The San Francisco call., 1901-10-31
OUR HARBORS
WELL FORTIFIED
Chief Of Engineers Re
ports Upon the Coast
Defense.
Estimates Are Submitted for
an Increase in Arma-
ment.

WASHINGTON, Oct So-Twenty-five
Of the principal harbors of the United
States now have sufficient number of
heavy guns and mortars mounted to per-
NIT Of effective defense against naval
attack, says General Gillespie, chief of
engineers, in his annual report.
He briefly describes the original pro-
Ject framed by the Endicott Board for
the coast defense and shows how it has
been amended from year 10 year. The
improvements We're the change of rapid
fire guns and the elimination of armored
defenses. A provision has been made
for emplacing S25 heavy guns. 327 rapid
ire guns and 376 mortars. Now General
Gillespie wants six more new mortar bat
teries and four gun and mortar batteries
and an appropriation of Sf000,0OO The
Fertilization Board having declared pneu-
matte gun batteries obsolete the depart
naent has discontinued work on such bat
teries- as Fishers Island and Port ROYAL
Plans for Fortifeations.
An estimate of S3OOO0O is submitted for
repair Of forti6cations, which is less than
one-half of one per cent of their value.
During the year negotiations have pro-
ceeded for the purchase Of fortifcation
sites in Boston harbor (tWo) in Nara
Gansett Ghree). New York harbor (exten-
sion 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
places must be procured by condemna-
ton An estimate of 100000 is submit
ted for purchases Of sites.
For the construction of submarine
mines and storage facilities an estimate
of 100000 is submitted; for searchlights,
S500,000 for installation and $500, 900 for
maintenance, and mains and conduits are
needed. The experience at New York
loo e1ho hos -,
is promoted by using the fortifcation
plants for post illumination also. The es-
Inmates submitted would fully equip with
searchlights four more important har-
bors. General Gillespie takes UP in de-
tail the state of the defenses in each of
the fertilization districts, showing just
what has been done during the year at
each point and what is projected.
Money for the West.
General Gillespie also makes an extern
sIve report upon river and harbor works
and discusses each improvement at con-
siderable length, besides submitting esti-
mates for the fiscal year ending June 80
1903. These estimates are considerably, in
some cases so per cent, less than those
submitted by those in charge of the
work-under continuing contracts, s6, ,4S9,-
677; rivers and harbors (generaD, S12, 3d.
500; examinations, surveys and contin-
gencies, $500, 900; under California Debris
Commission, $4,000; prevention of depos-
its in New York harbor, s7O26O; enlarge
ment of Governors Island, New York,
$50, 900.
Estimates are submitted by the Missis-
sippi River Commission and Missouri
River Commission as follows: Mississip-
pi Commission. So, ,476, 600; Missouri River
Commission, s., ,065, ,20o. The estimates for
local improvements, as made by the chief
Of engineers, include the following: Mis-
souri, River above Sioux City to Mon
tana 500, 900; San Diego harbor, $500 900;
San Pedro Bay harbor, 100000; San Luis
Obispo harbor, S65,00O; canal at the Cas-
oades. Columbia River, Oregon, 10000;
Columbia and Lower Willamette, below
Portland, Oregon, s325. 900; mouth of the
Columbia River, Oregon and Washington,
$500 600; Grays Harbor, Wash, Sl76,775;
Everett harbor, Wash, S177 900. For i'm
provement of the Yellowstone National
Park S275 900 is asked.