New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-02
FIT. HANCOCK IMPROBABLE.
GENERAL MERRITTS VIEWS AFTER
VISITING SANDY HOOK

The formal inspection Of the forts defending the
harbor Of NewYork. begun by Major-General Mer-
ritt on Thursday. continued yesterday. lie
went in the morning to Fort Hancock. on Sandy
Hook. on the dispatch boat General Thayer ac-
con panied by Colonel John J. Rodgers artillery in
sDeCtor; Lieutenant Colonel John W. Cous. Judge
advocate; Captain James Allen signal officer: Cap
tans Parker and Harris. Of the Fire Board. and
Lieutenants Hale. Mott and STROLLER. OF General
Merits STAFF The day spent in inspecting
the FOR, and the surroundings. Particular atten-
ton was paid 10 the condition OF the artillery
mounting and equipment FOR active service. Cen
erll Merritt VIII forward special report to Wash
ing;on OF the result OF the inspection and detailing
wha, should still be done
lie said to a reporter for The Tribune: Il regard
Fort Hancock practically irnpregnable. II VIII
be the finest fertilization this coast. just
the Preside IL the Pacific Coast. IL Is
strongly fortified and when the buildings re COM
pleted it will be a fine spot found many Changes
hal been effected since las; saw g."
The work OF making Fort Hancock hrst-class
fertilization has been under VIZ for some time. As
soon 1t was equipped with defences contracts
were made FOR erecting the buildings needed Tor
the troops. The task OF transforming what was a
barren strip o. sand on Sandy Hook into an at
tractive and pleasant post. with strong fortifca-
tons commodious houses and barra ks FOR Off
and men with well laid-out grounds. IS already
Far advanced. and IN few months a compete
Transformation viii have been wrought. As long
ago as 1906 a portion Of the Sandy Hook peninsula.
near the end and fronting on the ocean. was decided
20 the General Government. An adjoining strip
was obtained in 1911 For many years the only
made Of the property was FOR the Proving
Grounds. where cannon constructed Tor the Gov
crnment were tested.
In 1851 however a fertilization begun at the
end Of the Hook. and It first occupied In 1853.
This mounted with the smooth bore cannon ~
that day When the use OF h.gh-power rapid
FIRE guns begun & decided 70 mount some
OF these at the Hook and later 81 was determined
20 nut mortar battery there. The Central Rail
road OF New-Jersey for a long time operated is
Long Branch trains from the upper end %; the
Hook. whore passengers were transferred from the
boats which Piled from this city. When. few
years ago. the terminus OF the railroad trans
fer-ed 10 Atlantic Highlands the Government
acquired a ,itle all the property. some 1915
acres extending as far westward Highland
Beach the State ceiing all jurisdiction over g.
In 1885 the official OF Fort Hancock. N honor
OF Major General Winfield S Hancock who COM
manded the Division Of the Atlantic for many
years was bestowed the fertilization.
Elaborate plans were prepared For charging the
fort itself and FOR constructing encampmen, for
the troops 20 be stationed there The fort
practically finished last year AID the work Of
mounting gun. pushed forward When tho
o, the Maine disaster stirred N. country II
decided to send trained artilierymen to
take care O, the guns and Detachment, Of forty
men forwarded Later three hundred more
men ordered the place. and arc now
encamped there.
The contracts for the erection o. The buildings for
the % the officers and were made last year
and the structures are approaching complexion
There will BE thirty buildings IN all costing
,nsso2. They are arranged IN femi-circle. on the
west side o, the Hook. faclng the Atlantic High
lands In the front Inc. near the water. the
commanding officers house six houses FOR captains
and eleven houses ,or ueiWenanu AL NJ. OF light
co.ored pressed brick. win stone trimmings. and
9: tasteful architecture Further back tho
administration building me hospital four barracks
;or troops. non-commissioned officers quarter.
the guGrdhouse and the other structures. II is
estimated that Ave hundred men can DC comfortably
qlartered at the post Some O., the buildings Will
be ready for this month. aut tie completion u
al. Is called 'or b. contract ~ june.
The grounds are TO be graded. covered with top
soil and seeded. and walks VII be constructed. 20
that what has been sandy waste vii be made
pleasan; and agreeable The work 81 under the
personal direction Of captain c. a Deyo Assistant
QuarternAster. l.. = a. About rouT hundred men
are employed on the work and the most W them
I've AZ Camp Low where the steam3oa; land % Z
ana railroad station formerly were. The railroad
tracks Oh sandy Hook owned by TIE Cow
eminent ana used tor the transportation o:
guns and supplies The contractors also NE these
materials from the Central Road The boats run
ming up the Shrewsbury River arc 20 make res lar
stops at Fort Hancock hereafter to carry persons
entitled 10 land there .or the convenience OF troops
and contractors. No one is allowed ~ The iort
Major-GeheTai Miles. commanding. tho rni,ei
States Army made only a nr.e' siop In ne ciiy on
ton from Buffalo and Wa met by Lieutenant,
Astoria. where General Miles had a meeting Win
prominent men, who had been Informed Of nis
Fifth Avenue Hotel and then took afternoon
train for Washingion lie cid not 80 downtown a.
all ana was no; In direct communication with Gov
4 letachment Of ten officers and twenty-five men
from tho new 6th Cavalry. stationed Of Fort No
Henry at Baltimore. arrived yesterday afternoon
az Fort Hamilton. In Brooklyn Borough They
take the place Of tho trained men sent TO other
contracts wele awarded yesterday for the re-
moyal of gun carriages and munitions OF war
10 Southern points. The Queen and 1f"scent L'ne
secured - contract 10 transport is.I2 pounds ~
10 <cw-Orleans. From the latter point H. VIII Dc
removed by the Government 10 Fort jackson, IT
,Tou"Dorfing IT began yesterday afternoon. and j.
is To- De delivered as speedily a. po-s,nie al JUS
IS cents hundred pounds 10 20 cents. ani the low
est bidder secured the contract. Awards OF con-
tracts were also made for removing TWO disap-
pearing carriages. each weighing go" pounds rom
The Providence Steam Engine Works to ny ""st
vii be- landed at Port Tampa ana taken by steamer
the fort AZ s-inGa s i5S.ar Deaware
civ. Del IL weighs 5000 pounds. and must be-
AN Amy officer said yesterday: There MAJ be
.1ne stirring news ty tomorrow. You can say
tbat ali we want IS the word 20 set al the war
,r,chinrrv In action at the highest rate OF speed
I'D 10 bring all our force 10 bear with conceraied
ers'.t uron the foe. do not believe the 5panisn
.I,ili, rbolld be allowed 10 come near our waters
,old rather be tried FOR piracy than 10 see those
i.m0rrous torpedo boats threatening our warshlp@
w. have had enough Of our brave men murdered
In the hold Of the Maine, mere Hhou'n "c 'o
,r.re unnecessary loss ~ Efe.
III" T Tiev,~nant-CoIone Ludlow said yesterday that
the work on the forts under his charge was pong
the "" o.,b ali pos-ible expedition. lie declined
,ate any definite particulars OF his trip 70 WASH
to,,,cr md down the coast 10 savannah, saying
~ ~ ,nr,art business occupied MS attention on
,t ,,ir lone OF the chief things being attended
10 a, tho forts about ms harD0r sadI Si,Dbts
49,, we're all 20 be supplied with the best pos
,tfs facilities IN this respect, ana tne wire SoI
sipic 49, bad hen sought 10 be used Tor
WIZ" -.cu as other electrical purposes. II IS
inH well under next