The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-02
OUR COAST DEFENSES
REPORT OF GENERAL WILSON,
CHIEF OF ENGINEERS
IN THEIR ERECTION
Thirty Localities Selected for Defense
on the Coast-About Half the Work
Completed-Twenty-Fi Five OF the Prin-
cipal Harbors Adequately Protected.
Importance ofCoast Defense OF Porto
Rico and Observation-Disclosures OF River
and Harbo improvements for Next
Year.

Washington. October 2s.-The impor-
tant subject OF coast defense IS the
first considered In the annual report Of
neers. Generally speaking. he reports
most gratifying progress in the execu-
ton of the various projects during the
last fiscal year.
UP to the present time thirty locali-
ties AVE been selected for defence on
the coast No formal projects were
added to the list during the past year.
but preliminary projects have been
framed for the defence of the entrance
to Chesapeake bay. and the defence Of
several other localities is under under
consideration
Attention has been given TO the sub
iject of coast defences for Porto Rico
and the Hawaiian islands. and, in view
of the Importance of these island pos
sessions, General Wilson a y active
moves for their defence should be de-
ferred no longer. A detailed project
for the defence of the harbor of San
Juan de Porto Rice involves an esti-
AAldNCo Va S1pooV,VVS. TX
liminary projects for Pearl harbor and
Honolulu are also already available and
ready for execution as soon as congress
shall appropriate h funds.
The war with Spain had the effect o.
Fastening the work on the oas de-
fences and now, ten years after the
work began in earnest. the chief of en-
gineers is able to report that so per cent
of the defence work is complete.
Twenty-Five of the principal harbors
of the United States now have a suffi-
lcient number of heavy guns and NOR
tars in place to offer an effective de-
fence against naval attack.
Existing projects contemplate the
mounting of about $50 guns for sea-
coast defence, of $50 rapid-fire guns
land about 900 mortars, at an approx
mate total cost of $50. 000. 900.
The total of the m submitted
N acoun of Notifications for the next
year is S., Ills, 900, and of this amount
81, 10, 900 is on account of the construc-
ton of gun n mortar batteries and
position finders.
The second section of the report
treats Of the river and harbor improve
ments Of the country, for which esti-
mates for the fiscal year ending 1902,
aggregating 500, 900. 600. are submitted,
to which are added 5000, 600 for surveys
and contingencies, 1880. 900 for the
Mississippi river commission, S1,04O, DOC
under the Missouri river commission,
SIS, 900 under the California debris COM
mission, and s72, 500 to prevent deposits
in New York harbor. The expenditures
for the cal ending 1900 were SIS, 4S5.
l29S.
The estimates above s25, 900 for the
river and harbor works next year IN
the south include the following: In
land waterway from Ch~incoteague
bay, Virginia to Delaware bay, $50, 600;
Patapsco river and channel. to Balti-
more, Md, s525, 1862: harbor of southeast
Baltimore, $4,000; Potomac river
Washington, D. c.. 5000, 600; Potomac
river, below Washington, $50, 400; Rap
lpahannock river, Virginia, $4,000;
James river, Virginia. $500, 900; Norfolk
harbor, Virginia, $50, 200; waterway
from Norfolk to the sound of North
Carolina, s29.S $40; Pamlico and Tar riv.
ers, North Carolina, 1872, 500; Cape Fear
river, above Wilmington, N. c., s25,
900; Cape Fear river, at and below
Wilmington, N. c., 5000. 900! Winyat
bay, South Carolina, s525. 600; Santet
river, South Carolina, $3S, 900; Congaret
river, Columbia to CRANKY, s. c., $780,
900; Charleston harbor, South Carolina
$50, 900; Savannah harbor. Georgia
$50. 900; Savannah river. Georgia, 800.
000