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front. The drain from the latrine to and through the sea-wall at Fort Wadsworth was finished, and the latrine turned over to the garrison. A twelve-inch iron pipe was placed in the slope connecting the north ditch of the work with the drain in the north cliff battery, and an experimental system of earthen drains was laid in the main slope in front of the work. It is proposed to complete the channel front of the fort with one tier of casemates, closed in front by a low masonry scarp with coverface, and surmounted by a high earthen parapet, thus furnishing an elevated battery for heavy guns, with their magazine traverses; to construct an exterior earthen battery for heavy guns on the north glacis, and to complete the other unfinished parts of the work essentially as originally designed. Estimated cost of completion, $300,000. Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $60,000; in addition to which it is asked that the unexpended balance of the appropriation for new casemated battery on Staten Island be made available for this work. The amount of this balance is $239,468 25.

Battery Hudson, New York Harbor, in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, brevet major general United States Army.-In the past year the entire slope in rear of this battery slid into the terreplein, in consequence of heavy and continuous rains, involving considerable expense in its repair. It has been restored at a more gentle slope, which promises to be enduring; and the cesspools have been protected from the wash of the slope by surrounding them with low walls in rear. The lining of the two principal magazines with wood was commenced. It is proposed to modify the old portion of this battery, and add some new traverses, to adapt it to the emplacement of heavy guns, and to construct an earthen extension at the south end, with the requisite traverses, and a reserve magazine, at an estimated cost of $62,000.

Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $60,000.

New Casemated Battery on Staten Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, brevet major general United States Army.—The operations of the past year were limited to the construction of a portion of the permanent wharf adjacent to the battery, and to the care and preservation of the work. During the current fiscal year the portion commenced will be finished by filling and paving the interior and completing the road to the shore.

No appropriation asked for the next fiscal year.

North Cliff Battery, Staten Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, brevet major general United States Army.-The entrance walls of the principal magazines were slightly prolonged to adapt them to the modified slope of the earth, the terreplein and roads were partly cleared of the washings from the rear slope, and the earth filled on the parapet and parados, and the covering of magazine was completed by bringing earth from the glacis of Fort Tompkins. It is proposed to construct a new magazine and three traverses, and to make some slight modifications to adapt the battery for the emplacement of guns of the heaviest caliber, at an estimated cost of $27,000.

South Cliff Battery, Staten Island, New York Harbor, in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, brevet major general United States Army.-The rain storms of July and September, 1868, affected the slopes covering the principal magazines, and rendered repairs necessary. The earthwork was restored on the north magazine with a more gentle slope, and the side walls of the entrances were prolonged to correspond thereto. The earthwork of the south magazine was partially restored at the former slope, and revetted with salt marsh sods. Platform No. 5, injured in experimental firing, was repaired. It is proposed to modify this battery

by removing some of the existing platforms, and constructing additional traverses, at an estimated cost of $17,000.

Fort at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel John Newton, brevet major general United States Army.-The condition of the channel front remains as at the date of the last annual report. The southeast, south and southwest land fronts have been continued during the present year. The scarp of the southeast front is generally at the reference (19′ 2′′) of the sills of the loop-holes-of the southwest at the reference (14' 10") two courses below the sills-and the (short) south front has about half the foundations and a small portion of the scarp built to the reference (7.) During the next year it is proposed to continue operations on the land fronts.

Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $150,000.

Fort Mifflin, Delaware River, Pennsylvania, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel C. S. Stewart, brevet lieutenant colonel United States Army.—No new appropriation having been made for the year, the property has been in charge of a watchman. Two shot furnaces have been removed. The covering of bridge from demilune to the main work has been renewed, and other necessary small repairs made. It is proposed to so modify the channel fronts and demilune as to furnish emplacements for a number of heavy guns, with the requisite magazines and traverses, and to construct a new earthen barbette battery south of the fort for heavy guns, with their magazine traverses, at an estimated cost, in all, of $107,000. Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $107,000.

Fort Delaware, Delaware River, Delaware, in charge of Lieutenant Colonel C. S. Stewart, brevet lieutenant colonel United States Army.—Operations have been confined to repairing platforms of barbette guns; to the removal of closure-stones of sinks of casemate quarters and barracks, fronts four and five; and to minor repairs of wharves, bridges, quarters of employés, and of the river embankments. It is proposed to modify the bastions of this work, fitting them to furnish emplacements for heavy guns, with magazine traverses and thick earthen parapets.

Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $37,000.

Battery at Finn's Point, New Jersey. It is proposed to construct on this point a barbette earthen battery for guns of the largest caliber, with magazine traverses, which will cross its fire with Fort Delaware in the defense of the main channel.

Appropriation asked for this purpose for the next fiscal year, $67,000. New fort near Delaware breakwater.-A project for the occupation of this position will be prepared as soon as the board of engineers for fortifications can give the necessary attention to it.

No appropriation asked for the next fiscal year.

Fort McHenry, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland, in charge of Colonel J. H. Simpson, brevet brigadier general United States Army.-During the year the terreplein of water battery and ditch of main work were repaired, the brick hoods of magazines increased, to protect the doors from rain; defective drains in main work relaid; covering and slopes of magazines and slopes of water battery reformed, and magazines, where necessary, recovered with sods.

No appropriation asked for the next fiscal year.

Fort Carroll, Baltimore Harbor, Maryland, in charge of Colonel J. H. Simpson, brevet brigadier general United States Army.-The only work done at this fort during the year has been in repairing the temporary wharf.

No appropriation asked for the next fiscal year.

Obstructions of the Potomac.—It was not found practicable last year to

obtain the desired co-operation of the navy in making experiments upon these obstructions. The material has been examined and painted, and is now in store. Trials will be made of the serviceableness of the obstructions as soon as arrangements can be perfected for that purpose. No appropriation asked for the next fiscal year.

Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Virginia, in charge of Colonel Henry Brewerton, brevet brigadier general United States Army.-During the year a new center pintle platform, for a fifteen-inch gun, has been constructed in the salient of the left bastion of front 4. The parapet in front of this platform has been increased in thickness. A front pintle platform for a fifteen-inch gun has been constructed in the covered way. One thousand running feet of roadway, inside of the fort, has been graded and covered with six inches of clay, completing this part of the work. Seven stone crossings have been built at various points. Twenty-three hundred running feet of drains, and a cess-pool, have been constructed, to facilitate surface drainage. The brick drains of the ramps have been repaired, as have the bridges and draws where needed. The scarp and counterscarp walls, below high water, have been cleaned, and the drift sand removed from the ditch opposite fronts 5 and 6. The terreplein slopes and ramps have been repaired, from time to time, as required. In the water battery and covered way the arches of fifteen casemates have been partially uncovered, the brick work removed, and the roofs repaired. The sand in front of the battery has been removed, and the ground graded. A portion of the sustaining wall in rear of two platforms in the covered way has been taken down and rebuilt. Part of the stone revetment of the exterior slope of the covered way, opposite front 5, has been repaired, and the advanced ditch at this point cleaned out. The terreplein of the covered way has been regraded and covered with gravel for its whole length. The bridge over the sluiceway opposite front 6 has been rebuilt, and the sluice-gate taken up and repaired. The wooden revetment of the redoubt has been repaired, as have also the fences for the protection of the glacis, &c. The breakwater opposite fronts 1 and 2 has been thoroughly repaired, and a portion of it rebuilt. It is proposed to widen the terreplein, increase the thickness of the parapets of the channel fronts of the main work, lay down barbette platforms for heavy guns, construct traverses and service magazines, and remodel and finish the redoubt.

Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $150,000.

Artesian well, Fort Monroe, Virginia, in charge of Colonel Henry Brewerton, brevet brigadier general United States Army.-During the past year operations were continued in sinking the eight-inch pipe until the lowest section of the pipe separated from the rest. This accident occurred after the pipes had reached a depth of five hundred and seventeen feet below the surface of the parade of the fort. It having been found, upon examination, that a pipe of five and a half inches exterior diameter could be passed through the disjointed pipe, it was decided to insert within the eight-inch cast-iron pipes wrought-iron tubes of four and a half inches interior diameter, with screw ends, and five hundred and eighty-five feet of this tubing were, successfully inserted. At the depth of five hundred and seventy-four feet the bottom of the clay stratum was reached, when the auger passed into a mixture of clay and sand, the latter material, as the auger descended, being nearly ninety per cent. of the whole. After passing into the sand a water-bearing stratum was reached, which yielded a limited amount of saline water, which, when left undisturbed for twenty-four hours, rose in the tubing to a height of four feet six inches above the level of the parade of the fort. It is proposed to continue the operations of the well as long as

a reasonable prospect exists of reaching pure water within a moderate depth.

Fort Wool, Hampton Roads, Virginia, in charge of Colonel Henry Brewerton, brevet brigadier general United States Army.-Operations have been confined to the construction of the magazines of the first tier. The superstructure of the magazine at the capital, including filling rooms, stairways, and passages, has been finished, and the arches turned. The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth courses of the walls of the magazine, in rear of the casemates of the west end, have been laid, as have also the greater portions of the first and second courses of the superstructure of the magazine proper, filling-rooms, and passage-ways. The foundation of the magazine and its adjuncts at the east end have been laid. It is proposed to expend the amount available in completing the magazines, &c., of the first tier, already commenced, and other portions of the work.

No appropriation asked for the next fiscal year.

North and South Carolina and Georgia.-The works for the defense of Beaufort and the mouth of the Cape Fear River, North Carolina, and the defenses of Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, remain very much as they have been for several years past. Nothing beyond some clearing away of the rubbish has been undertaken at them excepting some repairs of existing platforms at Fort Pulaski. It is desirable that these defenses should be put in a better condition, as in the event of a foreign war the harbors and ports which they cover would invite the presence of the enemy and even afford him shelter and security.

Fort Pulaski, Savannah River, Georgia, in charge of Major Q. A. Gillmore, brevet major general United States Army.-During the past year operations looking to the mounting of the armament of this fort were commenced. The work consisted of brick and stone masonry, repairs to gun platforms, the taking up and resetting of traverse stones and rails to restore the proper radius and level, the thorough repair of the water battery, and the construction of six wooden platforms for 100-pounder rifles. During the current year the repairs begun will be continued to completion. The magazine in the water-battery has been put in good condition, and the thickness of its earth covering suitably increased.

No appropriation asked for the next fiscal year.

Fort Clinch, Amelia Island, Florida, in charge of Captain J. W. Barlow, brevet lieutenant colonel United States Army.-Operations have been suspended during the year except slight repairs made by the fort keeper. The work has suffered little, though a few important repairs should be made during the next fiscal year. A resumption of active operations is desirable with a view to the early completion of the fort, and for this purpose an appropriation is recommended.

Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $50,000.

Fort Taylor, Key West, Florida, in charge of Colonel J. H. Simpson, brevet brigadier general United States Army, and Lieutenant Colonel C. E. Blunt, brevet colonel United States Army.-The appropriation having been exhausted operations have been suspended during the year. Pintles and traverse irons for barbette platforms have been ordered and will be set this fall. No other work can be done for want of funds. For the continuation of the work on the cover-face, counterscarp, and sea-wall, and dredging in the ditch and inner channel an appropriation is required.

Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $100,000.

Fort Jefferson, Garden Key, Tortugas, Florida, in charge of Colonel J. H. Simpson, brevet brigadier general United States Army, and Lieutenant

Colonel C. E. Blunt, brevet colonel United States Army. The operations of the year have been confined mainly to the interior finish of the officers' quarters and soldiers' barracks, one section of eighteen rooms in the quarters having been essentially finished. Five rooms have been plastered in the soldiers' barracks, and a great deal of flooring, furring, and other woodwork has been put in. Sections three and four of the barracks have been roofed with galvanized iron. Some work has been done in the ditch in excavating sand, setting sluice-gates, &c. The sand removed has been put outside the counterscarp, and on the parade for leveling. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870, the officers' quarters and soldiers' barracks will be carried as far as possible toward completion, and the barbette platforms will be put in good condition.

Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $85,000.

New Fort at Tortugas.-The commencement of this work will be deferred until a suitable project for the position can be prepared. No appropriation asked for the next fiscal year.

Fort Pickens, Pensacola Harbor, Florida, in charge of Major F. E. Prime, brevet colonel United States Army, and Captain A. N. Damrell, brevet major United States Army.-During the past year the wharf and plank road to the fort have been completed; a gun platform in west bastion prepared and the gun mounted; platform for a large gun in southwest bastion partially prepared; wooden platforms for projectiles constructed; general repairs made, and railroad from central bastion to southwest bastion repaired and extended. Operations proposed for the present year comprise the removal of rubbish and repairs of cistern, casemates, and quarters.

Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $20,000.

Fort Barrancas and redoubt, Pensacola Harbor, Florida, in charge of Major F. E. Prime, brevet colonel United States Army, and Captain A. Ñ. Damrell, brevet major United States Army.-During the past year the fence around the works has been completed, the bridges have been repaired, gratings and ventilators have been put in the magazines, and general repairs made in masonry and wood-work. The proposed operations for the present year are, cleaning out rubbish, adjusting slopes, and general repairs.

No appropriation asked for the next fiscal year.

Fort Morgan, eastern entrance to Mobile Bay, Alabama, in charge of Major F. E. Prime, brevet colonel United States Army, and Captain A. Ñ. Damrell, brevet major United States Army.-During the past year the wharf has been repaired; demolition of the citadel continued; portion of the slopes graded and sodded; breakwater repaired and continued; rubbish removed from inside of work, and general repairs made. It is proposed during the present year to continue general repairs; move rubbish from inside of the work; complete the demolition of the citadel; drain the parade; repair the wharf, and build a sea-wall for the protection of the site.

Appropriation asked for the next fiscal year, $50,000.

Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, Alabama, in charge of Major F. E. Prime, brevet colonel United States Army, and Captain A. Ñ. Damrell, brevet major United States Army.-At this work during the last year repairs have been made of wharf, plank walks, and buildings inside of fort; slopes and ditch partially graded; two jetties and a breakwater built; cunette excavated in ditch; main drain cleaned out and ex tended. The proposed operations for the present year are, completing shore protection, repairing wharf, grading and grassing slopes, putting

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