46TH CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ( Ex. Doc. 1, pt. 2, vol. II. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR FOR THE YEAR 1879. IN THREE PARTS. PART I. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. [EXTRACT FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.] WAR DEPARTMENT, November 19, 1879. * REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. The report of the Chief of Engineers states that work upon our seacoast defenses has been limited, in accordance with the terms of the act of March 23, 1878, to their protection, preservation, and repair. For the reason that these works are subject, more than any other national structures, with the exception, perhaps, of light-houses, to the destructive and deteriorating effects of the sea, the amount heretofore appropriated for these objects has proved insufficient, many necessary works of repair and protection remaining unexecuted at the close of the last fiscal year for want of funds. No progress whatever has been made for several years past in the construction of new or in the modification of our old works, built before the inventions of modern ordnance and armored ships, for want of appropriations therefor; but the Engineer Department of the Army, in the light of full information respecting the recent great improvements in ordnance and armor, has prepared plans for modifying some of our old works and constructing new ones. These plans provide for mounting the heaviest of modern rifled guns and resisting the projectiles of cannon of the immense calibers now possessed by nearly every maritime nation of Europe. The Chief of Engineers very truly remarks that, in the present condition of our sea-coast defenses, injuries to our citizens abroad and insults to our flag could not be resented with that vigor and promptitude demanded by the honor and dignity of the nation, and justified by a knowledge that, come what may, our navy-yards, maritime cities, and depots for military and naval stores will be unassailable behind impreg nable fortifications and obstructions; and I commend the views of that officer respecting the necessity for reasonable appropriations for our sea-coast defenses, as expressed in his report, to the earnest attention of Congress and the country. The Battalion of Engineers stationed at the Engineer School of Application at Willets Point and at the Military Academy has been engaged in the development of our torpedo system, which has now been brought to a state of efficiency not inferior, it is believed, to that of any nation. IV EXTRACT FROM ANNUAL REPORT OF SECRETARY OF WAR. Fortifications and torpedoes, or submarine mines, have, in recent years, become the twin defenses of maritime countries, the latter being necessary to hold the enemy's vessels under the fire of the former in the approaches to our harbors; and I believe it is simply a matter of common prudence and good judgment that the appropriations asked for by the Chief of Engineers for providing torpedoes to be stored in our fortifications, from which they can be planted in time of war in the channels and fair-ways of our harbors, and for preparing our most important forts for operating them by providing the necessary bomb. proof covers for the electrical apparatus, galleries of approach, &c., be granted; also that, for the reasons stated by the Chief of Engineers, the means should be provided for increasing the Battalion of Engineers from the number now fixed at two hundred enlisted men, under the recent law reducing the Army, to five hundred and twenty enlisted men. The construction, repair, preservation, and completion of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and the surveys and examinations connected therewith, have been prosecuted during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1879, with the means provided by the river and harbor act approved June 18, 1878, and the balances of previous appropriations remaining unexpended on July 1, 1878. The execution of all works provided for in the river and harbor act approved March 3, 1879, for which the plans and projects have been approved, is being proceeded with. In the case of new works unavoidable delays have in some instances arisen from the necessity of considering legal questions touching the occupancy of their sites. For further information respecting these improvements and surveys reference may be made to the report of the Chief of Engineers, which contains a detailed account of the steps taken to carry out the provisions of the river and harbor acts and of the satisfactory progress and condition of these works. Although many of them are only partially completed, they have afforded an increased security and facility to navigation far exceeding in value the sums expended upon them, adding annually to the wealth and resources of the country by an increase of commerce, due to the greater depth of channels, greater security in their navigation, and the saving of time in their use. I again ask attention to the necessity of legislation to protect the channels of rivers and fair-ways of harbors from injuries arising from wanton deposits by passing vessels of ballast, ashes from steamers, and of all substances which would tend to the formation of shoals therein, and also to protect the breakwaters, piers, and other public works constructed by the United States from trespass upon as well as injury thereto. To comply with the requirements of the joint resolution of Congress of June 20, 1879, a Board of Officers of the Corps of Engineers has been convened to inquire into and report upon the practicability of bridging or tunneling the Detroit River at or near the city of Detroit, without material or undue injury to the navigation of the river. The report of the board has not as yet been received. The Mississippi River Commission, constituted by act of June 28, 1879, for the improvement of that river from the Head of the Passes, near its mouth, to. its headwaters, has been organized and has entered upon its duties. The survey of the Mississippi River has been extended from Scanlon's Landing to Helena, Ark. The longitude and latitude of Louisiana, Mo., Rock Island, Ill., and Red Wing, Minn., have been determined. Charts Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the Mississippi River south of Memphis have been completed. On the survey of the Northern and Northwestern lakes, the main triangulation connecting Lake Erie with Lake Michigan has been nearly completed. Coast charts Nos. 3, 4, and 5, of Lake Ontario and Nos. 2 3, and 4 of Lake Erie have been finished. The survey of the territory west of the one hundredth meridian has been continued in the States of Colorado, Texas, Nevada, California, and Oregon, and in the Territories of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington, and in connection with this work a special survey of Great Salt Lake has been completed. No funds were available for the prosecution of the field-work on this survey after June 30, 1879, and all parties were withdrawn from the field on or before that date. There are eight engineer officers now employed in the Western military divisions and departments in making surveys and in collecting and mapping the geographical and topographical information obtained in scouts and campaigns against hostile Indians. Maps prepared in this way are of great value to the War Department and to the Army. It is very desirable that the unexplored areas in the country liable to be traversed by the troops and hostile Indians be mapped as rapidly as possible, and an appropriation of $50,000 is earnestly recommended for this purpose. Improvement of the South Pass of the Mississippi River.-Mr. James B. Eads and associates began the construction of jetties and other works at the South Pass of the Mississippi River June 2, 1875. The object was to open and permanently maintain a navigable channel, 26 feet deep, through then existing extensive shoals and bars which were underlying about 74 feet of water, and which, as obstacles to navigation, rendered this pass useless to commerce. Under an act of March 3, 1875, authorizing the undertaking, Mr. Eads and associates were to receive certain payments as the improvement progressed toward the creation of the channel sought and required to be secured within a specified time, and they were to receive periodical payments for twenty years for its maintenance, with a view to insuring permanency of the improvement. The progress of the work has been the subject-matter of several reports during each year from an engineer officer on duty at Port Eads, and has been duly communicated to Congress. |