The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-04-09

AN INTERESTING REMINISCENCE To the Editor of the Journal and Courier:
 speaking Of our coast defenses and the recent and most praiseworthy ef- forts or our Chamber of Commerce In that direction recalls an interesting fact, now that we see it is claimed that the untiring and persistent work in that direction by our townsman, Captain Charles H. Townshend, at first crowned with success, was afterWard nullitied through action by congress which Topped off New Haven from the list of harbors to be fortified. We ob- serve by the files of the New Haven Leader no further back than May 4, 1896, as follows:
 Since the plan to defend the At lantic coast line with proper forts and batteries has been under consideration considerable importance has been at tached to the defenses east of New Ha- ven. The east end of the Sound has been considered an important section to defend in order to protect the city of New York, and plans for very strong defenses have been considered In this series of works it is also contemplated to erect two forts or batteries on the shores of New Haven harbor. It is be- lieved, now, however, with the bill pending in congress- a start in the mat ter of the New Haven batteries will be made. Captain Charles H. Townshend has recently been in Washington mak- ing some inquiries into the matter of these improvements and he is well posted in the matter. Captain Town shend was asked this morning just how the matter stood and when New Haven was to have some proper defenses against any foreign foe that might possibly attack the New England coast He said: Tn company with Hon. N. D. Sperry, called on the chief engineer of the U. s. A. in regard to the proper coast defenses. We were received with distinguished courtesy, and I opened the ball in regard to defending the east approach to New York, via Long Island sound, as incorporated in MT. Sperry's bill on harbor defenses The plans are to fortify Fishers Island, Plum Island, | Great Gull Island and Orient Point with heavy earthworks and gunneries, similar to those erected at Sandy Hook
 
 1 in the Race-Valiant and Little Gull l These are to be assisted by torpedocs | and monitors manned by the navy. | These plans have been sent in by the chief of engineers office and the works will cost SC, 200, ,000."
 1 The two forts that are recommended for New Haven harbor will come in l time at a cost of $650,000. The points of I location we could not ascertain, as the ! war department never divulges the To- cation until the land has been pur- chased"
 In the Register of February 25, 1896, is the following Washington telegram: The committee on coast defenses in the senate to-day amended Senator Squire 5 coast defense bill so that slo,0oo,0 ,0o0 will be made available immediately after the passage of the bill. New Haven is l included among the cities which are named in the Notifications bill l The Courier of February z, 1896, l gives in full the Qualifications bill just l then introduced in the house and in | the prelude to the bill says: This bill for Notifications has special interest I for this section as it includes the forti- flying of the islands at the entrance of ! Long Island sound which is the key to l the east approach to the port of New I York, and the harbors of New London and New Haven. New Haven Is in- l cluded in the list of cities named in l the bill as to be fortified.
 OBSERVER.