No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Fort Gorges, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Duane, Corps of Engineers.-This work 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. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $15,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $20,000. After an interruption of more than a year, work on this fort was resumed on August 8, 1870, and during the past year the great magazine on Front I, with the exception of its interior wood work, the cen tral traverse magazine, and the new entrance to the easterly traverse magazine, and the breast height walls of Front VI, were completed. The earth work of Front VI was nearly finished, excepting the grading and sodding of the slopes. It is expected that this work upon both Fronts VI and I will be completed before the close of the coming fiscal year, so that all the barbette guns of this fort can be mounted. New Fort Preble, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Duane, Corps of Engineers.-The work of carrying out the present plans for the completion of this fort was commenced on August 10, 1870. Since that date, the traverse magazine and earth work, in the gap between the north battery and old redoubt, has been finished, except the sodding of slopes. One of the two traverse magazines and about one-half of the great magazine in the old redoubt, have been built, and a considerable quantity of earth hauled in for embankments. One new traverse magazine in the south battery extension has been finished, except grading and sodding, and the necessary excavation for about 400 feet of the battery has been one-third completed. During the present year it is expected that the work in and adjoining the old redoubt will be essentially completed; that the parapet for the first four bays of the extension of south battery and four new traverses will be constructed, and that nine new positions will be ready for guns. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $28,500. Appropriations asked for the next fiscal year, $50,000. Fort Scammell, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Duane, Corps of Engineers.-This work occupies a very important position in the harbor, and commands four of the channels leading into it. No work of construction was carried on upon this fort from November, 1868, till August 22, 1870. Since the latter date the old block house, most of the old buildings in the parade, and the two small service magazines in the circular bastion were demolished, to make way for the new work. The parapet of the circular bastion was partially re-enforced by an exterior embankment. Rock excavation for the foundation of the great magazine in the old work is nearly finished. All the traverse magazines, six in number, in the old work, were built and cov ered with from two to five feet of earth; but their proper connections with the parados remain to be made after the construction of the latter. During the present year the great magazine, most of the parados, and the new arches in the west bastion will be built. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $50,000. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $100,000. New work at Portland Head, Portland Harbor, Maine.-An approved project has been for some time past prepared for the occupation of this position by a barbette battery for thirty-four guns of heaviest caliber, so arranged that all the approaches to the main channel leading into the harbor will be swept by some or all of its guns, and an enemy's fleet will be prevented by its fire from taking up unopposed a position behind Bangs Island, from which to bombard Portland or shell the shipping in the harbor. It is important to the safety of the city and harbor that works of defense exterior to the existing forts shall be provided, and an appropriation for the commencement next year of this battery is urged. No appropriation has been made as yet for this work. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $62,000. Fort MeClary, Portsmouth Harbor, Kittery Point, Maine, in charge of Liestenant Colonel J. G. Foster until May 6, 1871; since then Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Duane, Corps of Engineers.-This work, together with Fort Constitution, opposite, forms the only defense to the mouth of the Piscataqua River and to the navy-yard at Kittery, Maine. The plans for this work were made and approved in 1866; and so far as the erection of the several portions do not conflict with the system as lately adopted for our defenses, it is proposed to continue the construction. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $75,000. The condition of this fort remains the same as at the close of the last fiscal year, no operations having been carried on during the past year excepting the necessary care of the work. New Fort Constitution, Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel J. G. Foster, until May 6, 1871; since then Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Duane, Corps of Engineers.-This is a casemated work, and the Engineer Department is not prepared, at present, to proceed with its construction. The condition of this fort remains the same as at the close of the last fiscal year, no operations having been carried on during the past year excepting the necessary care of the work. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Colonel H. W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This important work is for the defense of the main channel of entrance to Boston Harbor, and command of the anchorage of Nantasket Roads. The modifications embraced in the recently approved plans are well under way, and 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, $150,000. The work executed here has been mainly upon the demilune south of the main work, in preparing it for enlarged ordnance in the upper battery. The concrete masonry of the two traverse magazines proposed has been constructed, and the earth embankments partly laid. On the main work, in bastion, (A,) the parade walls have been mostly taken down, and the drains of the interior space have been rebuilt. The foundations of all the piers for the new large arches for covering this space have been completed, while a large supply of bricks, concrete material, sand, &c., has been collected for a vigorous prosecution of the work in the present year. With the appropriations made in 1870 and 1871 for this work, it is contemplated during the present year to complete the modifications of the demilune, including its parados and magazine traverses, the modification of bastion A of the main work, with the barbette battery upon the terre plein, the barbette battery upon the coverface, and some of the positions for heavy guns in bastion E. Battery at Long Island Head, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Colonel H. W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This important work is especially intended to command the entrance into Boston Harbor through Broad Sound, and its early completion is desirable. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $37,500. Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $75,000. During the past fiscal year the necessary buildings, store and boarding houses, were arranged for, and partly built, by the close of the year. Arrangements for a wharf have been made since that date, and the structure, now partly built, with the necessary roadway to the hill, it is expected, will soon be completed. The magazines, bomb-proof arches, &c., with their earth coverings, and the necessary embankments for the battery, will be pushed forward during the present year as far as possible with the means on hand. Fort Winthrop, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Colonel H. W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-In this work the modifications stated in previous reports are being carried out, and some of the batteries are approaching the condition required for the service of the larger calibers of guns. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $45,500. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $75,000. During the year the battery planned for the covered way of the tower was laid out and brought up to the level of the terre plein throughout, and, in some parts, above that level. In the south battery and east battery necessary preparations have been made for the modifications proposed for the new armament. And on the east battery the concrete masonry, mainly complete, with the doorways of five of the six traverse magazines, has been constructed; also the breast height wall of the left face and the foundation of the breast height of the right face, while the lower part of the earth embankment of the traverse has been put in position, and the drainage system enlarged and re-arranged. On the South battery there has been constructed the masonry with the doorway complete of three of the traverse magazines on the part next west of the present 15-inch gun battery, and the drainage of this part has been improved and enlarged. On the tower a wooden roof has been placed, and the parade has been re-covered with asphalt, and such other repairs added to earth slopes, masonry, &c., as appeared to be necessary. With the appropriations made in 1870 and 1871 for this work, it is contemplated during the present year to complete the modifications of the east battery and more than one-half of the south battery, with all the necessary magazines and traverses and the emplacements for the heavy guns designated for those positions. Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Colonel H. W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This work, with Fort Winthrop on the opposite side of the main ship channel, constitutes the inner line of defense for the harbor of Boston. The modification of the works consists of a re-arrangement of its barbette batteries, in accordance with the approved plans of the Board of Engineers. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $27,500. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $50,000. During the fiscal year the quarters for a working force have been rebuilt or repaired. The masonry of two new traverse magazines near the gorge of the east bastion has been constructed, and that of a third magazine upon the east curtain completed, and a quantity of sand, concrete material, and curbstone magazine doorways prepared for future use. With the appropriations made for this work in 1870 and 1871, it is proposed during the present year to complete the modifications of the barbette of the main work, involving the thickening of the parapets, construction of new breast height walls, and the necessary magazines and traverses and gun platforms for the heavy ordnance designed for this position. Fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-This is a casemated work which has been completed, with the exception of its barbette battery over the casemates. The Board of Engineers has recommended that at present nothing further should be done to it other than to preserve it from deterioration, and that an earthen barbette battery for twenty-six 15-inch smooth bore or equivalent rifled guns be erected on the hill in rear of the fort. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. No work has been done at this place during the past fiscal year. Fort Phoenix, New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-No work has been done on this fort during the past fiscal year, none is now contemplated, and no appropriation is asked for. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Fort Adams, Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-The project of the Board of Engineers for this work has been approved, and the modifications proposed are confined almost exclusively to the exterior barbette batteries. The work upon those should be commenced at as early a day as practicable, and appropriations for that purpose are now asked. Funds are also asked for commencing the permanent quarters for officers at this post, the construction of which has been long delayed for want of necessary appropriations. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Amount asked for next fiscal year, to be applied to the exterior batteries and quarters, $100,000. The work on this fort during the past year has consisted mainly as follows: Repairing temporary wharf on east front; filling and grading cellar of old permanent quarters, southeast glacis; removing brick therefrom; repairing rotten door frames in casemates of southeast interior front; refacing embrasures on west and north fronts with cement; repairing roads; altering redoubt in place-of-arms, east front, to better, adapt it to its use as a post guard-house; refilling valleys of arches' on terre plein of west front, they having been opened some time since to repair leaks; constructing roads and sea wall; connecting the temporary wharf on the east front and the permanent wharf on the north front, as well as repairing the former wharf and dredging about it, to give more vessel room; necessary repairs of officers' casemate quarters east front; general care of public 'property. Dumpling's Battery, Canonicut Island, Rhode Island.-On the site of the old Dumpling's Tower, where the Government owns about five acres of land, it is proposed to construct a barbette battery for ten 15-inch, smooth bore, or equivalent rifle guns, with magazine traverses between each pair. This battery will effectively cross its fire with the guns of Fort Adams. The estimated cost of this battery, owing to the heavy rock excavation, is $100,000. No appropriation has as yet been made for this battery. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $50,000. 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 barbette batteries, situated upon the summit of the island, and affording emplacements for forty 15-inch guns, or equivalent rifles. Amount reappropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $121,998. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $50,000. The work here during the year consisted mainly in preparations for commencing the batteries under the recent reappropriation; purchasing, receiving, and storing various materials; altering, repairing, building, and moving buildings, old and new; completing pavement of permanent wharf; repairing temporary wharf and vehicles and implements; repairing roads; building shot beds in upper barbette battery for 15-inch projectiles; digging down to the underlying rock of the island, for the purpose of obtaining information concerning the material to be met with, and the best means to adopt in constructing the new batteries, together with the usual work incident to the care of public property. Fort Trumbull, New London Harbor, Connecticut, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-This work, upon the west bank of the Thames River, with Battery Griswold on the east bank, forms the defense of the harbor of New London. Plans have been approved for the modification of the exterior barbette batteries, to mount twelve 15-inch guns, or equivalent rifles. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. No work has been done at this fort during the past fiscal year. Fort Griswold, New London Harbor, Connecticut, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-Plans for the modification of this barbette battery have been prepared in accordance with the system adopted for our sea-coast works of this description. It is proposed to arrange the work for nine 15-inch guns. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. No work has been done at this fort during the past fiscal year. Fort Hale, New Haven Harbor, Connecticut, in charge of Major G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-During the past fiscal year but little work has been done at this fort. Negotiations have been and still are pending concerning the purchase of required additions to this site. This fort was built for temporary defense during the late war, and its object having been accomplished, it has been dismantled. Several of the buildings appertaining, and which had been somewhat injured during a heavy storm, were taken down and transferred to the public works at Dutch Island, Rhode Island. No appropriation was made for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Fort Schuyler, East River, New York, in charge of Major H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers.-The reports of former years set forth 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 heavy ordnance. Amount appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, $57,500. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year, $100,000. On the main work the modifications of the north front, to prepare the barbette tier to receive a modern armament, have progressed as far as the turning of the arches, except the raising of the bastion pier. The wooden bridge for the supply of materials across the ditches is about |