The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-10-26
annual Report of Brig. Gen.
Wilson, Chief of Engineers
of the Army.
rRrI PERMANENT COAST BATTERIES
,,,dderable Study Has Been Given
10 the Subject Of Defense Of Our
Insular Possessions.
-. t,er..s. In Rapid Fire Armamsnt 10
xowts. Mos, Urgent Seoessity--Ths
Dynamite BATTERY at san Fran
sisee Completed.

WASHINGTON, Oct 22-The annual
..,o,, OF the chief OF engineers OF the
.,mv Brig. Gen. John NJ. Wilson, made
.rhgc Friday. submits estimates for
Ger and harbor works already au-
.,o-.led hv congress, but not provided
,v co,t.nuing contracts amounting to
sfnG>sl In addition he asks for
S.s>s Csj 10 carry on works already
contracted for.
The report shows that the exising
approved projects for sea coast de-
ieases contemplate the emplacement
n, about 500 heavy guns OF s, 10, l2
and i6 inch caliber, of about 500 rapid
ere guns and Of about 1000 mortars,
a, an estimated approximate cost for
.he engineering work OF S55, 600, 600.
An estimate Of 81, 500, 600 is submitted
for continuing the work of construc-
ton o. these batteries and Tor the de-
,,n.e OF Porto Rico. The sum of S5,-
$1,000 was allotted by the president
op, Of the national defense fund in all
FOR the engineering department
Under the head of fortications, Gen.
wilson saws that in addition 10 the so
.ocah,ies in the United States for
which projects for permanent sea coast
batteries have been adopted the de-
ienSe Of several other localities Is now
unlcr consideration. Considerable
study has been given TO the subject OF
the defense Of our insular possessions
resulting in complete projects for
san Juan and preliminary projects
FOR Honolulu and Pearl Harbor
50 that the construction of batteries
ior these places can begin as soon as
congress appropriates the funds
There has been a considerable re-
vision Of existing projects for other
points caused by the development OF
the rapid fire gun and further revis-
ions will be required to meet improve
ments in ships and ordnance. The
proposed deep water entrance to New
York harbor necessitated an extern
hve revision of the projected defenses
for the southern entrance.
Work on sea coast defenses has been
vigorously carried on at % localities,
nearly all of which are even now so
supplied with heavy guns and NOR
tars as to permit OF effective defense
against naval attack. An increase in
rapid fire armament, Gen. Wilson says,
is now the most urgent necessity,
there having been delay in secur-
ing these guns in the past year
owing 10 difficulties with contract
orS Up 10 date provision has
been made for emplacing 297 heavy
guns SOS rapid fire guns and S44 mortars
During the year there was added to
the sea coast complement IL Pinch
guns 10 1O-inch guns and "a s-inch
guns, 20 rapid fire guns and 80 mortars
With this rapid growth of the coast
deienses the artillery organization
which must care for them has been ut
ierly unable to cope, and the diff
Guilty has been increased by the
withdrawal of two regiments for for
eigu service and by the necessity for
The services of skilled electricians and
mechanics to care for the highly com
PICK ordnance.
The work of installing dynamite bat
,eres at San Francisco haroor has
been completed. but at Sandy Hook
provision remains TO be made for the
permanent protection of the guns IN
place