Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-13
Fertilization Authorities
Giving Attention to
Portland and Kenne-
bee and Penobscot
Rivers
SOME WONDERFUL
THINGS BEING DONE
Names Coast City Likely to Be
Provid e d with Additional
Arm Ia m ent Against Long
Range Naval B0mbardment

Washington, D. c., April 12.-(Spe-
ciaD.-Portland. Maine, will receive
further attention from the fertilization
authorities, under the appropriation
bill just reported to the National
House. It is one of the points in Maine
specified for defense under the report
of the so-called Taft board, which was
a board that made up recommendations
for fortifying the coasts of the United
States while William H. Taft was Sec
rotary Of war. The other two fortifi-
cation points on the Maine coast are
the Kennebec river and the Penobscot
river. The later recommendations of
the ordnance authorities of the war
department have placed less stress up
on the need of fortifying the Kennebec
and especially the Penobscot.
When hearings were under way be-
fore the House appropriations commit
tee on the Notifications bill, there was
some mention Of the need of search
lights for the mouth Of the Kennebec
river. The project mapped out for de-
Tense at Fort Popham calls for two
S6-inch searchlights and these search
lights are yet to be supplied Portland
harbor is already pretty we'll supplied
with the necessary searchlights. The
project there called for two SO-inch
searchlights, one 30-inch light and 10
6O-inch lights. All except two Of the 60
inch lights are now in position there
which means that the seacoast artil-
lery has means for detecting the ap-
proach of an enemy at sea at night at
a long distance.
Some wonderful things are being
done with searchlights on Notifications
as was told to the House committee by
Lieut. Col E. Eveleth Winslow, who
was assistant to Brig. Gen. Kingman,
while he was chief Of engineers. One
OF the newest efforts is a portable ele-
waiting searchlight, which is to be test
ed in a short time. If these lights are
success it may be expected that one
or more of them will be located at
Portland and made available for use
along the coast.
These lights" said Col. winslow,
are 3o-inch or 24-inch lights. We pre-
Ter TO experiment with the smaller
nights before we attempt to get a CO.
inch portable light. We have been in
negotiation with certain people who
nave submitted plans for very large
automobile truck which will carry a.
oo-lnch searchlight which can be rails
ca on tower; but the plan appears
doubtfui and until we have tested the
same general type Of apparatus with a
smaller searchlight we do not expect to
experiment with a 60-inch.
we nave been and now are making
experiments In mounting searchlights
WI stationary elevating towers, which
can De raised so as to bring the beam
W ieet or so above the ground. One
eSperlmental tower Of a. certain tyne
"as oeen actually erected and is in OBJ
ela.lon in connection with the defenses
Vi the Hawaiian islands, and two 9TH
ers OF a different type are now under
Iontract to be delivered at Sandy
ns" oA from the results of these exper-
na "en's we expect to develop a practi-
u 70, form OF elevating tower for search
shts good deal Of the money voted
congress for these lights has not
Deeh expended yet because we have
Deen awaiting the. results of these ex.
Feriments."
s.dm Inc searchlights, like those now in
~ stailed at Portland harbor, cost a lot
W. money but experiments are under
wa way Tor even more expensive lights
c ~. glass mirrors now used are quite
,,suS and formerly came from France
NV NV the glass mirrors are made in the
unlted States at less cost but there is
W.T., e'ort TO obtain nickel mirrors.
w winch would not be as easily SKATER.
a. las as glass by bullets from the foe, One
r nerican corporation is now experi-
srsa' v'ns on its own hook with a verv
sn" aI pressed mirror made out ~
:. ee' nickel. which is almost chemical
~. pure This corporation is soon to fur-
"'Sh the army with one of these mir.
rors. e'e inir-
Inc 6o-inch searchlights, Of which
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