Some Views Connected with the Question of Coast Defence. 71 



Any information you can give me on these points will be highly 

 appreciated. I should consider it a great favor if I could consult you 

 personally on this subject in Albany at any time that may be con- 

 venient to you, except between the 16th and 21st instant. 

 I am yours very truly, 



FRANK HEATH, 

 Captain of Ordnance, United States Army. 



In considering the request of the ordnance officer relative to the 

 selection of a suitable location for such a proving ground and cannon 

 range in the northern district of the State, I was able to avail myself 

 of the numerous measurements of distances made in the Adirondack 

 region by the survey under my direction. It was surprising to find 

 how few valleys existed in which a direct unobstructed range of ten 

 miles could be had. The best ranges that could be selected, within 

 the one hundred mile limit, were usually lake and river basins where 

 the use of chronographic screens for testing the velocity of the shot 

 would be difficult. 



The following locations were, among others, suggested: 



1. The valley of the south bay of Lake Champlain, from the lake 

 shore southwestward into the pass towards the Palmerstown 

 mountains. 



2. The valley of the Schroon river above Schroon lake. 



3. The valley of Lake Sanford, in the vicinity of the great Adiron- 

 dack iron deposits. 



4. The valley of Indian lake, from the outlet towards "Dug 

 Mountain." 



These lands possessed the requisite range-distance, cheapness and 

 freedom from any dense population that might be annoyed or endan- 

 gered by the fire of the heavy ordnance. Only one location, the valley 

 of the south bay of Lake Champlain, possessed the merit of accessibility 

 by railroad; which is really essential as a means of conveying the great 

 guns to their proving ground. 



On consideration, I felt it my duty to urge the following objections 

 to the selection of any such proving ground in the Adirondack 

 region: 



1. The great depth of the winter's snows would, at times, render 

 any proving ground located in the Adirondack region almost 

 inaccessible. 



2. Convenience in testing the guns would be greater if the proving 

 ground were nearer the place of manufacture. 



