The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-26
FOR DEFENCE OF
OUR SEA COASTS.
Some interesting Information as to
What Steps Have Been Taken.
OTHERS IN CONTEMPLATION.
When Completed Our Principal mar
bors aud Sea Coast Cities VIII DE
Safe Against Foreign AttacR'
Deductions from the war;

WASHINGTON, OctoDeT
nual report OF Brigadier-General John
NJ Wilson. CHIEF OF engineers. United
states army has been made to the Sec
retarv of War. In consequence OF the
war with Spain. that portion of the re-
mort relating to fortincations IS most in
teresting. Upon this point General VIII
son says:
During the fiscal year projects for per-
rnanent sea-coast defcnccs were prepared
and approved by the Secretary Of War
for Port Royal, s. c.. st. Johns river.
Fla; Tampa, Fla, and Sabine Pass
Texas. making thirty localities In the
United States for which projects OF per-
manent defences have thus far been APP
proved under the general scheme recon-
mended in 1856 by the Endicott board.
WORKS IN PROGRESS.
At the close OF the fiscal year the con-
struction OF modern defensive works was
in progress at twenty-five locahtles.
In consequence of the war with Spain
and the possibilities of hostile attacks
unon our coasts. urgent and pressing
demands were made by Senators. Rep
resentatiyes and local business interests
for the Immediate erection OF sea-coast
batteries at numerous points not con-
templated i'm the general scheme for ma
tional defence.
In the absence Of any available
modern armament. the Secretary OF war
directed the immediate construction OF
temporary batteries. mounting old style
armament and siege guns, for the de-
fence OF a number OF exposed localities
including some which are emb P.ced IN
the scheme OF national defence.
PLACES FORTIFIED.
Among the localities at which tempo
rary batteries were ordered are Port
Royal and Georgetown, S. C.; Bruins
wick and Darien. Ga; Mouth of st.
Johns river, st. Augustine, Miami ana
Tampa and Sabine Pass. Texas. In ad-
dition TO the foregoing temporary bat
teries. preparations were male against
possible hostile attacks by overhauiing,
cleaning and putting in serviceabe con-
dition the existing armament, and by
temporarily mounting within them ad-
ditional guns at the following old-type
works: Fort Knox. Fort Popham, Fort
Trumbull Fort Monroe, Fort Macon,
Fort Pulaski, Fort Clinch, Fort Morgan,
Fort Jackson and forts In San Francisco
bay While no hostile attacks were
made upon our coast during the war
wit Spain, the operations OF the Ameri-
can fleet upon he coast Of Cuba and
Porto Rico have amply demonstrated the
value of coast defences, including shore
batteries and submarine mines, in re-
sisting attacks.
SAFETY WILL BE ASSURED.
II may be confidently asserted that the
completion of the projects upon which
operations are now i'm progress Will prac-
tically insure the safety of our prlncipal
harbors and sea-coast cities against any
attacks from sea.
1p1nCff0n also
be drawn from the results of the war,
viz: The great value and efficiency or the
rapid-fire gun. IL is gratifying to report
that not only has a considerable number
of these rapid-fre guns been mounted
during the year. but that provision has
been made for the manufacture and en-
placing OF large additional number.
Existing projects for sea coast defences
contemplate the emplacement of about
500 heavy guns OF s, 10 ana II ara III
inches calibre of about 700 rapid-fire
guns Of various calibres, and of about
LOCO mortars The estimated approx
mate cost Of the engineering work con-
nected with the installation of this arma-
ment IS SIS 200. O00 Provision has been
made for mounting 2SS heavy sea-coast
guns. 2jA rapid-hre guns. 3l2 mortars' or
about 81 per cent. Of the total projected
armament Of heavy guns, 50 per cent.
of the rapid-fire guns and 81 per cent. OF
the mortars. This armament Is disposed
at II localities, in % seaports OF the
United states.
During the past fiscal year the title
has been obtained to sites required for
sea-coast defences in connection with
approval plans at Port Royal, $. O., and
Key West. Fla.
The estimates for next year amount
10 s49l76o0 This includes torpedoes Tor
harbor defence.
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
Taking the important subject or riVer
and harbor in-I rcvoments, General WI
son SAYS that ex pcr.enco has shown that
the system for providing funds for carry
ing on continually and completing GER
tain works. has heretofore resulted mate
rally I'm reducing cost. He says signln-
cally that If this system is restricted 10
work fully justified by the interests OF
commerce. 1t Will prove an economical
one providing the appropriations are 50
made as TO avoid delay in payments
10 contractors He points out that some
difficulty has already been met In endeaV-
oring TO convince contractors that they
may look to Congress for full payment
II they push their work.
The total amount for the Improvement
of rivers and harbors and incidental eN-
penses ending June 30th. last. was ST.
i6i 7g9. The total was $l1l6l. 799. The to-
tai estimates for the year 1900 on the same
account is sl2 $50. i37 for contract work
and sl5.5SsSn for projects not covered by
construction contracts.
Under the head OF the Southwest Pass,
Texas General Wilson SAYS that the re-
auired depth OF water was maintained
through the shoal at the head ana
through the pass Itself except during
sixty-three days and through the jetties
and beyond them TO deeper water in The
gulf except during four days.
SOUTHERN IMPROVEMENTS.
Among the detailed estimates submitted
for next years work are inland water
way from Chlncoteague Bay. Va. to Del
aware Bay, $4,000: James river Va. $780,
coo: harbor nj Norfolk. Va. $4,000; Cape
Fear river. below wilmington n. c., $780,
Oo0: Wingah Bay. 5. c.. 100000; Savannah
harbor. Ga $4,000: Savannah river. Ga,
81, coo; Cumberland Sound Ca. and Flor
ida. 500 900: ST. Johns river. Florida, $780,.
900: Charlotte harbor and Peace creek.
Fla. 81. COO. Key West harbor. Fla. $780,
600: chattahoochee river. Ca, and Attain
ia below Columbus $50, 500: Pensacola
harbor Fla. 5000: CoOsa river between
Rome. Ga. and the East Tennessee. Nir-
glnia and Georgia railway bridge. siO0 900:
coosa river between the bridge and We
tumka. $250 0Q.