The evening times., 1900-01-06
MEN FOR COAST DEFENCE
A Demand b. the New York Cham
beP Of Commerce.
The Senators aud Representative of
.-ae Empire state Requested TO Sc
cure the Enactment of Measure
That VIII Add IS.1 .1O2 ArtiIIerymen
TO the Number Now in Service.


upon Congress for an increase in the num-
Der OF heavy guns aud the forces of men
on the sea coast defences. has been sent
to the Secretary of War. Copies of the
same resolutions will also be sent to all Of
the New York Representatives and 10
Senators Platt and DepeW. With the latter
copies viii be sent letters calling upon the
Senators and Rep -eseutstives to do all in
their power to have a bill PASSED by Con-
gTess making the increase requested. It Is
announced that a delegation from the
Chamber. Of Commerce will probably come
20 Washington during the session 20 work
for the passage OF such a bill. The Teso-
luton calls for is, ,402 men Ia addition to
the 9.102 men now In this branch Of the
service
The New York Chamber OF Commerce is
the strongest body Of its kind ia the United
States, being composed OF the most i'm
DOrtant merchants and manufacturers in
the country II was established during lhe
reign Of King George III. and has con
tinued 10 grow in power until the present
day. II is very seldom that Il passes
resolution Of the character OF the one just
sent to this citL When 1t does the desired
result is nearly always obtained.
Only on four previous occasions has il
asked the Government for an increase IN
the army. The first OF these was just prior
10 the war Of 1872. The outbreak OF the
Mexican and civil wars were anticipated
by the chamber in similar resolutions call
ing upon Congress for more troops. and
before the Maine had been blown up, and
wer with Spain was generally expected,
the chamber was called together and
resolution demanding adequate protection
o. the seapOTts was passed. and copy WAS
sent 60 President Mckinley.
~.
Commerce takes such an action il Is gen
orally anticipated by the business men
there that serious complications with some
foreign power are not far on Just what
power the Chamber OF Commerce has in
view now. however. as being desirous Of
attacking the United States, was d mys-
tery that no one al the State Department
could solve today. though 10 was admitted
that the United States is involved al so
many points In the worlds affairs that bet
ter sea coast detences are Indispensable II
was also admitted that the troubles be
tween Great Britain and Germany over the
searching Of the steamship General and
other vessels had reached a critical stage
and thsJ should the searching and seizures
continue eycutualities were likely 10 de-
velOp. The officials however. could not
see how the United States could become in
VOWED IN this trouble
Secretary Root has called attention to
the need of more men in the sea coast bat
teries and reports have been made that
the guns and fOrtifcations are sufTeriag
from lack OF care, as a result of the short
age OF men, every available soldier having
been sent 10 the Philippines. In his re-
port. Secretary Root says
The plan OF coast defence adopted by
the Board OF Fortifcations and Other De
fence appointed pursuant 10 the act OF
March 3. 1850. commonly known as the
EndiCOtt Board. provided for a system OF
lOrtihcatiOns al twCuty-seyCn ports. re-
quiring 6II heavy guns and S2f mortars Of
modern construction. al the cost or S97.7S2.-
SEQ
Three ports have since been added 10
the plan and rapid-fire guns have been en-
bracsd in the proposed armament. De
tailed and preliminary projects have been
prepared or approved Tor all these thirty
points. and the construction Of permanent
works under these projects at twenty-five
points has been we'll advanced
The present condition Of the engineer
ing work is such as to permit Of effective
defence against naval attack at most Of the
principal ports Of the country. when the
guns are provided and properly manned.
The plan as originally adopted with the
notifications and developments cOntem-
plates the use of 204 Pinch, Igi IO-inch
guns and l02s 1--iuch mOrtarS.
At the end or the fiscal year June 60
1893. provision had been made for emplac-
ing 2g5 heavy guns SCS rapid-fre guns.
and 344 mOrtars. being about a. per cent.
- per cent. and - per cent. respectively.
OF the aggregate number of heavy guns.
rapid-!ire guns. and mortars projected i0r
the defence OF the se5C1aSj. The following
shows the progress made
TVelve-inch-C mounted g.: ready for ar
fusurUt, -, under construction. TO- Total. -
Tcu-luru.GWs mounted. l0l. I,8dy for aUEI-
mcDt. 10. under construction. o. Total. lis.
Eight -iuch-tsurs mounted. g.. ready for gru-i-
WoEt. "a under construction. & Total. 90.
Rlplu-t -tr1-GuHS mounted. a.. ready for aUEa-
Wrut, li~, under cOurtr rtructou, 50; mot yet begun
~ Total. Sos.
TweIve-inch morta-s- Gums mounted. 2US. ready
fer armament q, under construction, - Total.
ia
"Of the guns now mounted. eleven 12-
inch guns. thirteen 10-inCh guns. twenty
four S-inch guns. twenty rapid-fre guns.
and thirty-two 12-inch mortars were placed
in position during the fiscal year ended
June 30. 1890.
The number OF heavy guns completed
up to November 30. 1899. was eighty-three
S-inch. one hundred and fourteen IO-inch.
eighty-three l2-inch. and two hundred and
siXty-nine mortars-
Under the provisions Of the Fortifca-
uOns act. approved March ,. 1893 addi-
tional contracts have been placed for five
sets Of 10-inch gun fOrEings. fifteen sets Of
lZ-inCh gun fOTgiUgS. and thiTty-eiEhL sets
of l2-inch mortar fOrEings. Three hundred
and ffty-eight 12-inCh mOrtars in all have
been completed or are under manufacture
Six hundred and five seaCOast gun carriages
Of all classes had been delivered BY the
Ordnance Bureau up to June 80. 1889. Of
which 2l6 were delivered during the fiscal
year ending 1t that time.
Three hundred and eighty such car
riages remain under manufacture. Many
tests Of gun carriages, projectiles, and ex-
plOSives have been actively prosecuted dur
ing the year
The entire amount expended in the plan
Of seacOaSt defence down to the 20th of
June, 1899, was S45, ,979, ,2S5.g3. There still
remain to be provided for under the plan
III heavy guns. 452 rapid-fire guns, and 679
mortars. The total cost OF completing the
work is estimated at $63,274 1856
The War Department has been Notified
that the briggs -SeabuTy Gun Comp any has
begun the shipment Of eighteen 10 poundcr
guns to Sandy Hook. where they will be
tested by the Government authorities The
guns are a part OF large consignment, OF
which one hundred 15-pOunders and nearly
forty 6-pour6ers are still to be delivered
With each gun the company furnishes un-
der contract 300 rounds OF ammunition.
consisting of 150 steel Shells 100 shTapnel
and so cast-iron shells. Some OF tlA, g.
Founders included In the consignment have
already been sent to Manila.