Corps of Engineers.-The slight repairs ordered for this work were omitted during the past fiscal year in order to avoid the extra expense of sending mechanics and laborers from the North specially for the pur. pose. They will be executed during the present fiscal year, soon after operations commence at other works in that quarter. No appropriation is requested for this work other than the sum heretofore allotted from the appropriation for contingencies of fortifications. Fort Taylor, Key West, Florida, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This work for the defense of the important harbor of Key West is still in an unfinished condition. Projects for its modification have been prepared and approved, and they contemplate, in addition to certain meliorations of the main work, the completion of the advanced towers, and the construction of two exterior barbette batteries for heavy guns with magazine traverses. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Nothing has been done during the year except some necessary repairs to auxiliary buildings. The expenditure for this purpose, and for fort keepers and watchmen over public property, and contingent expenses, has been drawn from the general appropriation for contingencies of fortifications. With funds allotted from this appropriation for the present year, it is proposed during the coming season to increase the thickness of the scarp wall next the main magazines, and modify the parapet and terre plein of the western bastions to admit of the mounting of guns of the heaviest caliber, in accordance with the approved project. Fort Jefferson, Garden Key, Tortugas, Florida, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-A project with necessary drawings, &c., looking mainly to the adaptation of the barbette tier of the work to guns of large caliber, has been prepared, but is held for further advisement. For the continuation next year of work on the officers' quarters and soldiers' barracks an appropriation is desired. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $12,500. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $50,000. Nothing has been done during the year, and the fort remains in the condition reported last year. With the funds available for the present year, it is proposed to complete the sea-wall and to continue the work on the quarters and barracks. Fort Pickens, Pensacola Harbor, Florida, in charge of Major C. B. Reese until September 22, 1870, since then of Colonel J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers. This work is in fair condition. During the year necessary repairs were made to the wharf, store houses and stables. A fort keeper has been in care of the public property. It is proposed for the next fiscal year to finish other necessary repairs of a general character, and to mature plans for the modification of the work. No appropriation made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Fort Barrancas and redoubt, Pensacola Harbor, Florida, in charge of Major C. B. Reese until September 22, 1870, since then of Colonel J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers.-It is proposed for the next fiscal year to consider the question of the modification of this work, with a view to the introduction of heavier ordnance. No appropriation made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Fort Morgan, eastern entrance to Mobile Bay, Alabama, in charge of 22 Major C. B. Reese until September 22, 1870, since then of Colonel J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers.-This work is in about the same condition as shown by the last annual report. During the year the slopes and ditch have been weeded and mowed. The lunette has been cleaned out; the stable, store houses, and wharf have been slightly repaired, and the property kept in good order. It is proposed for the next fiscal year to construct a wharf and a seawall to protect the site, the funds for the same to be derived from the appropriation for contingencies of fortifications. Plans for the modification of this work to suit it to the modern armaments have not yet been prepared. No special appropriation asked. Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, Alabama, in charge of Major C. B. Reese until September 22, 1870, since then of Colonel J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers.-This work needs complete modification to fit its emplacements for barbette guns, for the reception of the large modern armaments. During the past year the store house has been repaired and whitewashed, and the public property properly cared for. No operations are contemplated for the next fiscal year except care and preservation of public property and site, and the preparation of projects for the modification of the work. For the preservation of the site an appropriation is asked. No appropriation made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Fort on Ship Island, coast of Mississippi, in charge of Major C. B. Reese until September 22, 1870, since then of Colonel J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers.-This work is in the same condition as shown by the last annual report. Operations during the year have been restricted to preservation and care of public property. No operations are contemplated for the next fiscal year except care and preservation of public property, and the preparation of projects for the modification of the work. Fort Pike, Rigolets Pass, Louisiana, in charge of Captain C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-This work commands the passage by lightdraught vessels through the Rigolets into Lake Pontchartrain. Projects for its modification, in accordance with the approved system, have been prepared by the board of engineers, and detailed estimates of the cost have been made out. required upon this work, and to place in the curved barbette-battery a It is proposed to effect the necessary repairs number of 10-inch rifled guns, with the proper number of traverses between them. No appropriation made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. No work was done during the past year. Two thousand dollars allotted for repairs during the present fiscal year, from the general appropriation for contingencies of fortifications, will be expended in making such repairs as are most urgently required to preserve the work. Fort Macomb, Chef Menteur Puss. Louisiana, in charge of Captain C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-This work commands the passage through the bayou Chef Menteur into Lake Pontchartrain. Projects for the modifications needed on this work to fit it for the modern armaments have been considered by the board of engineers, and estimates of cost prepared. To put the work in the condition recommended by the board of engineers, there will be required the sum of $24,000. No appropriation made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $24,000. No work was done during the past year. Four thousand dollars allotted for repairs during the present fiscal year, from the general appropriation for contingencies of fortifications, will be expended in making repairs most needed. Tower Duprés, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Captain C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-No work was done here during the past year. One thousand dollars allotted for the present year, from the general appropriation for contingencies of fortifications, will be expended in making repairs. No appropriation made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Battery Bienvenue, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Captain C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-No work attempted during the past year. One thousand dollars allotted for the present fiscal year, from the general appropriation for contingencies of fortifications, will be applied to making the work habitable, and to paying a fort-keeper for preventing further depredations on the part of persons visiting the battery. No appropriation made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Tower at Proctorsville, Lake Borgne, Louisiana, in charge of Captain C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-No work done during the past year. Three hundred and sixty dollars allotted for the present year, from the general appropriation for contingencies of fortifications, will be expended in paying a fort-keeper to preserve the property. No appropriation made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Fort Jackson, Mississippi River, Louisiana, in charge of Captain C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-This work and Fort St. Philip, nearly opposite, are situated on the Mississippi River about sixty-five miles below New Orleans, and constitute the main defenses of that city against hostile naval expeditions. The depth of water through the bayous and lakes leading toward the city will only permit the approach of the smaller vessels carrying light armaments. The principal channel-way to the city through which a naval attack may be made is the Mississippi River. On this channel, therefore, our defenses should, as soon as possible, be made efficient. The work at this fort during the past year consisted in repairs to levee and in care of property. For the present year an appropriation of $50,000 is available, and will be applied to complete the unfinished water-battery, according to the approved plan, and for making further modifications recommended. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $50,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $75,000. Fort St. Philip, Mississippi River, Louisiana, in charge of Captain C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-No work done during the past fiscal year. Thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars available for work during the present year will be applied to the construction of the new battery recommended by the board of engineers. This amount will not be sufficient to complete the battery. To complete all repairs, alterations, and additions designed by the board, and approved, there will be required a further appropriation of $70,500. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $37,500. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $50,000. Fort Livingston, Barataria Bay, Louisiana, in charge of Captain C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers.-This barbette work is situated at the entrance of Barataria Bay, and was intended to prevent access to the city of New Orleans by this route, at the same time securing the anchorage for the use of our vessels of light draught. Projects for its modification and repair have been devised by the board of engineers for fortifications. These modifications look to the arrangement of its barbettebatteries for the emplacement of some large rifles and smooth bore guns. During the past year there was expended in repair of this work $202 50. For the present year there is available the sum of $2,500 from the general appropriation for contingencies of fortifications. To carry out the approved recommendations of the board of engineers, there will be required the sum of $38,000. Fort at Fort Point, entrance to San Francisco Harbor, California, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel C. S. Stewart, Corps of Engineers.-This is one of the principal works for the defense of the entrance to the harbor of San Francisco through the Golden Gate, the approaches to this entrance, and the inner waters of this passage. It is situated on the southern side of the channel, and consists essentially of a large casemated work and extensive exterior earthen barbette batteries for the largest guns and mortars. The casemated part of the work has been essentially finished for some years, and the barbette batteries should be pushed to completion at an early day. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $50,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $125,000. In December, 1870, the construction of the batteries to the south of the fort was commenced. The embankment of parapets, terre pleins, traverses, &c., has been two-thirds completed for a running length of 1,324 feet. In addition the parapets and terre pleins of the mortar battery for a length of 369 feet have been nearly finished and its traverses in part embanked. In all 29,586 cubic yards of embankment have been put in place. The exterior slopes of the barbette batteries, in general, and portions of the traverses and rampart slopes have been sodded ; also the exterior, superior, and interior slopes of parapets of mortar battery and portions of its traverse. Total sodding, 7,180 square yards. Part of the breast height wall has been begun, the masonry of two traverse magazines about completed, and that of eight others two-thirds finished; the foundations for twelve platforms for heavy guns put down, and twelve pintle blocks put in place. In all 1,928 cubic yards of brick, stone, and concrete masonry constructed. The piles of the wharf have been replaced; buildings, roads, &c., repaired, and much miscellaneous work done. Fort at Lime Point, San Francisco Harbor, California, in charge of Major George H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers.-This fort, with its detached earthen barbette works at Point Cavallo, Lime Point Ridge, and Gravelly Beach, constitute the defenses of the entrance to the harbor of San Francisco, on the northern shore of the Golden Gate. As yet no guns have been put in position along this shore, but in some of the batteries work is well advanced toward that end. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $100,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $200,000. The work done at Lime Point during the past year may be mainly included in the following-named items, viz: construction of a wagonroad from the quarters to Gravelly Beach battery, a distance of two miles; excavation for and construction of a culvert in Gravelly Beach battery, 170 feet in length; embankment of the terre-plein and parapet of Gravelly Beach battery; construction of magazines in Gravelly Beach Valley-four completed, two unfinished; excavation for batteries. on the cliffs and extension of wharf 50 feet. Gravelly Beach battery, to contain twelve 15-inch guns, is ready for the construction of platforms. The cliff batteries, to contain nine 15-inch guns, are ready for the construction of the magazines, breast-height walls and platforms. It is expected that both these batteries will be completed during the next fiscal year, and in addition the mortar battery to contain four mortars. This battery is nearly completed now, and the timber for the platforms is on hand. The next work to be undertaken is the barbette battery near Point Cavallo. Fort on Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Harbor, California, in charge of Major George H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers.-This work occupies a valuable position for the defense of the entrance to, and inner waters of, the harbor of San Francisco, covering the whole of the rocky island, the shores of which rise abruptly from the water to a height sufficient to secure it from surprise. The fortifications have from their inception consisted chiefly of open barbette batteries for the heaviest guns. The recent introduction of guns so much larger than those formerly used has rendered the modification of the batteries at this work imperative. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $75,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $100,000. During the past year, in Batteries 1 and 4, preparations were made for remodeling the defenses by the removal of gun-platforms and breast height walls. The work of cutting off the north caponnière, begun in the previous year, was completed and its conversion into a magazine traverse was commenced. In Battery 2, three service magazines were completed, as were also breast height walls for four guns, and the parapet except the sodding. In Battery 3, one service magazine was built, and the breast height walls for two guns commenced. One front pintle wooden platform for 15-inch gun was laid in Battery 2, and partially tested. The site of Battery 5 was sufficiently excavated to admit of the commencement of work on the gun platforms and other masonry. Considerable excavation was also made in Batteries 12 and 13, and the buildings and other public property on the island were kept in order and repair. Batteries at Point San Jose, San Francisco Harbor, California, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel C. S. Stewart, Corps of Engineers.-The wood-work of the batteries continues to deteriorate necessarily. Six 42-pounder banded rifles, on iron carriages and front pintle wooden platforms, are mounted in the east battery. No expenditures have been made during the year, and no appropriation is yet asked for the commencement of the new defenses projected for this point. Batteries on Angel Island, San Francisco Harbor, California, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel C. S. Stewart, Corps of Engineers.-These temporary earth-works, erected during the late war, remain in the condition stated in the last annual report, with added deterioration due to the lapse of time, no expenditures having been made upon them during the year. Two of the three works retain efficiency, and it is proposed to defer the commencement of the batteries of a permanent character projected to replace them. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Defenses of the mouth of the Columbia River, Oregon, in charge of Major G. H. Mendell until April 11, 1871; since then, of Major Henry M. Robert, |