Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-21
RIVERS AND HARB0RS
ESTIMATES FOR WORK ALREADY
AUTHORIZED AND PROPOSED.
IMPROVEMENT OF JAMES, $500, 900.
Norfolk Hnrbor $50, De-
fence-Inadequacyo of Artillery Or
ganixation-Defenc of Porto p,co
honolulu, and Pearl Harbor.

NASttlNGION, October W-The an
nual report of the Chief of Engineers Of
the army, Brigadier-General John NJ. VIII
son. made public to-day, submits esu-
mates for river and harbor works already
authorized by Congress. but not provided
for by continuing contracts, amounting TO
S-6sO6,S2l. In addition, he asks for $l5.5
GO to carry on work already contracted
foi.
Inc report shows that the existing ap-
proved projects for sea-coast defence con-
template the emplacement of about 800
| heaVy guns, OF s., 10, T., and lS-inch
eahofe, or about 500 rapid-fire guns and
or about 1000 mOrtars at an estimated ap-
proximate cost for the engineering work
| OF sSS.O00o0. An estimate OF s4,5OOOoO is
submitted for continuing the work OF cen
| struction Of these batteries, and for the
| defence OF Porto Rico. The sum Of s. co.,
90 was allotted by the President out of
the natiOnal-defence fund for all OF the
| engineering department.
I FORTIFICATIONS
| Under the head Of Notifications. Gene.
! raj Wilson says that I'm addition To th
| thirty localities in the United States To-.
which projects for permanent sea-coas,
batteries have been adopted the defence
| Of several other localities is now under
| consideration. Considerable study has
| been given TO the question OF the defence
Of or insular possessions, arising in pro-
jeots for san Juan and preliminary pro-
jects for Honolulu and Pearl Harbor, 50
| that the construction of batteries for
these places can begin as soon as Con
gress apprOpriates the funds.
There has been a considerable revision
Of existing projects for other points,
caused by the development Of the rapid
| fire gun, and further revisions will be re-
CURED TO meet improvements in ships and
| ordnance.
| Work on seacoast defences has been
vigorously carried on at twenty-five To-
caities, nearly all of which are even now
so supplied with heavy guns and mortars
as TO permit OF effective defence against
naval attack. An increase in rapld-fire
armament, General Wilson says, is now
the most urgent necessity there having
| been delay in securing these guns in the
| past year, owing TO difficulties with con-
| tractors. The temporary batteries con-
structed during the war with Spain have
been abandoned, where erected on private
! land. Up to date, provision has been
| made for emplacing 2@ heavy guns, SO8
rapid-fire guns, and Sii mortars. This ar
mament is disposed at seyenty-seyen To-
calities in thirty harbors.
ARTILLERY FORCE INADEQUATE.
During the year there was added to the
seacoast complement eleven Pinch guns,
thirteen 1O-inch guns, twenty-four S-inch
guns, twenty rapid-fire guns, and thirty
two mortars. With this rapid growth Of
the coast defences, the artillery organlza-
ton, which must care ION them, has
been utterly unable 20 cope. and the diff
| Guilty has been increased by the with
drawal Of two regiments for foreign SER
vice, and by the necessity for the services
Of skilled electricians and mechanics to
care for the complex ordnance.
The work of Installing dynamite bat
teries at san Francisco harbOr has been
completed. but at Sandy Hook provision
remains 10 be made for the permanent
protection Of the guns in place. Con-
tracts have been made for dynamite bat
teries Of one gun each al Fishers Island
and Port Royal, $. G.
TO complete the acquisition OF sites
still required to carry out approved pro-
jeots OF coast defence, funds must DO
provided for one in Boston, two in Mar
ragansett bay, one In New York harbor,
and one in Port Royal Harbor, S. C..
Valuable experience is said TO have
been gained with the torpedo system,
as adopted during the war with Spain.
In general, that system fully realized all
expectations, and only u few minor
changes are contemplated
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
Turning to the subject of rivers and
harbors, the chief Of engineers expresses
satisfaction at the working OF the con-
tract system generally. A summary Of
the detailed estimates recommended for
river and harbor work shows the follow
ing items OF $1,000 or more:
James river virginia., 100000; Cape
Fear river, at and below Wilmington,
n. c., $4,000; Coosa river. between
Rome, Ca, and the bridge, A78 900; Coosa
river, between Wetumpka and the bridge
$4,000; st. Johns river Q'l0nda). jack
sopville TO the ocean, $4,000; ST. Johns
river. Orange Mills Flats. $1,000; Tom
Digbee river, to Demopolis. Ala, $4,000;
Norfolk harbor Wirginia) and APP
proaches. $56,77i; Charleston harbor
(south Carolina), $4,000; Hilisboro' bay
Florida). $4,000; Key West harbor and
entrance, 100000; Pensacola harbor
Olorda), $4,000.
IN addition 20 the foregoing, estimaes
are made under the continuing contract
system as follows: Winyah bay south
CarcIina), 100000; Cumberland Sound
Georgia and Florida), 100000; Tampa
BAY H'lorida), $4,000; Norfolk VirginiaO
waterway 800 900; Savannah river $4,000;
Conagree river South Carolina), 10000
EPISCOPAL LADIES.