DEFENSES OF PHILADELPHIA AND LEAGUE ISLAND NAVY-YARDcontinued. Mortar Battery at Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania, in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, until January 20, 1885; since that date in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers.-The site of this battery is on the reclaimed land west of the main work and north of the unfished gun battery. Operations for its construction began in 1871, and continued until near the close of the fiscal year 1874, since which time work has remained suspended for want of funds. This battery, the plans of which were prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications, remains in an unfinished condition, and is suffering from exposure. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Site for defenses at Red Bank, New Jersey, in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, until January 20, 1885; since that date in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers.-This site is situated on the east shore of the Delaware River, and embraces an area of 100 acres. It was purchased in 1872, with the view of erecting thereon an earthen barbette work for heavy guns, which, with the works at Fort Mifflin, would constitute the inner line of defenses of the Delaware River. During the past fiscal year available funds were applied to repairing and strengthening the dikes along the Woodbury Creek and Delaware River fronts, and to the protection of the foot of the bluff directly in front of the property-keeper's house, where the bank was being rapidly worn away. No appropriation has been made for this work. The site is an important one, the occupation of the bluff by a suitable armament, which would command the channel at short range, being indispensable to any attempt to defend the port of Philadelphia and the League Island navyyard. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. Fort Delaware, Delaware River, Delaware, in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, until January 20, 1885; since that date in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers.-Fort Delaware is a casemated work, with granite scarp, situated on Pea Patch Island, about 42 miles below Philadelphia, and 12 miles below Wilming ton, Del. The position is a very important one, commanding both channels, the eastern or main ship-channel passing within 1,000 yards of the fort. The masonry of this fort was begun in 1852. No appropriations have been made for it since 1876, and the modifications then in progress, to adapt it to the greater size and power of modern orduance, remain suspended. This work and the batteries opposite on the Delaware and New Jersey shores form the lower line of defense for the Delaware River, but the fort is in no condition to contest the passage of modern ships of war, and the thickness of neither the scarp nor the magazine walls is sufficient to resist shot from guns now in use. DEFENSES OF PHILADELPHIA AND LEAGUE ISLAND NAVY-YARDcontinued. During the past fiscal year available funds have been applied to the following work: Rebuilding the foot-bridge over the moat, repairs to draw bridge on Front V, to the slopes of magazine traverses and the magazine retaining walls to nine service magazines, to fences and minor bridges, to the flood-gates of ditches, to temporary buildings, and to boats. The torpedoes were scraped, painted, and stored. Twenty-five barbette gunplatforms were so modified as to adapt them to the modern iron carriage, and the masonry of the platforms repaired. An appropriation for constructing a torpedo casemate is asked for, under the general appropriation for cable galleries. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason. Battery at Finn's Point, Delaware River, New Jersey, in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, until January 20, 1885; since that date in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers.-The construction of this earthen barbette battery, which forms the left of the lower line of defense for the Delaware River, was commenced in 1872, under the approved plans of the Board of Engineers for Fortifications. In 1876 work was suspended for want of appropriations, and since then only slight repairs have been made from time to time. During the past fiscal year slight repairs were made to the dikes, and the balance of available funds was applied towards the purchase of stone and placing the same along the river shore in front of exterior slope of the battery. The sea-wall along the front of the work has been but partially completed, leaving a gap of about 650 feet. Along the length of this gap the shore-line and a part of the exterior slope of the battery have been seriously eroded by the action of the river, and the stone above referred to was disposed along the foot of the eroded bank, so as to give temporary protection until available funds would permit of the stone's being laid into a wall closing the gap. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Mortar Battery at Finn's Point, Delaware River, New Jersey, in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, until January 20, 1885; since that date in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers.— This work was commenced in 1872, under the approved plans of the Board of Engineers for Fortifications, and forms a part of the earthen battery at Finn's Point. No appropriations having been made for it since 1874, it remains in its then incomplete condition. Since then the embankments have been washed away to a great extent by severe storms, which badly damaged the sea-wall at their foot. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortication during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. DEFENSES OF PHILADELPHIA AND LEAGUE ISLAND NAVY-YARDcontinued. Fort opposite Fort Delaware. Delaware shore, in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, until January 20, 1885; since that date in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers.-This earthen barbette battery is on the Delaware shore, opposite Fort Delaware, and commands both channels of the river below Pea Patch Island. Its construction was commenced in 1873, and continued until 1876. Since that time no appropriations have been made, and the battery remains in an unfinished condition. The completed portions, including the sodded slopes, are in fair condition. The dike on the Delaware River front needs extensive repairs. The plan of the battery requires revision. An appropriation for completing the torpedo cable gallery is requested under the general appropriation for cable galleries. During the past fiscal year slight repairs were made to the buildings and fences. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year, and no work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason. Mortar Battery, opposite Fort Delaware, near Delaware City, Delaware, in charge of Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, until January 20, 1885; since that date in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers.-This work was commenced in 1872, under the approved plans of the Board of Engineers for Fortifications. No appropriation having been made for it since 1874, it remains in its then incomplete condition. Since then the embankments have been washed away to a great extent by severe storms, which badly damaged the sea-wall at their foot. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. DEFENSES OF BALTIMORE. Fort McHenry, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland, in charge of Lieut. Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This fort forms part of the inner line of defense for Baltimore and its dependent interests, and commands with its fire the interior waters of the harbor and the channel of approach thereto, in which latter a depth of 27 feet exists at mean low water. The fortifications at this place were commenced in 1775, and in 1794 the present work was built. Although the original fort has become almost useless as a defensive work, the site is still an important one, and the water front should be occupied by a battery of modern guns, mounted behind an earthen parapet of the most approved dimensions, and provided with bomb-proof cover for ammunition and gunners. Such a battery, the plans of which were prepared by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications, was com menced in 1872, and is partly constructed, although all work upon it has been suspended for want of funds since July, 1876. The plan of this battery requires revision. A bulkhead of ballast having been made by the United States, without expense, along a line in front of the site, and at a distance from the DEFENSES OF BALTIMORE-continued. authorized pier line of 375 feet, and a line having also been established in the rear of the site at the same distance from the pier line, it is proposed to fill in the whole area thus defined with ballast from ships coming to the port. The available limits of the site will thus be largely increased without expense to the United States. Little progress has been made in this filling during the past year, as but few vessels have applied to deposit ballast upon the area. A sea-wall should be built along the line of the temporary bulkheads referred to above, and the present wharf should be removed and a new one built near the new dry-dock. The repairs of the year, of considerable extent, have been the following: Mowing slopes; repairing drains, gutters, and pavements, and retaining wall of ramps; building wire fences to protect slopes of exterior batteries; readjusting and resodding slopes where necessary; repairing roof, gutters, and drains of large exterior magazine near hospital. The commanding officer at Fort McHenry, Lieut. Col. L. L. Langdon, United States Artillery, has greatly assisted in their supervision and execution. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Fort Carroll, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland, in charge of Lieut. Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.-This fortification, commenced in 1847, is situated upon an exterior line of defense for the harbor of Baltimore. It is proposed to modify this important casemated work so as to enable it to receive the heaviest modern rifled guns, protected by iron armor of such form and thickness as to be impenetrable by any guns which may be brought to our coasts. Its completion is indispensable to the safety of the rich city of Baltimore in time of foreign war, and the work to be done cannot safely be left until the approach of hostilities. It will require several years and liberal appropriations to accomplish it, and it should be commenced without delay. Operations during the past year have been confined to the general care and preservation of the work and the public property stored thereat. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. DEFENSES OF WASHINGTON. Fort Foote, Potomac River, Maryland, in charge of Maj. Peter C. Hains, Corps of Engineers.-This earth work is situated on the left bank of the Potomac River, and only 2 miles below Alexandria. It commands the water approaches to that city and to Washington. The work was commenced in 1862. In 1872 the Board of Engineers for Fortifications approved a project for the modification of the old fort and for the construction of an additional battery. Work was in progress on the former when a suspension became necessary by reason of the failure of appropriations. No work has ever been done on the proposed new battery and none on the old fort since 1874. DEFENSES OF WASHINGTON-continued. At the present time the condition of the work may be described as one of utter dilapidation. The magazines, which at the time of the suspension of operations were in an unfinished condition, are rapidly going to ruin. The parapet on the water front was hardly begun when work ceased; consequently there would be no cover for the two guns that could be mounted. There are five gun platforms laid, four front, and one center pintle. They are built of concrete and granite, and are serviceable. No guns are mounted. The plans of the work require revision. Traverse rails and pintle plates for two 15-inch gun platforms have been contracted for, and will be set early in the fiscal year 1886. The buildings are all constructed of perishable material, and are rapidly going to decay; but, as the fort is not occupied by troops, no repairs to the buildings are recommended. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Fort Washington, Potomac River, Maryland, in charge of Maj. Peter C. Hains, Corps of Engineers.-The construction of this fort was begun in 1816. It is a casemated work, occupying a commanding position on the left bank of the Potomac River, 11 miles below the city of Washington. The masonry of the old work is still in good condition, but as the fort was designed more than half a century ago, it is not adapted to receive guns of modern size, or to defensive purposes against such guns. In 1870 the Board of Engineers for Fortifications approved plans for a modification of the demilune, converting it into a battery of modern construction, with guns of large caliber. The platforms for four of these guns were built, and the magazines partially so, when work was suspended for lack of funds. Three other batteries were planned, and received the approval of the Board of Engineers for Fortifications, but no work has yet been done on them. The plans of these batteries should be modified to conform to the latest improvements in defensive works before their construction is begun. The fort itself will also need modification for the same reason, but the unfinished magazines in the demilune battery ought to be completed, to prevent deterioration and decay. Traverse rails and pintle plates for four 15-inch gun platforms have been contracted for, and will be set early in the fiscal year 1886. The buildings, unoccupied by troops, are generally in a dilapidated condition, but no repairs are recommended, as it is of more importance to mount a few guns and to finish the magazines and parapets. There has been no special appropriation for this work since 1873-74. The unfinished parts of the demilune battery are therefore suffering constant deterioration. No appropriation having been made, no work was done at this fortification during the last fiscal year beyond its protection, preservation, and repair, as far as was possible with the general appropriation made for this purpose, and no other work is contemplated during the current fiscal year for the same reason. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. |