For defense of Philadelphia Harbor, at Pea Patch Island: Ten emplacements for 20 to 30-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000 each Sixteen emplacements for 12-inch rifled mortars, at $2,000 each.... For defense of Baltimore Harbor, at Fort Carroll and Ten emplacements for 20 to 30-ton breech-loading barbette dis- 100,000 Sixteen emplacements for 12-inch rifled mortars, at $2,000 each... For defense of Hampton Roads, Virginia: Three turrets, exclusive of armor, at $220,000 each.. For defense of San Francisco Harbor, California : 660,000 00 Three turrets, exclusive of armor, at $300,000 each.. 900,000 00 For jetties for protecting site of Sandy Hook, New Jersey For acquisition of sites of two Martello Towers at Key West, Fla., by purchase or condemnation.......... 75,000 00 For sea-wall at Governor's Island, New York Harbor 9,000 00 50,000 00 Fort Marion, Florida: For restoration of the old fort to the condition substantially in which it was left by the Spaniards.......... 10,000 00 For the modification of existing forts and batteries and modification and continuing construction of incomplete batteries to adapt them to modern ordnance..... 500,000 00 For protection, preservation, and repair of fortifications for which there may be no special appropriation available..... 175,000 00 For purchase of submarine mines and necessary appliances to operate them, for closing the channels leading to our principal seaports.... For needful casemates, cable galleries, &c., to render it possible to operate submarine mines... 300,000 00 For movable torpedoes propelled and controlled by power operated from shore stations. 200,000 00 For continuing torpedo experiments and for practical instruction of 30,000 00 30,000 00 5, 203, 000 00 DEFENSES OF THE NORTHERN FRONTIER. Fort Wayne, Michigan, in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers, until December 19, 1883; since that date in charge of Lieut. Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers.-This work is situated on the west bank of Detroit River, adjacent to the city of Detroit, and is intended to command the channel of the river. It is a square bastioned work, commenced in 1841, having a scarpwall of brick and concrete in place of the original timber scarp, a detached parapet of brick on the curtains and faces, and unfinished waterbatteries on the up-stream and down-stream sides. The construction of the fort in its present form was commenced in 1862, and completed in 1871; its repair was begun in 1882, and was completed in September, 1883. At the date of the last Annual Report the work of repair was in progress under a contract with Messrs. Rogers and Traves dated June 1, 1883, and also by hired labor. During the months of July, August, and September, 1883, under the contract referred to 4,863 defective bricks were removed, and replaced by good ones, and the joints of 6,407 square yards of brick scarp and casemate-walls were cleared and repointed, and DEFENSES OF THE NORTHERN FRONTIER-continued. a water-proof wash was applied to 1,667 square yards of coping; the injuries to slopes repaired and resodded. By hired labor the passageway through the sallyport was widened, and the sally-port gates and engineer stables repaired. The repairs of 1883 were made under an allotment of $10,000 from the appropriation for preservation and repair of fortifications, 1883. These repairs left the work in tolerably good condition, except the wooden revetment of the interior slope of the terre-plein, which was reported in 1867 as fast decaying. Nothing of consequence has been done to it meanwhile, and the condition has grown steadily worse during the intervening seventeen years. No estimate is submitted of funds required to continue the work to completion, or to make extensive repairs. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. Fort Porter, Black Rock, near Buffalo, New York, in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers, until November 30, 1883; since that date in charge of Capt. Edward Maguire, Corps of Engineers.-This work, commenced in 1842, is situated on the Niagara River, within the limits of the city of Buffalo, and consists of a square stone tower or keep, in ruins, surrounded by a square barbette battery. The keep was nearly destroyed by fire many years ago, and the entire work is, in its present condition, useless for offense or defense. By joint resolution of Congress, approved July 11, 1870, published in General Orders 93, July 22, 1870, permission was granted to the city of Buffalo, through its park commissioners, "to improve and beautify the grounds known as Fort Porter, situated in said city, and belonging to the United States, in connection with a public park to be laid out on land adjoining the said grounds, the plans for the same to be approved by the Secretary of War; Provided, That this resolution shall not be construed to pass any title in the said grounds, but that the ownership and control of said grounds shall remain entirely in the United States, and shall be subject to such changes and uses for military purposes as the Secretary of War may direct." Under this authority the larger part of the United States grounds at Fort Porter has been handsomely laid out and improved by the authorities of the city of Buffalo. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. Fort Niagara, mouth of Niagara River, New York, in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers, until November 30, 1883; since that date in charge of Capt. Edward Maguire, Corps of Engineers.-This work, commenced in 1839, is situated at the mouth of the Niagara River, on the south shore of Lake Ontario, about 40 miles from and east of its western extremity. It is an irregular work, having one strong land front running nearly north and south, extending from Lake Ontario at its northern extremity nearly to the Niagara River at its southern extremity. This front is half bastioned, with detached parapet, demilune, and four casemates for howitzers in each flank. The rest of the tracé is irregular, following the general course of the river and of the lake shore. The work contains two masonry block-houses, built by the French about 1757, and other buildings begun by the French and finished by DEFENSES OF THE NORTHERN FRONTIER-continued. the English after its capture by them during the French and Indian war. No money has been expended on this work since 1871, except for slight repairs. The work has no armament and no gun-platforms, excepting a timber one in the south bastion for a 44-inch siege gun. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. Fort Ontario, mouth of Oswego River, New York, in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers.-This work is situated at the mouth of the Oswego River on its east bank, and on the south shore of Lake Ontario, and lies within the limits of the city of Oswego. The work was commenced in 1839 and continued at intervals until 1872, at which time constructive operations ceased; since which expenditures have been limited to minor repairs. Its condition is essentially the same as stated in the Annual Report for 1883. The fort was regarrisoned in the spring of 1884. During the past fiscal year the operations have consisted in replacing and repairing parts of the timber revetments of the interior slopes adjacent to the quarters, creosoted Georgia pine timber being used. Seventy linear feet have been rebuilt, and 80 linear feet repaired by removing the earth backing, putting in new posts and caps, and tying the revetment in place by anchors and tie-rods. A masonry revetment has also been built in the rear of the old guard house, forming a semicircular area, instead of the former timber-revetted large pentagonal area. That portion of the old area which was outside of the masonry revetment was filled with earth. Ninety linear feet of tile drain were laid from this area to the sewer. The timber bomb proofs, which were formerly beneath the terre-plein adjacent to the quarters, have all but one been filled with earth. The guard-houses adjacent to the sallyport have been repaired by renewing the floors and repairing the walls and ceilings and painting the wood-work. A defective cushion stone of the outer gate-way arch of the sallyport has been cut out and a sound one substituted. Minor repairs have also been made to the breast-height revetment near the gate-way, and to the engineer buildings and the reservation fences. A culvert beneath the avenue roadway, which has been blocked for many years, was repaired and cleared out. The Board of Engineers for Fortifications recommends that this work be left as it is for the present. The repair of one of the timber revetments to the interior slopes adjacent to the officers' quarters was omitted during the past fiscal year on account of the building of an annex to the officers' quarters in progress by the Quartermaster's Department. The replacing and repair of this revetment should be made during the present season, creosoted timber having been reserved for the purpose. The scarp-wall and arches of the casemates on the gate-way front have separated, and steps should be taken to ascertain whether this is progressive. During the year no change has been made in the armament of this work, or in its condition to receive armament. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. DEFENSES OF THE NORTHERN FRONTIER-continued. Fort Montgomery, outlet to Lake Champlain, New York, in charge of Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated work is situated on the west shore of the outlet to Lake Champlain, about one-third of a mile from the Canadian boundary, and occupies a stra tegic point of great importance, and commands the entrance to Lake Champlain from the Richelieu or Saint John River. This work was commenced in 1841, and its rebuilding in its present form was accomplished in 1876, and completes the work, except the interior fittings of a part of the casemates intended for quarters, and also parts of Bastions A and E, where temporary wooden floors have been built for the second tier of casemates. During the past fiscal year forty-four sets, or eighty-eight, tie-rods were placed in Curtains I, III, IV, and V. These rods were in continuation of a plan previously adopted, and were for the purpose of restraining the tendency to separation of the scarp-walls from the casemates. To remedy the evil resulting from the flow of water over the coping and masonry of the parade-wall, gutters were placed along the drip of the coping and connected with down-spouts. To provide for the drainage of the parade, three lines of surface drains were laid, connecting with the sewer discharging into the lake. Minor repairs were made to the drawbridge and dock. By the formation of ice during the severe winters, the methods of drainage, as now provided, become inoperative, and consequently the work is severely subjected to the destructive action of frost and water. The vertical conductors connecting with the drains in the valleys of the arches become choked through the formation of ice, and the water, instead of being carried off by the means provided, finds its way eventually through defects in the asphalt covering to the arches beneath. The casemate arches require repointing, but so long as the radical difficulty lies in the proper drainage of the arches above, such work of repointing would be almost useless. This defect in the drainage of the upper surfaces of the arches is an evil which requires remedy, for if it is permitted to continue it must result in serious injury to the work. During the year no change has been made in the armament of this work or in its condition to receive armament. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. DEFENSES OF THE PENOBSCOT. Fort Knox, Bucksport, Penobscot River, Maine, in charge of Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This work, situated at the narrows of the Penobscot River, furnishes a defense for the city of Bangor, 18 miles above, and other towns bordering the river, and renders it available as a secure harbor of refuge for the shipping of the extensive eastern coast. The work, which was commenced in 1844, consists of a casemated main work and exterior earthen batteries, both requiring extensive modifications. It remains in an unchanged condition, no operations having been carried on during the fiscal year except for the necessary care and preservation of the property. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. DEFENSES OF THE KENNEBEC. Fort Popham, Kennebec River, Maine, in charge of Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This is a granite work, commenced in 1857, and was designed to command the entrance to the Kennebec River, to cover the harbor of refuge for large vessels above, and to protect the city of Bath, a place of commercial importance, as well as other cities on the interior waters, from predatory incursions by a smaller class of warvessels. Incidentally it will cover the railroad bridges crossing the Kennebec. Its construction was commenced in the year 1862, although full title to the site was not obtained till the following year. Operations were suspended at the close of the season of 1867. The work, which requires extensive modifications, remains in an unfinished condition, no operations having been carried on during the fiscal year, except for the necessary care and preservation of the property. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. DEFENSES OF PORTLAND. Fort Gorges, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This casemated work, commenced in 1857, is one of the series of forts designed to defend the harbor, and channels leading into the harbor, of the important strategic position occupied by the city of Portland. Its construction was suspended for want of funds in 1876, and the work is in an incomplete condition. The long suspension of operations causing deterioration, the working plant must be renewed when work is resumed." 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 Preble, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This work occupies such a position that threefourths of its guns command the two principal channels entering the harbor of Portland. The original work on this site was built in 1808. The new earthen batteries with parados and traverse magazines, which have been partially executed, are in an incomplete condition and suffering from exposure. The plans for these batteries require revision. The condition of the work is unchanged from the close of the last fiscal year. The derricks and other working machinery have so deteriorated dur ing the long suspension that considerable expense must be incurred in their renewal. 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 Scammel, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Col. C. E. Blunt, Corps of Engineers.-This work occupies a very important position in the harbor, and commands four of the channels leading into it. |