The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-14
NEW HAVEN MORNING

islature, Certain prominent citizens
interested themselves in the matter
and used their influence to bring it
about. One Of the things especially de-
sired by all interested parties was the
improvement of the New Haven break
water and deepening of the harbor AL
though persistent efforts We're made
these last mentioned improvements
were not obtained. Upon the opening Of
the present hostilities a joint commit
tee of four from the Chamber of Com
merce and the Municipal government
were sent by those bodies to Washing
ton, d. c., to urge the immediate ne
cessity for the erection of strong forti-
flcations at the entrance to our harbor.
This committee was headed by the
Mayor, Hon. F. B. Farnsworth, and
Mr., Henry c. Rowe, who was the
spokesman for the party. Up to the
time of this committees visit to Wash
ington but little attention has been
paid to either harbor improvement or
Notifications, although Major Smith S.
Leach of the Engineer Corps, United
States army, had been detiled to re-
survey and submitted plans for harbor
improvements. After an urgent APP
peal and they (the committee) had
presented their petition they were as
sured by the president and secretary Of
war that some steps would be taken to
establish suitable coast defences for
our city. Accordingly soon after this
men were set to work at the middle
breakwater erecting a platform upon
which to place siege guns. A large
force Of workmen were also sent to
Light House Point and Woodmont to
prepare for defences at those points. A
spot southeast of the Light House
was selected. A wooden platform was
built. Sunken into this platform are
two semi circular iron tracks for the
wheels Of the carriages to roll on. A
breastwork of railroad ties covered by
old rusty steel rails on top and other
rails sloping from the top on the sea
side into the sand which encircles and
covers the lower part Of them. A stone
or lumber schooner was sent to Fort
Griswold. New London, for the siege
guns. They We're brought here with
the carriages loaded on cars and car
ried to Belle Dock.
When the breastworks were complet-
Gu tillu Ieduy W IGCelN6 lHtIl Two OI
these guns were removed to Light
House Point, two to the middle break
water and two to Woodmont where
General Edward E. Bradley owns a va
cant lot on the water front at Wood
mont which he practically rendered to
the government for defensive purposes
and Uncle Sam accepted; so the earth
works and guns were erected on this
lot of his. The two guns at Light
House Point are both of them 10-incll,
smooth bore Rodman guns, one weigh
ing 1899 pounds, the other $4,000
pounds. The carriages are large iron
structures resting on small wheels.
These guns carry a shot six or seven
miles. Those at Woodmont are 10-inch,
Rodman guns, one weighing 1920
pounds, and the other 1862 pounds
| The breastworks and carriages are of
the same sort as those at Light House
Point. The reason that no modern
guns and carriages were furnished Is
because the spokesman Of the joint
| committee Mr.. Rowe, was informed by
the secretary of war that all the mod
ern carriages and guns were already in
use elsewhere and there We're none
available to send to New Haven at
present. Mines have been sunk in the
harbor. 1t is expected that the govern
ment will soon detail a battery of regu-
lar or volunteer heavy artillery to
garrison the Notifications guarding the
entrance to New Haven harbor. There
are no barracks either at Light House
| Point, Woodmont or the breakwater
| for the accommodation of any troops
so if a battery were sent there they
would be obliged to camp near the
Qualifications 1t has been suggested
that the work at Light House Point be
named Fort Hastings, in honor of Ad-
jutant Hastings of Admiral Foote Post,
No. II, G, A. r. #. S. A.