The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-31
dISI DEFENSE PROBLEM.
-..crssED IN ANNUAL REPORT OF
onrEr ENGINEER WILSON.
~1. system Under Careful
s,~1v-Lesson Taught BY war
wsen NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for For
esneafion sites, including soono'

wAsHINGToN. Oct. so.-The success Q,
- dsfense Is the one subject conslueleu
- annual report OF J. NJ. wilson.
- - engineers Generally speaking,
q s~nor,ed most gratifying progress IN
Syert.ffor OF various projects during
~ fiscai year. Some OF the points
:. ss5srest treated BY Gen. Wilson are
y fo1Iows:
- sorpedo syster, has been under care
q. st,,dy by expert officers In the light
. ~ experience gained during the span
~ American war, but so FAR only minor
1890 have been proposed. UP 10 tne
~~oens thirty localities have been Sc
E<sX for defense on the coast. NO Tor
-, srotects we're added 10 the list during
~ rest year. but preliminary projects
ss-. h-en framed for the defense OF the
1890 TO Chesapeake bay and the de-
S~.~ n severai other localities Is under
.~sl6&ration. Attention has been given
q ~ subject OF coast defenses for Puer-
z nieo and the Hawaiian islands, and IN
- u the Importance OF these isiann
|srrasrions Gen. Wilson says improve
SSots for their defense should be deferred
- longer. San Juan de Puerto hico mar.
~, improvements involve an estimated
ssrsndfture OF 81 10000 for defense. Pre-
S31narx projects for Pearl harbor and
Mrrnluiu are also already available and
sssAx for execution as soon as congress
sboIi appropriate the funds.
ma treat changes in the character OF
80 and armor and ships since the Endi-
~ hard framed the coast defense plans
~ under execution have involved cor
sru.eodine corrections in those plans. The
taoAenoy towards reduction In the caliber
4 guns, together with the adoption OF :
~arreesful type OF disappearing gun car
s1nee for Pinch guns has rendered neces-
ssrv the armor for forts originally plan
~. and now In use In Europe. There
- beeu d reduction also I'm the number
X ntortars and actual strengthening OF
tsfteries Of secondary guns. owing To the
Sevelopments Of the rapid-nre type. al
ncst unknown al the time the Endicott
hsard made It's plans. These changes have
eesulted In marked economies without sac
plHee 81 the strength Of the defenses. and
ihsy will be continued.
Lsssen os war with Spain.
rhs war with Spain had the effect Of
fastening the work on the coast defenses
~ now. ten years after the work began
n sarnest. the chief engineer IL able to
voeert that 80 per cent OF the defense
eofk n complete. Twenty-Five OF tho
wincipai harbors Of the United states
~ have 4 sufficient number Of heavy
Nns and mortars in piare to offer an ef-
ketive defense against naval attack. FIX
htinw projects contemplate the mounting
II about ~ guns for seacoast defense. OF
~ rapid-fire guns and about 40 mortars
q On approximate cost OF so. 900. Up
10 the present time provision has been
made for the empiaeement of 800 heavy
guns. "a rapid-fre guns and 313 mortars.
1hs armament placed during the war IN
temporary emplacements win be trans
fsrfed In time to permanent works. but
the temporary work win be held In re-
Derve for an emergency.
Attention is invited TO the urgent need
f0e an increase OF the artillery arm OF
me service. which n now too small to
lake care o. the costly ana complex de-
lsnss works During the past year nego-
lwtione have been In progress for the ac-
suisition Of fortincation sites In Boston
Aarhos two site%,. Narragars~ft bay
|swo). New York harhor tcxtensiou Fort
Noteworthy. Port Royal. South Carolina.
Nm Francisco and Rich passage, Puget
Dound. but the proceedings are slow. ow-
nc 10 legal difficulties. The most import
mt sites are those at Boston and one
b New York harbor. rendered necessary
n the construction Of the deep-water en-
lsaAce.
Tns report Gfvee . concise statement
Il the work accomplished at each defen-
gtvs point during the past year The total
Z Ne estimates submitted on account OF
~ scrtihcations OF tho next year ~ 1s,-
sKeoo. and OF this amount A.7ie 90 II ON
account Of the construction OF gun and
mortar batteries and position finders Gen.
wilson makes an earnest plea for the re-
enforcement Of the engineer corps. which
has been overtaxed by the additional work
required on account OF tho addition Of
NV territory.
Rsvers asA uarhers.
fAs second section Of the report treats
= The river ana hsrbor improvements OF
the country. for which estimates for the
escal year ending is& asgregsting ssnoco
~ are submitted 20 which are adj.
6sa tsnqaa for surveys and contingencies.
2. oop for the Mississippi river commits
sion, u.eto.osc under the Missouri river
submission; tik1so under The California
debris commission, and 1880 TO prevent
deposits In New York harhor
Tho expenditures for the year ending
lss we're SIS, tx US which does not Include
Il1 osa paid The Dads estate for maintain
ma the tetfier at the mouth OF the Misais-
slppl and Ni.oa for surveys and extensions
~ canal from the Great Lakes 20 the
Atlantic
Inc report ss review 81 all the work
snre during the nsesl year. ana refers
specially 70 a number o, important sab.
vets. Including the Chicago drainage canal
and Pearl haraar. Hawaii Of the Chs.
ssxo Drainage project the report saws
that all the Interests affected cannot he
satisfied, and the subject mus; he referred
~ ultimate settlement
A. % the lowering o. the water l~vel Of
Nc lakes, Gen. Wilson SAYS Investigations
Hsde under tho directna ~ the aeep WAFER
nay commission and by Others suhy fay.
sisA Data uron which further COMMUNICATIVE.
y ,ae question may Be based
Estimates Sasmittra
:. Anens the estimates above SIS 40 tor
~ river ana hareor w0fks next year arc
Ne following
Missouri river, between stnhhs Ferry.