The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-26
ON COAST DEFENSE
CHIEF OF ENGINEERS MAKES HIS
ANNUAL REPORT.
FOR RIVERS AND HARBoRS
ESTIMATES FOR THE NEXT FISCAL
YEAR ARE MADE.

The Estimate for Savannnh's Har-
Dor Is $32O,OOO-An Estimate of
$3O,OOO for the Inside Route from
Savannah to Fernnndina-Other
Estin ates, Including Those for
FortihcatiOns. which Amount to
$1O,3G6,IOO.
Washington, Oct. 25.-The annual re-
port of Gen. George l.. Gillespie, chief
of engineers, U. S. A, for the year
ended June so, 1903, dealing with for
tifications and river and harbor work.
has been made public.
Gen. Gillespie says that projects Cor
defense of thirty-one localities have
been approved and. in addition. de-
lenses of the great lakes and St. Law
renee river are under consideration.
He adds
TT is believed that the time has
come when it will be no longer posi-
BILE to ignore the question of lnsalar
defenses. The Navy Department IS
properly insistent that all it's impor-
tant coaling stations should receive
proper defensive protection to keep off
predatory attacks from possible hos
tile fleets.
THE seacoast defenses of the United
States are now somewhat more than 50
per cent completed. Twenty-Five of
the principal harbors of the United
States have a sufficient number OF
heavy guns and mortars mounted to
Of of n Gf
naval attack and during the past three
years considerable progress has been
made in the installation of an adequate
rapid fire armament, now the matter OF
first Importance"
Strength of Coast Ordnance.
At present there are provided for
the defenses of the United States los
| twelve-inch guns, 1873 ten-inch guns, sc
| eight-inch guns, SCI rapid-fire guns and
376 twelve-inch mortars. Regarding
submarine mines, the report says:
with few exceptions all harbors are
now equipped with torpedo storehouses,
! cable tanks and serviceable mining
| classmates"
Gen. Gillespie submits total esti-
| mate of $l0,366, 100 for Notifications for
1
For the improvement of rivers and
| harbors Gen. Gillespie submits the fol-
| lowing general estimate for the next
| fiscal year. Under continuing con-
| tracts, 81, $40, 1853: rivers and harbors
| (generaD, $50. 74S, 800; examinations, sur
veys and contingencies, 100000; under
| California debris commission, $4,000;
prevention of deposits in New York
| harbor, $4,000; enlargement of Govern
ors Island, New York, $20O,000; the
| Mississippi river commission. $2,545,000.
Estimates for improvements.
Following are the estimates for
some of the Improvements in excess
of $25, 900;
Inland waterway, Virginia to Della
ware Bay, 100000 Potomac river,
Washington, 100000; Rappahannock
river, Virginia. $4,000; Cape Charles
| City harbor, Va. $25,OOO; James river,
Virginia, $175,0OO; Neuse and Trent
! rivers, North Carolina. $4,000; Cape
| Fear river above Wilmington, N. c.,
| 100000; Cape Fear river at and be-
| low Wilmington, $3.50 900; Great Pedee
river, South Carolina, $4,000; Winyah
| Bay, South Carolina, 100000; Charles
ton harbor, S. c., $4,000; inland water
| ways, Charleston harbor $25, 900; Sa-
vannah harbor, Georgia, 100000; Da-
/ rien harbor Georgia, $4,000; inland
waterway Georgia to Florida, 10000:
| Cumberland Sound. Georgia and
Florida, $125, 900; st. Johns river, Flori-
| da, $525,O0O; Key West harbor, Flor
| ida $4,000; removing water hyacinth
from Florida waters, $50, 900; East Pass
and Carrabelle bar and harbor, Florida,
| $4,000; Apalachicola Bay, Florida, $780,
| 900; Chattahoochee river, Georgia and
Alabama, SIS, 900; Pensacola harbor,
Florida, 100000; Alabama river Ala
bama, 5000; Coosa river. Alabama
and Georgia. $125,OOO; Mobile harbor,
Alabama, $350,000; Warrior and Tom
bigbee rivers, Alabama, $780, 900; Pas
cagoula river. Miss, 1925, 900; South
west pass, Missississipi river, $780,
900; removing water hyacinth, Louisi-
| ana and Texas, $5O,OO0 Sabine harbor
Texas, 100000; Galveston harbor
Texas, $450,000; Galveston channel
Texas $15O,000; channel, Galveston to
Buffalo Bayou, Texas. $500, 900; Trini-
ty river, Texas. $4,000; Brazos river
Texas, $4,000; mouth of Brazos river,
Texas, 100000; Arkansas Pass, Texas,
100000; Red river, Louisiana, Texas
and Arkansas. $403, 1854.
-S-9s