Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-26
OUR COAST DEFENCES
REPORT or THE CHIEF OF IN
GINEnns THEREON.
FORYlECLrIOsS DURING The WAR.
Ic.sou. Taught by Operations of Our
Nayy-CompIetion of work D" 'r"-
-... VIII A.sure safety of Our
Principal seaports.
Principal senports.

tary OF war. In consequence Of the wal
with Spain. that portion OF the report re-
la,ing TO Notifications is most interest
ing. Upon this point General Wilson
says:
During the fiscal year projects Tor per-
manent seacoast defences were prepared
and approved by the Secretary Of War
for Port ROYAL. s. c.: ST. Johns river,
Florida: Tampa. Fla. and Sabine Pass
Tex. making thirty localities in the
United States for which projects Of per-
manent defonces have thus far been ap-
proved under the general scheme recon-
mended IN 1886 by the Endicott Board
AT the close Of the fiscal year the con-
struction OF permanent modern defensive
works was in progress at twenty-five
localities.
In consequence Of the war with SPAN
and the possibility OF hostile attacks upon
our coasts, urgent and pressing demands
were made by Senators. Representatives.
and local business interests for the I'M
mediate erection OF seacoast batteries at
numerous points not contemplated In the
general scheme for national defence. In
the absence Of any available modern
armament. the Secretary of War directed
the immedte construction Of temporary
batteries. mounting old-style armament
and siege guns. for the defence of num-
Der OF exposed localities including some
which are embraced in the scheme OF ma
tional defence.
TEMPORARY BATTERIES
Among the localities al which tempo
rarv batteries were ordered are Port
ROYAL and Georgetown. S. c.; Brunswick
and Darien. Ga: mouth of st. Johns
river. st. Augustine. Miami, and Tampa
Fla. and Sabine Pass, Tex.
In addition to the foregoing temporary
batteries. preparations were made against
possible hostile attacks by overhauiing'
cleaning and putting In serviceable con-
dition the existing armament ana by
temporarily mounting within them add
.ional 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 the forts in San Fran
cisco bay.
While no hostile attacks were made
upon our coasts during the war with
Spain. the operations of the American
fleet upon the coast of Cuba and Porto
Rico have amply demonstrated the value
Of coast defences. including shore bate
ries and submarine mines, in resisting
attacks.
1t may be confidently asserted that the
completion Of the projects upon which
operations are now in progress will prac-
tically insure the safety OF our principal
harbors and sea-cOast cities against any
attack from the sea.
EFFICIENCY OF RAPID FIRE GUN. !
One other important deduction can also
be drawn from the results Of the war
viz. the great value and efficiency OF the
rapid-hre gun. 1t is gratifying 10 report |
that not only has 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, p. and 16-inches |
calibre. Of about 200 rapidfire guns of |
various calibres. and OF about 1000 NOR !
tars. The estimated approximate cost |
OF the engineering work connected with |
the installation OF this armament is $55.- |
10000. Provision has been made for
mounting 28 heavy sea-coast guns. 254 |
rapid-fire guns and 3l2 mortars. or about |
81 per cent. Of the total projected arma-
ment OF heavy guns SO per cent. of the
rapid-fire guns, and 81 per cent. of the
mortars. This armament is disposed at
seventy-one localities in twenty-nine sea-
ports of the United States.
During the past fiscal year the title has
been obtained TO sites required for sea-
coast defence at Port Royal, S c., and
Key West. Fla.
The estimates for next year amount to
$9l7.6O0 This includes torpedoes for har-
Dor defence.
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
Taking up the important subject oil
river and harbor Improvements, General
Wilson says that experience has shown
that the system Of providing funds for
on continually and completing
certain works has heretofore resulted ma
teriaily In reducing cost. He says signii-
cantly that If this system is restricted to
works fully justified by the interests Of
commerce, It Will prove an economical
one. provided the appropriations are so
made as TO avoid delay in payments to
contractors. He points out that some
difficulty has already been met in en-
deavoring to convince contractors that
they may look 10 Congress for full pay
ment If they push heir work.
The total amount for the improvement
OF rivers and harbors and incidental ex-
penses ending June Both last was Sl7l6l.-
799 The total of estimates for the year
1900, on the same account, is 81 $50 437 for
contract work and Sl555S.3n for projects
not covered by construction contracts.
Under the head OF Southwest Pass.
General Wilson says that the required
depth Of water was maintained through !
the shoal at the head % and through the
Pass Itself except during sixty-three days.
md through the jetties and beyond them
TO deep water in the Gulf except during
four days.
NEXT YEARS WORK
Among the detailed estimates submitted
Tor next years work are the following:
Inland waterway from Chincoteague bay.
Va. TO Delaware bay, $4,000: James river.
Va, $4,000; haTbor at Norfolk Va. sos
90: Cape Fear river below Wilmington.
\. c., $4,000; Wingah bay. S. c.. $1,000
savannah harbor. Ga $4,000: Savannah
liver. Ga. So 900; Cumberland sound. Ca,
md Florida. 500 600: 81. Johns river. Fla.
10000: Charlotte harbor and Pease creek.
fla, $4,000; Key West harbor. Fla. slOO-
%; Chattahoochee river. Ga. below Co
umbus. $3.50; Pensacola harbor Fla.
10000; Coosa river between Rome. Ga
md the East Tennessee. Virginia and
ieorgia railway bridge 500 900: Coosa
liver between the bridge and Wetumpka,