this, have been completed. The remaining arches in the bastion, and the wing and sustaining wall on the right of the gorge, have been partially constructed. In the demi-lune the masonry of the parados has been completed, and the embankment or earth cover of the traverses and parados about completed up to the top of the concrete masonry, and partially sodded; and the sustaining-wall of the gun-platform on the left, with the foundation of that platform and of the breast-height wall in front, is laid. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, $85,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $100,000. During the present year it is proposed to complete bastion A, the demi-lune battery, and the additional traverse-magazine, and to commence work upon the four-gun battery upon the cover-face of front No. II. Battery at Long Island Head, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Colonel Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This important work is especially intended to command the entrance into Boston Harbor through Broad Sound. During the past year operations have been mainly directed toward the erection of the buildings necessary for the work, such as quarters, shops, store-houses, &c.; the construction of an oak-pile wharf, and a railway of 1,000 feet to the summit of the bluff, and the excavation for the eastern mortar-battery and the parados in rear of it; the commencement of the concrete masonry of these positions, and the construction of the drains in rear of them. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. No appropriation asked for the next fiscal year. Fort Winthrop, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Colonel Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-In the east battery four of the seven traverse-magazines, the remaining three being finished except their earth cover and sodding. Two of the three new center-pintle platforms were finished, except as to irons, one partially finished, and some progress made with the four front-pintle platforms. The breast-height wall of this battery is completed except for the four depressible-gun positions, and about half of the new sand parapet is essentially completed. In the south battery during the year the breast-height wall for four gunpositions has been built. At the mortar battery the most western magazine and shell-room, and the pit for mortar-beds next to the west was completed, or fully one-third of this battery. With the funds available it is expected that during the present year the east battery will be completed, as also the masonry of the breast-height walls and the new gunplatforms of the unfinished portion of the south battery. The concrete arches of the four traverse-magazines of the south battery not yet commenced will probably be completed, and some progress made with the new sand parapet of this battery, and the screened earth cover of its magazines. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, $31,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $63,000. Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Colonel Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-During the year there were completed the breast-height walls of the east, the southeast. and the north bastions of the enciente; and the six center-pintle 15-inch-gan platforms of these three bastions, and the breast-height walls of the northwest bastion, and curtain of front I, were commenced. The masonry of the traverse magazine on the left flank of the north bastion was completed and partially covered. with earth. The remaining center-pintle platforms of the barbette-battery of the enciente ar: at their sites ready to be set. The excavations for the sand parapet of fronts I and II, and the completion of the earth cover of the magazines and gun-positions of these fronts, as also the necessary repairing walls, have been partly completed. During the present fiscal year it is contemplated to complete the masonry of the remaining three center-pintle platforms and the six front-pintle. platforms of the enciente, as also the three traversemagazines, the new sand parapets of fronts I and II, and the earth slopes covering the magazines and the gun-positions, thus completing, as far as the present orders authorize, the barbette-battery of the enciente of this work. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, $42,500. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $35,000. Fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-Nothing has been done at this work during the past year, and it has been under the charge of a fort-keeper. The board of engineers has recommended an earthen barbette-battery for twenty-six heavy rifled or smooth-bore guns. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Fort Phoenix, New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-Nothing has been done at this work during the past fiscal year, and no expenditures were made there for any purpose. The buildings and property there are of little value, and were looked after by the ordnance-sergeant. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Fort Adams, Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-During the past fiscal year the work performed consisted mainly in making preparations for resuming work on the new batteries by putting the wharves and roads in good order, opening new communications about the work, and repairing those leading from the southeast front to the artillery stables. The facing of the embrasures on the water-fronts was also completed. The special enumeration of the work is as follows: Completing the new road around the northeast salient; raising the arch of the sally-port on north front, and grading the roadway for carriages, and paving it; repairing wharf at artillery-stable, and the approaches to the wharf on north front; preparing place for coal-yard cut of the way of the wharves; repairing and regrading the passage-way out of the southeast front; reconstructing drain in front of the horn-work; completing the refacing of the embra sures on the north and east fronts. The modification of the new batteries to admit the depressing guncarriage had not been made in time for operation before the 30th of June. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, $85,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $140,000. The work the current year will consist in building a new set of quarters for the commanding officer outside of the fort, and in the construction of the new heavy batteries on the water-front. The estimates for the fiscal year contemplate a rapid prosecution of the work on the new batteries, the building of some additional quarters, and repairs upon the old ones, which are very dilapidated, and whose use cannot yet be dispensed with. Dumpling's Battery, Canonicut Island, Rhode Island, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-Nothing has been done at this site during the past fiscal year. It has been proposed to place here ten heavy guns in barbette, but the exact plan has not been fixed by the board of engineers, and a contour survey has been recommended to enable this to be done. This survey should be made as soon as practicable. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Defenses of Dutch Island, western entrance to Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-These defenses are to consist of three detached batteries, en barbette, situated upon the summit of the island, and affording emplacements for thirtyeight 15-inch guns, or equivalent rifles. The work here during the past fiscal year consisted mainly as follows: During the first two months of the fiscal year, preparations of various kinds were made for commencing the batteries, including the assem blage of material, and necessary repairs. It was soon found that a reconsideration of the details of the general plan of the batteries was advisable, and, consequently, early in September, 1871, active operations were suspended, and the island left in charge of a fort-keeper until spring. During the winter of 1871 and spring of 1872, the plans were reconsidered by the board of engineers for fortifications, and a new plan prepared, which received the approval of the Chief of Engi neers. March and April were spent in making preparations, receiving and storing material, &c., and early in May ground was broken for foundations of the three service-magazines at the southwest salient of the larger of the three batteries. At the close of the fiscal year the following had been accomplished: Completing the foundations of two servicemagazines, and building and setting forms and centers for side walls and arches of same; partly completing foundations for a third magazine, and the forms and centers for its superstructure, and excavating the foundations for a fourth magazine, besides many matters of detail connected with the general conduct of the work and the care of public property. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Fort Trumbull, New London Harbor, Connecticut, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-Nothing has been done at this work during the past fiscal year, and it has been taken care of by the commanding officer of the garrison. It is designed to modify the exterior batteries at this fort, so as to mount twelve heavy guns. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Fort Griswold, New London Harbor, Connecticut, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-Nothing has been done at this work during the past fiscal year. It is designed to modify existing batteries, so as to mount nine heavy guns. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Fort Hale, New Haven Harbor, Connecticut, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-This fort having been dismantled, no work has been done during the past fiscal year. A portion of the land occupied was paid for out of the appropriation for purchase of sites for fortifications, the perfect title having been secured. Measures have been taken, though not yet ended, for getting proper title to the remainder that is required here, and it is believed this will be done during the current year. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Fort Schuyler, East River, New York, in charge of Major H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers.-The reports of former years show the modifications proposed on this important work for the defense of New York City from approach through East River. In brief, these modifications consist of the alterations necessary to adapt the batteries for the service of the heaviest ordnance of the present time. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, $85,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $100,000. On the main work the modifications of the north front have been continued; three large brick arches, with intermediate communicating arches, one heavy abutment-pier, the greater portion of the new paradewall, and the new coping to the scarp-wall have been built. The bridge, for the supply of material, is completed across both ditches. On the cover face the parados in the south bastion, together with the thickening of the magazines and parapet, have been completed. On the place of arms, the parados and parapet have been sodded. During the present year it is proposed to finish all work in hand on the north front, and to commence the modification of the northeast front. Fort at Willet's Point, eastern entrance to New York Harbor, in charge of Major H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers.-With Fort Schuyler, this work unites in the defense of the entrance to the harbor of New York City, through the East River, and its site is favorable to the construction of earthen barbette-batteries. The operations for the removal of natural obstructions to navigation at Hell Gate render it even more important than heretofore that this channel of approach to New York City and the Brooklyn navy-yard should be put in proper state of defense. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, $76,500. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $100,000. During the past year the large storage-magazine, designed to contain 250,000 pounds of powder, has been completed, except part of the earth covering. The drain-pipes and ramps connected with the underground passage-way from the main work to the casemated battery have been finished. The Little Bay battery, (two guns,) and the west battery, (6 guns,) with their five traverse-magazines, have been essentially completed. The excavation for the magazines of the mortar-battery has been made, and about three-fourths of the concrete stone prepared. Extensive repairs have been put upon the wharf. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, it is proposed to finish the west battery for six guns with its service-magazines, and so much of the middle battery for ten guns as has been commenced; the remainder of the middle battery will be filled in gradually. The east battery for seven guns, with its magazines, will be,commenced. All the concrete work in the mortar-battery will be finished during the warm weather, and the earth-work during the winter and spring. Fort Columbus, Governor's Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieutenant-Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers.-Six shot-beds have been built, and foundations for eight more excavated, and dry stone and concrete masonry laid. In the new barbette-battery six magazines have been coated with Portland cement on the outside, the parapet has been constructed and completed, and the terreplein has been reduced to the proper level. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Castle William, Governor's Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieutenant-Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers.-Nothing has been done at this work during the past year. South Battery, Governor's Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieutenant-Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers.-Nothing has been done at this work during the past year. Fort Wood, Bedloe's Island, New York Harbor, in charge of LieutenantColonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers. This work, together with those upon Governor's Island, is designed to close the entrance to the East and Hudson Rivers, and to cover New York, part of Brooklyn, and Jersey City, from the bombardment of a hostile fleet in New York Bay. This work remains the same as at last annual report, but little work having been done. The entrances to the magazines in the exterior water-battery, built last year, have been completed, and portions of the parapet raised to the proper height. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, $17,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $40,000. Fort Hamilton and additional batteries, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieutenant-Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers.-During the past fiscal year the sea-wall of water-battery No. 1 was carried up two courses, and is ready for coping; the rear of the sea-wall has been filled in with earth to a general level of two feet below the top of the seawall. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, $40,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $50,000. Mortar Battery at Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor, in charge of Lieutenant-Colonel John Newton, Corps of Engineers.-During the past fiscal year, six traverse-magazines, including three service-magazines, have been built and completed, except doors and sodding. The terreplein and parapet are also completed, except grading and sodding. Fands for this work were derived from general appropriation for mortar-batteries. Fort on site of Fort Tompkins, New York Harbor, in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers.-This important work crowns the hill in rear of the open batteries and other works on Staten Island, commands the entrance through the Narrows to New York Harbor, acts as a keep for those works, and, when completed, will throw a heavy fire from a high elevation upon vessels attempting to pass before it. During the past year all the masonry of the two gateways and the two sally-port arches, and the walls and arches of the passage-ways over the sally-ports, were finished. The opening left in the scarp-wall for ingress and egress was closed, and the scarp-wall north and south of the sallyport lowered five feet and the coping relaid. The granite parade-wall was finished except the coping, and the masonry of the four traversemagazines was carried up to the springing lines of the arches. The walls of the south circular stairway were carried up to the skew-backs, and those of the passage-way to parade to the level of parade-coping. The casemate and sally-port arches were covered with mastic, and with earth filling, sodded on the exterior slope, to 5 feet 6 inches below terreplein. The iron balcony and stairs along the second tier casemates, and along the parade-coping of channel-front, were ninetenths completed. During the present year it is proposed to finish the work with the exception of the glazing and interior finish of twenty-five casemates for quarters on the land-fronts, to repair and build necessary roads, and provide gutters, &c., for drainage, and to complete the sodding and grading of the slopes. |