The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-30
HARBOR DEFENCE
Twenty-Five Principal Ports Are
Now Protected.

Washington, Oct. 3O.-Twenty-hve OF
the principal harbors of the United States
now have a sufficient number OF heavy
gums and mortsrs mounted to permit OF
effective defence against naval attack.
says Gen Gillespie. Chief OF Engineers in
his annual report.
lie briefly describes the original pro-
ject framed by the Endicott board for
the coast defense and shows how IL has
been amended from year TO year The
important changes were the provision for
rapid fire guns. reduction in the number
and calibre OF heavy guns and the elimtn-
alton OF srmored defenses.
Provision has been made for emplacing
325 heavy guns, 327 rapid fire guns and
376 mortars. Now Gen. Gillespie wants
sites for more new mortar batteries and
for gun and mortar batteries asks an APP
preparation OF s4.VooO0o. The fortifica-
tions board having declared pneumatic
gun batteries obsolete, the department
has discontinued work on such batteries
at Fishers Island and Port Royal
An estimate of 100000 il submitted for
preservation and repair OF fortibcations
which is less than one-hsIf of one per
cent of their value. During the year me-
gotiations have proceeded for the pur-
chase of fortlficauon sites i'm Bos-
ton harbor 90; I'm Narragansett
sBay (3); New York harbor (extension of
Fort Newton three Sites. Port Royal,
San Francisco, San Diego. st. Johns
River. Fort ST. Philip and Cape Henry.
Va. With few exceptions these. sites
must be procured by condemnation. An
estimate OF 81, 0Oo,0o0 is submitted for pur-
chases of sites.
For the construction of submarine mines
and storage facilities, an estimate of
800. 900 lis submitted. and for searchhghts,
appropris tion Of $500 900 for installation,
and OF s500.0oo for mains and conduits
are urgently recommended
General Gillaspie takes III in detail the
state of defences In each OF the fortifica-
ton districts, showing what has been
done In a year i'm each important part
and what is projected.
Gen. Gillespie also makes report upon
river and harbor works and discusses
each improvement at considerable length
besides submitting estimates for the fls-
cal year ending June 30. 1908.
These estimates are from - 10 33la per
cent less and some instances fifty per
cent less than those of the local en-
gineers i'm charge of river and harbor i'm
provements. Gen. Gillespie's totals are
as followed:
Under continuing contracts Sc. ass, ,377;
rivers and hsrbors (generaD sl25i3, coo;
examinations, surveys and contingencies
S30O,000 under California debris commits
sion $4,000; prevention OF deposits in New
York harbor 71.260: OF Government
Island. New York 100000.
Estimates submitted by the Mississippi
river comm ssion and the Missouri river
commission are as follows:
Mississippi river commission SS665,OoO;
Missouri river commission. 645, 200;
Among the estimates for local improve
ments. as made by the chief OF engineers.
of $50 900 and up are the following
Luhee channel Maine. $4,000; harbor
of Refuge, Cape Ann, Mass. $4,000;
Gloucester harbor. Mass s1500o0 Mystic
river. Mass. $4,000; Boston harbor si63.
900. Harbor OF Refuge Nantucket, Hass.
sl15, 900; Woods Hole. Mass. $4,000; Provi-
dence river. X. T.. ss4,560: Harbor Of Re-
fuge. Point Judith. r. l., 100000: Con-
necticut river $4,000; New Haven harbor,
Conn, $4,000; Breakwaters at New
Haven, Conn, $4,000; East river. n. Y.
100000; Harlem river, New York 100000:
Hudson river. n. ", 00O New York
harbor, $4,000; Enlargement OF Gov
ernors Island, n. Y, harbor $4,000;