The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-21
CHIEF OF ENGINEERS REPORT.
Estimates for River and Harbor Work
in the South.

Washington, October 20.-The annual
report OF the Chief of Engineers of the
Army, Brigadier General John Nj. VIII
son, made public today, submits esti-
mates for River and Harbor works al
ready authorized by Congress, but not
provided for by continuing contracts,
| amounting to S26,906,S2l. In addition,
he asks for S15,5S2, 626 to carry on
works already contracted FOR
The report shows that the existing
approved projects for sea coast defenses
contemplate the emplacement of about
500 heavy guns of s, 10, II, and l6-lnch
calibre; of about 500 rapid fire guns, and
of about 1000 mortars at an estimated
approximate cost for the engineering
work of 55,000,0O0. An estimate of
$4,500,000 is submitted for continuing
the work of construction of these bat
teres and for the defense of Porto Rico.
The sum of S5,663,000 was allotted by
the President out of the national de-
Tense fund in all for the engineering de-
partment.
Under the head of Notifications, Gen
eral Wilson says that in addition to
the 80 localities in the United States
for which projects for permanent sea-
coast batteries have been adopted, the
defense of several other localities is now
under consideration. Considerable study
has been given to the subject of the
defense of our insular possessions re-
sulting in complete projects for San
Juan and preliminary projects for Homo
lulu and Pearl Harbor so that the con-
struction of batteries for these places
can begin as soon as Congress appro-
PIRATES the funds. There has been a
considerable revision of existing projects
for other points caused by the develop
ment of the rapid fire gun and further
revisions will be required to meet inn
provements in ships and ordnance
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 mortars
as to permit of effective defense against
naval attack. An increase in rapid 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
contractors. The temporary batteries
constructed during the war with Spain
have been abandoned where erected on
private land. Up to date provision has
been made for emplacing 297 heavy
guns, 30S rapid fire guns and 344 NOR
tars. This armament is disposed at Il
localities in thirty harbors. During the
year there was added to the sea coast
complement eleven 12-inch guns, thir-
teen 10-inch guns, twenty-four S-inch
guns, twenty rapid fire guns and thirty
two mortars. With his rapid growth of
the coast defenses, the artillery organiza-
ton which must care for them, has been
utterly unable to cope, and the difficulty
has been increased by the withdrawal
of two regiments for foreign service, and
by the necessity for the services of
skilled electricians and mechanics to
care for the highly complex ordnance.
The work of installing dynamite bat
teries at San Francisco Harbor has
been completed, but at Sandy Hook pro-
vision remains to be made for the per-
manent protection of the guns. in place.
Contracts have been made for dynamite
batteries of one gun each at Fishers
Island, and Port Royal, S. G..
To complete the acquisition of sites
still required to carry out approved pro-
jects of coast defense funds must be-
u.
two in Narragansett Bay, one in New
York harbor and one in Port Royal
harber, S. C.
Valuable experience was 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 few minor
changes are contemplated.
Turning to the subjects 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 following items of $780,
600 or more:
James River, Virginia: 100000; Cape
Fear River at and below Wilmington,
n. c., $250,000; Coosa River, between
Rome, Ga, and Bridge $47S,0O Coosa
River between Wetumka and Bridge,
$500000; ST Johns River, Fla, Jack
sonvIle to ocean, $500,000; st. Johns
River, Orange Mills Flats, $4,000;
Tombigbee River to Demopolis, Ala,
$250,000; Norfolk Harbor, Va, and APP
proaches, S56.77 Charleston harbor,
S. c., S250,000; Iillsboro Bay, Fla,
S175,000; Key West harbor entrance,
100000; Pensacola harbor, Fla, SOC,
600.
In addition to the foregoing. the fol-
lowing estimates are made under the
continuing contract system:
Winyah Bay, S. c., 100000; Cumber.
land Sound, Ga, and Fla, 100000;
Tampa Bay, Fla, $150,0OO; Norfolk,
Va, waterway, 100000: Savannah
River, $4,000; Congaree River, N. c.,
100000
STATE NEWS.