The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-22

CORPS Of engineers. The last-named officer
was stationed on the Florida district for
many years in charge OF river and harbor
works and Notifications and his advice
therefore, is valuable as to the details in
yolved in the establishment of q coaling
station at Tortugas and the construction
of Notifications and harbor defenses. A
troublesome question has arisen in connec-
ton with the proposed system of fortifica-
tons at Tortugas. The engineer officers
who have been investigating the matter es-
innate that il will cost about 81 600 600 and
take nearly two years to put the island in
a proper state of defense from sea attack
and Secretary .Alger and his associates hes
itate to embark on undertaking of that
extent unless the Navy Department consid-
ers the work absolutely necessary. Assist
ant Secretary Roosevelt representing
Secretary Long was not prepared to
assume the responsibility without fur
Their consultation with the naval officers
specially interested in the establishment of
the coaiing station and definite action was
postponed in order to give him an oppor-
tunlty TO investigate the matter further
and report as to the advisa bility of the
proposed engineering works at this outpost
of the United States.
The ordnance office of the War Depart
ment presented a very busy scene to-day
wnen bids were opened for furnishing 1000
cast-iron projectiles for sea-coast cannon
with which to man the Notifications. The
advertisement called for 1S7 ten-inch solid
shot $40 twelve-nch mortar shells weigh
ing 500 pounds each. and 500 twelve-inch
mortar shells weighing LOCO pounds each.
There was an unusually large number of
firms who bid for the contract, and the
prices at which they proposed to furnish
the projecties showed a wide range. The
companies bidding included the following:
Inc Johnson Engineering and Foundry
Company; Rarig Engineering Company. of
Columbus, o.; the Davis q Thomas Com
P ESa Of Catasauqua. Pa; the Phoenix
Landslide, Pa; the Vulcan Iron Company,
OF Chicago; the West Point Foundry Com
pany; the Wyman Machine Company, of
Lebanon, Pa. ;. the Pulaski Foundry and
Machine Company, of Pulaski, Va; the
West-side Foundry Company, of Troy, N.
Y; William z. Hunt, of Boston; the Peters
burg (Va) iron works; the Rome On. Y.)
machine works; the Builders iron foundry,
providence, X. l.. the Payne Engineering
Company. of Elmira, N. VI; the Pottsville
Pa.) Iron and Steel Company and the
Balk q Murdoch Iron Company, of Charles
ton, 3 {. So far as figures are concerned,
the Petersburg iron works were the lowest
bidders, although there may exist. certain
conditions that might prevent them from
getting the contract. The company offered
to supply the ten-inch shot at $12.66 each,
one-half to be delivered in forty days and
the remainder in seventy days. The twelve
inch shells of 800 and 1000 pounds each
the company bid to furnish at $21.2S and
1887, respectively, offering to supply fifty
OF each kind in forty days and the remain
der at quick intervals The ten-inch shot
the Rome a. y y machine works offered to
supply at $l4.25 each, to begin the delivery
in one week, and they agreed to turn over
the entire amount in four weeks.
Capt. William Z. Duvall, of the Fifth Ar
tillery, has reported at the War Department
under orders for temporary duty in the Of
fees of the secretary of war and the major
is instructor in practical military exercises
at the artillery school at Fort Monroe, and
is regarded as an expert in all matters per-
tanning to the artillery branch of the SerV-
ice. He has been promoted to his present
grade as a result of the recent increase of
artillery regiments. Although not officially
admitted at the department, it is generally
understood that he was summoned to Wash
ingtOn to confer with the military authori-
ties on questions involving the employment
of the artillery in active work along the
Atlantic and gulf coasts.
The orders of Gen. William M. Graham,
assuming command of the new military
Department of the Gulf, have been received
at the army headquarters here. 1t is said
as q result of the change of the lines of
the military divisions recently put into eff
feet is contemplated but that the move
ments for the present will be confined to the
fications recently completed.
Lieut.. Duvall has been appointed military
cid to Secretary Alger and will relinquish
his present connection with the Artillery
School at Fort Monroe and take up his res
idence in this city. 1t is supposed that Lieut..
Devore, who has been acting as the secre-
tarys military aid since the beginning of
this administration will continue to act in
that capacity in conjunction with Duvall.