New-York tribune., 1901-10-31
ARMY ENGINEERS W0PE
GENERAL GILLESPIE REPORTS az
COAST DEFENCES-RIvER AND
HARBOR ESTIMATES

Washington. Oct. 30.-Twenty-fve OF the pr,nc,,,,
narnors OF the United States now have a surlcisnt
number Of heavy guns and mortars roountaa :.
permit of effective defence against naval -, 70
says General Gillespie, chief of engineers In -
annual report. He briefly describes rhA .-,,.s
project framed by the Endicott board for 60
defence. and shows how it has been amended So
year to year. The important changes we-s ~"
provision for rapid fire guns. reduction in ~
number and calibre of heavy guns and the eIiuin.
ton Of arnOred defences. Provision has besn w.
for empaeins 325 heavy guns. 32T rapid fire 80
and 3T6 mortars- Now General Gillespie xa,,.
sites for more new mortar batteries. and for gnu
and mortar batteries asks appropriation or e,
OooOoO. The Fortihcations Board having decI.-.,
pneumatic gun batteries obsolete. the departmn~
has discontinued work on such batteries at Fisbsr
Island and Port Royal An estimate OF S3OOOoo =.
submitted for preservation and repair of fortis,,
tiOns. which is less than one-haIf of per cent :.
their value Negotiations have proceeded for 81
purchase of fertilization sites in Boston Harhn-
(two9. in Narragansett Bay (three). New-Yorl Ear
Dor extension of Fort Newton. three sites) por,
Royal, San Francisco. San Diego, St Johns Rlv.r
Fort St. Philip and Cape Henry, Va. With ,sn,
exceptions these sites must be procured by co,
demnation. An estimate Of 100000 is subm,,.s
for purchase OF sites
For the construction of submarine mines ana
storage facilities, estimate of 100000 Is sDh.
mitted, and for searchlights appropriations =,
S5eO,000 for installation and of 100000 for main.
and conduts urgently recommended. Ths a.,
Inmates submitted will fully equip with search
lights four more important harbors.
General Gillespie also makes an extensive reno-.
on river and harbor works. and discusses each In
provement considerable length, besides subm.
ting estimates for the fiscal year ending June 10
1908.
These estimates are from 25 10 80 Is per cen.
less. and in some instances 80 per cent less than
those of the local engineers in charge OF river and
harbor improvement. General GiIlespe's totals are
follows:
Under continuing contracts d.4se 977; rivers and
RaTs a1d & & ns sur
Debris Commission sl2-oo0: prevention Of deposits
ernor'g Island. New-York. 100000 wv
Estimates are submitted by the Mississippi River
lows: Mississippi River Commssion. S3s9S 5000, No.
Missouri River Commission. S1.O652OO.
Some of the principal estimates for local improve
ments are as follows:
Harlem River New-York 2ooOoS
Hudson River New-Tork s0OOoe
Ray Ridge and Red Hook channels Nev-Yors ''''"
infringement Of Governor; Island New-York -'''
Harbor 500 0ea
Channel Ship Island Harbor. Mississippi i5oeS,
Harbor at Sabine Pass Texas 800 % oeo
ship channel Buffalo Bayou Texas. soooo,
mississippi River between Missouri River and 49,
Mississippi River between St Paul and MIN a-'
Reservoirs the headwaters OF Mississippi 3Oo
River above sioux City Iowa. 200
Cumberland River above Nashville Tenn -. cocoon
Bay Harbor California 10000
Ore anu -. s2sOop
ington a. 'Hs co.'io'A ~. -@- 5000,
In the estimate of the Mississippi River Com
mission $500 600 for the harbor at New-Oreans and
s1500l9 for the harbor at Natchez Miss. are In
cIuded. For survey Of Northern and Northwestern
lakes $4,000 is asked and for Improvement Of ths
Yellowstone National Park S25O.000
General Gillespie refers to action taken reguat-
ing the flow In the Chicago Drainage Canal. and
says that the trustees undertaking the en-
Iargement OF the waterway OF the Chicago River
with a view OF providing for the full discharge re-
Qured by the State law without causing a current
that will iniure the interests of navigation.