The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-28
WILL TEST
RIP R||APS''
United States Government Will.
Put Old Notifications to Sc
we're Test Of Heavy Firing.
FATE or ISLAND IN BALANCE.
II Ante-Bellum Fortress Won't
Stand Test War Department
Will Allow 1t to Sink.

fFro,n Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. u. c.. May 21.--lhe
war Department is preparing to decide
for all time the question Of the va'ne o.
the Qualifications OH the RIP TAPS w
Hampton Roads. The fortiiicatAio''s'
known as Fort Wool. Of the var between
the states, hold the key to Hampton
Roads and the Elizabeth and James
Rivers, MS well as chesapeake Bay II
tho Qualifications could be made all tfey
were designed to be BY the engineers VIM
PLANNED them, they would be OF greater
nrotcct,on to Norfolk Newport News
Washington and Baltimore than forl
Monroe ID.
IT IS the Intention of tho War De-
nartment to subject the Qualifications on
tho Rip Raps to severcst tests o. heaSy
firing this summer. and II they 40 no.
stand It they will be abandoned Tor good
ara the lone Waterman, who has been
,,cpt ut the fort ever since the erection
of tho Notifications, Will be wltnurh"h.
and the island wlll be allowed TO SINK pc
meath the waves us soon as the ehcrohch'
iny element can claim them. a million
dollars or more has been spent N trS-
ing to make the Rip Raps an impregnable
fortress.
SAY FORT MONROE IS ANTICIPATED.
Fort Monroe is popularity supposed 10 De
the strongest in America. lndeed, 1t Is
claimed to be one Of the strongest places
in the world. There are some military
mon who doubt this. and say that tho
national capital Will have TO look to other
protection than the celebrated Tort "heh
the United States enters upon an inter-
ma tional war. The antiquated stone walls
are Of no value as defense, and 1t Is upon
tho disappearing batteries that the men
who hold the fort against an enemy VIII
have to depend when the attack Is made.
1T is generally realized that the strategic
key to Hampton Roads Is the Rip Raps.
and IL the tests that are to be made this
summer prove It strong enough to with
stand the recoil of the big guns mounted
on It. 1t will probably be made the real
defense Of Chesapeake Bay. The doubt
Is az to whether the island itself will
withstand the rscoi Of the guns. 1t IL
said to be sinking slowly but surely,
notwithstanding that new material Is
being carried thither constantly.
THE island Is all made land. In the
last century 1t was the spot where all
vessels cast off the superfluous ballast
lHey. nau dDOdiu dIlu iilidlIS Si'S oa'N "
these deposits rose above the waves and
assumed the dignity Of an Island,
RIP RAPS KEY TO HAMPTON ROADS.
It was realized at once on the outbreak
OF the war between the States that this
little island was the key to Hampton
Roads, and 1t was promptly fortified.
Ever since that time efforts, OF some
what half hearted nature, have been made
to make it impregnabe, but not until
now has there ever been an effort
planned to see IL the game Is really worth
the candle.
The Rip Raps are In the channel mid
way between Fort Monroe and Sewells
Point. The site Of the Jamestown Ex-
position Is on the latter point. The
Monitor met the Merrimac only very
short distance from the Rip Raps, and
engaged her in battle, which was the
first fight in which armor clads ever
met.
These features OF the locality will be
the most interesting in connection with
the exposition. excepting the site of the
first settlement at Jamestown, more than
fifty miles up the river. 1t is generally
agreed that Congress Will mako a liberal
appropriation to aid the exposition. Tho
settlement OF jamestown and the estab-
lishmcnt Of the first Anglo-SaSOn set
Element in the new world Is the great
event In American history, and the entire
country, irrespective Of political leanings
or sectional pride, appears to be united
in saying that 1t should be properly COM
mcmorated.
~ I'LL