The following table exhibits the electrical tests of a sample of similar fuzes made last April at Willets Point from American wire: These figures prove that we have suceeeded in making a fuze uniform in action and of unequaled sensitiveness, which will enable us to experiment with various new modes of operating mines, and to introduce any favorable results into our service. In the matter of Sims's fish Torpedo, new and improved apparatus for electrical and mechanical measurements have been procured; a better dynamo machine for supply ing the current than any formerly tested is now in position, and its performance has been thoroughly analyzed; a new motor, decidedly superior to the old one designed by Mr. Edward Weston, has been made to order by another party, and experimentally analyzed, and it is hoped that during the present season results will be reached with the 2-mile war-pattern torpedo which may solve the motor problem for the actual service. The usual practical trials with electrical cable, mine material, &c., have been continued at Willets Point by the soldiers of the Engineer Battalion. The importance of the subject compels the Board to invite attention to the following extract from its Annual Report of last year: To successfully defend our coasts with torpedoes it is absolutely necessary to have at the outbreak of war, (1) a suitable supply of material on hand; (2) the needful casemates, cable galleries, &c., in our forts for operating the mines when planted; and (3) a sufficient force of engineer soldiers so well instructed in their duties as seaminers as to be able to place the torpedoes in position before the enemy's fleet can arrive in front of any of our chief sea-ports. The first of these three needs has received recognition from Congress in the annual grant of small sums for the purchase of materials, but the second and third conditions, which are equally important to the security of the country, have been quite overlooked. An appropriation of $200,000 for constructing the needful casemates and cable galleries in our more important harbors on the Atlantic coast is therefore strongly recommended for the coming year; also, the increase of the Engineer Battalion to its legal organization of 752 men from the present authorized force (200 men) imposed by the limitation of the Army to 25,000 men, and the need of troops in the Indian country. The antiquated condition of our sea-coast defenses and our entire lack of modern guns must keep our whole sea-coast at the mercy of any maritime power for several years, even if steps be at once taken to remedy these deficiencies. Meantime, one of the elements of defense, though not of itself sufficient without heavy guns, is submarine mines. They are made in this country, are not subject to deterioration in store, and the patterns have been adopted after careful study and experiment. Time is required for their manufacture, and the casemates, galleries, &c., could not be constructed quickly enough for use in any sudden emergency. It should be added that movable fish torpedoes form no adequate defense by themselves. Their true function is to defend the stationary mines against parties operating to clear the channel. This is, of course, a subordinate part, and of the following sum the item which can most safely be withheld is that recommended for their purchase. They are useful and necessary and should be kept in store in large numbers, but their duty is now, aud must always remain, a subordinate one, Threefourths of the torpedo appropriation available for the fiscal year 1884-'85 is restricted by the terms of the law to providing and perfecting these movable torpedoes, and it is therefore the duty of the Board to state emphatically that in its judgment they are of far less importance than the other parts of the system. In accordance with these views the following appropriations are recommended for the fiscal year 1885-'86 : For the purchase of submarine mining materials to close the channels lead- $300,000 200,000 For movable torpedoes, propelled and controlled by power operated from these stations.... For continuing torpedo experiments and for the practical instruction of 50,000 20,000 Making a total of... 570,000 SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS DURING THE PAST YEAR. Reports submitted on the subject of fortifications: 1883. September 23. Upon question of altering certain embrasures at Alcatraz Island, California, for accommodation of garrison. 1884. January 26, February 4. Upon subject of examination of a new mechanical torpedo for coast and harbor defense. March 29. Upon question of acquiring additional land in the vicinity of Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor. April 15. Upon question of altering carriages for the present 15inch gun. June 27. Submitting plan for the examination of officers of the Corps of Engineers for promotion. Rivers and harbors.-The Board has also submitted reports upon the following projects: 1883. December 31. Upon questions relating to the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. 1884. April 10-15. Upon subject of the improvement of Lynn Harbor, Massachusetts. In addition to their duties with the Board of Engineers, the individual members have been otherwise engaged, as follows: General Duane has continued in charge of his light-house duties, as engineer of the third district, and has also served on special board for the examination of officers of Engineers for promotion. General Abbot has remained in command of the Engineer Battalion and School of Application at Willets Point, and in charge of torpedo experiments and construction of the works of defense at eastern entrance to New York Harbor. He has also continued upon the joint Foundry Board, and has served on special boards for the examination of officers of Engineers for promotion. General Comstock has served throughout the year as president of the Mississippi River Commission and on special board to consider plan and location of proposed bridge over the Ohio River at Wheeling, W. Va.; also on boards for examination of officers of Engineers for promotion. ARMY BUILDING, NEW YORK, August 30, 1884. GENERAL: The Board of Engineers has the honor to submit, in compliance with instructions contained in a letter from the Engineer Department dated August 6, 1884, the following estimates for the construction of defensive works at Portland, Newport, Hampton Roads, New Orleans, and San Francisco; also for these harbors, as well as those mentioned in the report of the Board of Engineers dated August 6, 1884, an estimate of the cost of all the masonry and earthwork required for the emplacement of turrets, including the necessary magazines, enginerooms, store-rooms, and bomb-proof cover for the gun-detachments; also for the parapets, traverses, service-magazines, and bomb-proof cover for barbette batteries. The cost of iron-work, guns, gun-carriages, and disappearing machinery is not included in the latter estimate. Respectfully submitted. J. C. DUANE, Col. of Eng'rs and Bvt. Brig. Gen., U. S. A. Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON, Lieut. Col. of Eng'rs, Bvt. Brig. Gen'l. Lieut. Col. of Engrs., Bvt. Brig. Genl. Chief of Engineers, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. Estimates for heavy guns and emplacements for certain harbors. PORTLAND. Twenty 50-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $50,000... Forty-eight 12-inch rifled mortars and emplacements, at $17,000.. Total.... NEWPORT. $1,000,000 400,000 800,000 600,000 816,000 3,616,000 Ten 50-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $50,000. Total... $500,000 200,000 400, 000 300,000 816, 000 2,216,000 Ten 50-ton breech-loading rifles, at $50,000. 500,000 Twenty 30-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $30,000. 600,000 Twenty emplacements for 30-ton rifles, at $30,000 600,000 Sixteen 12-inch rifled mortars and emplacements, at $17,000. 272,000 Total.... 5,372,000 NEW ORLEANS. Two floating turret batteries, with eight 100-ton breech-loading rifles... $2,800,000 Ten emplacements for 20-ton rifles, at $30,000. Total.... 1, 000, 000 800,000 200,000 300,000 5, 100,000 SAN FRANCISCO. Five 2 gun turrets, at $600,000.... Ten 100-ton breech-loading rifles, at $100,000... $3,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 Five 20-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $20,000 Seventy-one 30-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $30,000. 800,000 Estimate of cost of gun-emplacements, excluding armor, guns, and machinery, for certain harbors. NEW YORK NARROWS. Four turrets, exclusive of armor, at $220,000.. $880,000 Twenty emplacements for 20 to 30-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000... Ninety-six 12-inch rifled mortar emplacements, at $2,000.. 200,000 192,000 Total.... 1,272, 000 NEW YORK, EAST RIVER-WILLETS POINT AND FORT SCHUYLER. Three turrets, exclusive of armor, at $230,000..... $690,000 Ten emplacements for 20 to 30-ton barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000. 100,000 96,000 Total.... 886,000 PHILADELPHIA-AT PEA-PATCH ISLAND. Ten emplacements for 20 to 30-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000.... $100,000 Sixteen emplacements for 12-inch rifled mortars, at $2,000.. 32,000 Total 132, 000 BOSTON. Four turrets, exclusive of armor, at $220,000 $880,000 150,000 Ten emplacements for barbette breech-loading rifles, not elevating, at $10,000 100,000 One hundred emplacements for 12-inch rifled mortars, at $2,000 200,000 Total 1, 330,000 BALTIMORE-AT FORT CARROLL AND HAWKINS' POINT. Ten emplacements for 20 to 30-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000..... Sixteen emplacements for 12-inch rifled mortars, at $2,000 Total.... PORTLAND. Twenty emplacements for 50-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000.... $200,000 Twenty emplacements for 20 to 30-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000.... 200,000 Forty-eight emplacements for 12-inch rifled mortars, at $2,000 96,000 Total.... 496,000 NEWPORT. Ten emplacements for 50-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000.... Ten emplacements for 20-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000.... Forty-eight emplacements for 12-inch rifled mortars, at $2,000 Total HAMPTON ROADS. $100,000 100,000 96, 000 296,000 Three turrets, exclusive of armor, at $220,000 Twenty emplacements for 30-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000..... Sixteen emplacements for 12-inch rifled mortars, at $2,000 Twenty emplacements for 50-ton breech-loading rifles, at $10,000 Twenty emplacements for 50-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000.. 200,000 Seventy-one emplacements for 30-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000. 710,000 Five emplacements for 20-ton breech-loading barbette disappearing rifles, at $10,000..... Ninety-six emplacements for 12-inch rifled mortars, at $2,000 50,000 192,000 Total... 2,652, 000 BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR THE PACIFIC COAST. During the year ending June 30, 1884, this Board has consisted of the following officers of the Corps of Engineers: Col. Charles S. Stewart and Lieut. Col. George H. Mendell. No special subjects have been laid before the Board for its action. |