i'''s
| island Sound and Puget Sound. Wash.
| Tho estimates for the next year ere. ahoso ..
| Cun and mortar batteries. A4lOW", purCnase "
,o,d f,r forfiGcatlors $500 ono. protection presrI
,..,for ID renair Of Notifications SlOoWD prep
and ernbankmentS - 800. tOrpedoes Tor HaIooi ~
fence for the purchase Of submarine mines ~
neceesary aprances TO operate theih loi -.
- Oh rrels leading 20 principal seaports L1
needful caeemates. cable galleries etc. 20 ~
,r'esitis 70 oner,tc submarine mines. and Tor cor,
! iir,line torpedo experiments. SlOpW" lo'di
| s49l7 800
Taking I'D TIE subject Of river ana hafoor iii
,ro,.o-~ents General Wilson says that experiment
VS. sbown that the system Of providing funds fo'
! carving on continuously or completing certain
o-ls has heretofore resulted in materially reduci4'
tho cost He says significantly that u ms sys.ei
a. restricted TO works fully Justified by tne iHte
% ~ commerce Il will prove an econOHIicd jig
| ,rc,t4i-r Tho arpropratons are 50 MADE " =
| avoid delays in PAYNE ntS 10 49, hoo,
| r,oints out that some d.fhculty mas slItar: IL
! ~, - ardeayOrtng 70 convince contractors, va
tbev NAV look TO Congress Tor iulI payment d" ''0
| push their work. -, ...ro,.or,o,, n
| ,,.irs ard barLors and incidental expenses TOY w
49, eTdoI Tune 30 lSIS. was >lI1bl.i I'M me -.
mates for the year 1909 on the same @ ~, -
ein Ss2 437 for continuous work. ana Hi1'v.''t -
rroiacfs not covered by continuing cont ~, .
present special estimates lot such "O'"' 40
Ia