The operations of the past fiscal year consisted in leveling the parade and covering it with loam, building the balcony on the gorge paradewall and the guard-railing of this and the parade-wall of front 1, ironplating and hanging the parade-gates of the main entrance, and completing the flooring and finishing of all the quarters in the gorge. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year to complete the work... $10,000 Fort Preble, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Lieut. Col. J. C. Duane, Corps of Engineers.-This work occupies such a position that three-fourths of its guns command the two principal channels entering the harbor of Portland. Since the close of September no work has been done for want of sufficient funds. At that time four new breast-height walls and three new gun-platforms had been built in the south battery and the sodding of the parapet essentially finished. In the north battery the roadway was completed in rear and about the westerly extremity of the parados. This work has now reached an advanced state toward completion, and but little time or money is needed to finish and place it in a condition of efficiency for many years to come. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $30,000 Fort Scammel, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Lieut. Col. 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. The operations of the past fiscal year were carried on only during the first four months, the funds being then nearly exhausted. The sallyport extension and the second passage to the new extension of the main work were built in concrete. Two gun-platforms and all of the traverse and parados embankments of the old portion of the main work were completed and the parade graded. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $50,000 Battery on Portland Head, Portland Harbor, Maine, in charge of Lieut. Col. J. C. Duane, Corps of Engineers.-This work covers by its guns all the approaches to the main channel leading into the harbor, and will prevent by its fire an enemy's fleet from taking up, unopposed, a position behind Bangs's Island, from which to bombard Portland, or shell the shipping in the harbor. Work was carried on only during the first four months of the past fiscal year, and has not since been resumed for want of funds. The embankments of the parapet and traverses of front 1 were nearly completed by grading and sodding, and the three breast-height walls, six gunplatforms, and two of the traverse-magazines were built. A portion of the breast-height wall was built in bay No. 5. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. ...... $50,000 Fort McClary, Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, in charge of Lieut. Col. J. C. Duane, Corps of Engineers.-This work, together with Fort Constitution opposite, forms the inner line of defense to the mouth of the Piscataqua River, and to the navy-yard at Kittery, Me. The condition of this work remains the same as at the close of the previous fiscal year; no operations having been carried on except for the necessary care and preservation of the property. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Fort Constitution, Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, in charge of Lieut. Col. J. C. Duane, Corps of Engineers.-The condition of this work remains the same as at the close of the previous fiscal year, no operations having been carried on except for the necessary care and preserration of the property. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Battery on Gerrish's Island, Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, in charge of Lieut. Col. J. C. Duane, Corps of Engineers.-This battery, with the one opposite, on Jerry's Point, forms the outer line of defense to Portsmouth Harbor, and to the navy-yard at Kittery, Me. This work has reached an advanced state of completion. During the past fiscal year the remaining five breast-height walls were finished and the gun-platforms were built, except laying the irons. Operations were closed in September last, and not since resumed for w ant of funds. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year to continue the battery $36,000 Battery on Jerry's Point, Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, in charge of Lieut. Col. J. C. Duane, Corps of Engineers.-Operations were carried on from the beginning of the past fiscal year until October 15, and have not since been resumed for want of funds. Two traverse-magazines were built, the foundation for a third was laid, and over 2,000 cubic yards of embankment made. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $24,000 Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Col. Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This important work is for the defense of the main channel of entrance to Boston Harbor, and commands the anchorage of Nantasket Roads. Operations at this work resulted in the entire completion, as at present planned, of the ravelin battery; in the completion, as far as at present possible, of the batteries of bastion A of the enciente, and the commencement of the modifications of bastion B, in which one large magazine-arch has been completed. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $50,000 Battery at Long Island Head, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Col. Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This work occupies an important position in the outer line of defense to Boston Harbor, and its guns bear upon all the channels of entrance thereto. Active operations were in progress during but five months of the year, and in that time four 15-inch front-pintle gun-platforms, together with their breast-height walls, were entirely completed, ready for their armament. Eleven of the 27 platforms of this battery are therefore now ready for their armament. The parados arch and its entrances were completed in rear of the fourth pair of guns, and the earth-cover of the arches and the sodding of the slopes were essentially completed from its east end westward, to include the magazine for the fourth pair of guns. No active operations are expected during the present fiscal year. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year.. $50,000 Fort Winthrop, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Col. Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This is one of the works forming the inner line of defense to Boston Harbor and the yard at Charlestown. Active operations at this work have been extremely limited, and have been confined to the completion of the east and south batteries, (comprising 43 15-inch gun-platforms,) excepting about one-half of the new sand-parapet of south battery. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $50,000 Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Col. Henry W. Benham, Corps of Engineers.-This is one of the works forming the inner line of defense for the harbor of Boston. Operations were confined to the five months ending December 1, 1875, and resulted in the completion of the present proposed modifications of the barbette battery of the enciente; in the essential completion of the masonry of the east exterior battery, so that its five platforms are now ready for their armament, and in the building of about one-half of the new parapet of this battery. An iron ladder and balcony were built on the parade-wall of front I, to serve as a direct communication from the parade to the batteries of this front. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $30, 00 Fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, in charge of Maj. G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-The guns of this work command the entrance to the harbor of New Bedford. Nothing has been done during the past fiscal year except taking care of the property, and scraping and painting the iron-work of the fort. Plans for the heavy-gun batteries are ready, and work can be begun as soon as money is appropriated. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $30,000 Fort Adams, Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, in charge of Maj. G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-This large and important work defends the harbor and city of Newport, and commands the principal passage to Narraganset Bay, one of the best roadsteads on the coast. During the past year two granite platforms, with traverse circles and pintles, were procured, and four platforms set, (except the traverse circles and pintles,) together with breast-height wall and parapet which was completed in their front. Considerable work was expended in grading in rear of the new battery, the surplus earth being used in constructing the traverses. A masonry-well and man-hole shaft, with suitable coverings, was built to the main outlet of the drains on the west front, which pass under the parapet. A fence was built around the new battery to protect from intrusion. A shed was also constructed to protect from the weather the carts and other wheeled vehicles. During the present season no work has been done immediately on the new battery, all the money available being required to put it in proper condition to suspend operations. Besides the new battery, many repairs are necessary to the main work and permanent wharf. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $45,000 Defenses of Dutch Island, western entrance to Narraganset Bay, Rhode Island, in charge of Maj. G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers.-These defenses lie in and command the western passage to Narraganset Bay. During the past year platforms for four guns have been laid, breastheight wall completed, and parapet partly raised in front of two, and banquette completed in their rear; and a beginning made on "bonnets" of two adjoining traverses; foundation and forms for breast-height wall placed for the other two platforms; traverse circles and pintles purchased and on hand for six guns; and material, except granite, on hand to complete two more platforms. During the present season no work has been done immediately on the new battery, the money available being required to make necessary repairs and put the place in proper condition to suspend operations. The operations during the present fiscal year will consist in care of public property. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $37,500 Fort Trumbull, New London Harbor, Connecticut, in charge of Maj. J. W. Barlow, 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. During the past fiscal year the north exterior battery has been completed, except setting the platform irons and placing the magazine lamps. Work has ceased from the exhaustion of the appropriation. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Appropriation asked for next fiscal year.... $40,000 Fort Griswold, New London Harbor, Connecticut, in charge of Maj. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers.-The only work done during the past year was making survey of the boundaries of the United States lands. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. No appropriation asked for next fiscal year. Fort Hale, New Haven Harbor, Connecticut, in charge of Maj. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers.-This work commands the channel of entrance to New Haven Harbor. No work has been done during the past fiscal year. The position of the opening of the beach has shifted westward. During the winter the sea-wall, near the south west salient, suffered some injury. The total cost of repairs is estimated at $1,500. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. Fort Schuyler, East River, New York, in charge of Maj. H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers.-This is an important work for the defense of the entrance to the harbor of New York City through the East River. During the past fiscal year, in the main work, north face, 90 cubic yards of sand have been placed on parapet, and 200 cubic feet of old concrete have been removed from the tereplein of northeast angle. In the north bastion, brick revetment to preserve the foot of the exterior has been built, and the bastion has been covered with earth and sodded. In the northeast face, magazine No. 4 has been completed; brick entrances have been built, steps and lintels, stone jambs, arch-stones, and stone for retaining wall have been cut and set; brick revetment for the preservation of foot of interior slope has been built on retaining wall; the outside surface has been covered with lime-mortar and asphaltum, sand and earth, and the slopes have been sodded. In the southeast face, brick revetment for the preservation of the foot of exterior slope has been built on coping of scarp-wall, and the joints of the coping have been pointed with asphaltum. Lime-mortar and asphaltum have been applied to large arch between piers L and M. The parade-wall has been backed with concrete as far as the crown of the arch between piers L and M; asphaltum has been applied to the arches between magazines 4 and 5, and the same have been covered with sand. All the concrete work of magazine No. 5 has been completed, together with the brick entrances and retaining wall; the magazine has been covered with earth and sand, and sodded; 78 linear feet of parapet have been built to full height and thickness, and the same amount to an average thickness of 10 feet. Exterior slope has been sodded, except about 12 feet near the south bastion; mortar and rubbish have been removed to make room for the parapet; 329 cubic yards of sand for covering magazine No. 6, and 150 cubic yards of sand for building parapet have been transported from the beach, and placed conveniently. The south bastion of the main work has been cut down to the proper level, and the coping has been set, and partly backed with concrete. Three courses of stone have been removed from tower. In the south face, 16 linear feet of old stone parapet and one platform have been removed, The torpedo-gallery has been completed, and a trench for torpedocable has been built 61 linear feet beyond the sea-wall, and covered with sand. In the ten-gun battery 666 pieces of ashlar, removed from the old parade wall of main work, have been transported to the battery for the purpose of constructing breast-height walls. A rubble-stone wall 149 feet long has been built at the west end of the battery to prevent the washing away of the bank. No appropriation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. $50,000 The main work is nearly remodeled to receive the platforms, breastheight walls and armament; but is in such a condition that considerable time is needful before it would be possible to actually mount the latter. The vast importance of the channel, and the fact that the removal of the obstructions at Hell Gate is rapidly progressing, renders it highly important that work should be resumed at the earliest possible moment. Fort at Willet's Point, eastern entrance to New York Harbor, in charge of Maj. H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers.-This work unites with Fort Schuyler, in the defense of the entrance to the harbor of New York City, through the East River. During the past fiscal year, the torpedo casemate has been prepared according to plan of Board of Engineers. In the mortar battery about 60 square yards of the sodding of interior slope, which was washed down by heavy rain-storms, have been repaired. Two new storage casemates, 15 feet wide by 85 feet long in rear of the easterly end of middle battery, for which foundations were laid during the last fiscal year, have been finished; their arches, side and rear walls have been covered with lime-mortar and mastic, porous drain-pipes have been laid in the valleys between the arches and covered with gravel; 41 linear feet of blue-stone coping have been set, and about 1 foot of earth has been placed on top of arches, the latter work partly by engineer troops; two casemates have been closed by wooden bulk-heads and doors, and low brick bulk-heads have been built at the entrances to two casemates now containing torpedo cable. A large silt basin has been constructed at the upper entrance of underground passage-way to the stone fort, for the purpose of draining the whole area in rear of casemates; and a tank of concrete has been built in rear of casemate No. 8, for the purpose of testing torpedo-cable. |