The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-24
NEED ROCK AND CEMENT.
GOVERNMENT WILL BUT LARGELY
ron TYBEE DEFENsEs.


Bids Have Been Submitted for 5000
Tons of Rock and 5000 Barrels of
Portland Cement for FOrtifcatiOns
for the Mortars-AbstrRcts of the
BldS Will Go TO Washington and
the Award Of the Contract, which
VIII Be for About $5O,O0O, VIII
soon BE Made-work ON the Mortar
Battery Progressing Well-25O Men
VIII soon lie at work Again.
Post Buildings Are Nearly Finish
ed.
a contract VIII soon be let for the stone
and cement to be used In the fortihcations
for the mortar battery at Tybee. The bat
terry will adjoin that of the four eight
inch rifles. and when 1t is completed sa-
vannah will have a perfectly defended
harbor Everything In connection with
the defeuses will be of the most perfect
construction, finished engineering skin and
effective mocha nical arrangement.
Capt. Cassius N. Gillette has recently
had bids submitted for furnishing 15,oO
tons Of rock and 5000 barrels Of Portland
cement for use in the construction Of the
fortifca lions for the mortar battery. An
abstract of the bids will be sent on to-
Washington at once, and the formal award
Of the contract for supplying the materials
will be made. The government will expend
about $50, 600 for the rock and cement. Ten
bids have been put in. Capt. Gillette was
not ready to announce the lowest bidder
yesterday, but will soon be advised by the
department
Lieut.. Lyle Brown OF the corps of engi-
neers is in immediate charge of the work
on the fortificatons. Lieut.. Brown sue
ceeded Lieut.. Henry Morgan, the gallant
young officer who lost his life last sum
ner while endeavoring to rescue some
shipwrecked sailofs For some time Capt
Gillette was the only officer connected with
tho work but Lieut. Brown was later sent
to act as his assistant.
Capt Gflette is wen pleased with the
progress OF the work. There are not
great many laborers employed now 1t VIII
he bat a few weeks, however, before the
construction of the Notifications with the
stone and cement win be begun, and then
there wIl be need for more men. When
his is commenced there $50 men win be
employed. This s as great number as
the men are at work there will be as great
hustle and activity about the operations
as when the Notifications for the eight
inch guns were being built.
Within a week or so the post buildings
that have been in course of construction
for several months on the island wiz be
completed. The battery that now consti-
tutes the garrison is already using the
guard house, which was the first building
finished. In addition TO this there are TO
be officers quarters, a hospital building, a
store house, a mule corral, blacksmith
shop non-commssioned officers quarters
and barracks for the men.
The buildings are to the south of the for
tilcations and cover a considerable area.
Some are rather pretentious in size and
appearance. They. are built of wood and
are neatly finished and painted. The con-
tract for the buildings was let, the work
being carried on differently from that on
the fortilcations, all of which is by day
labor employed by the government and
carried on under the direct supervision of
government officers.
About an eighth of mile separates the
post buildings from the railroad track.
They cannot be seen from the track as
the intervening trees shut off the view II
will be a matter of difficulty for Tybee
visitors to learn anything of the FORTH
cations the rules that were in effect last
spring and summer not having been re-
Taxed. The reservation is still sealed
book to The curious, aud only those who
may be invited by the officers are permit
ted TO enter its limits.
There would doubtless be much about
the building of the post TO attract and
interest visitors, The buildings are de-
signed for the accommodation of one bat
terry of artillery the force now on the
island. This is Battery r of the FIRST
Artillery, and Lieut.. Hayden is in con-
mand of the post. 1t is thought the de-
partment will station no more troops there
unless need for them should arise In
such case temporary quarters could be
used by the forces sent to reinforce the
garrison
The quarters for the officers afford ac-
commodation for four families These
quarters are divided. accommodations for
two families being az one place and those
for two more at a little distance off. These
buildings and the barracks are two-sto-
RED
1t is not known just how long will be
required for the completion of the forth
fications at Tybee. II is thought however,
that several months Will yet be taken up
In the construction of she additional de-
lenses. The mortar battery will afford
strong support to the heavy guns already
mounted and ready for use, and it would
be an achievement for any war vessel
to brush by" the formidable defenses
when once they are completed and fully