72 Some Views Connected with the Question of Coast Defence. 



3. The conditions for firing, amid the mountains, were different 

 from those to be met with at the sea coast, where the guns might be 

 fired at ships in the horizon. The targets should be iron-clad floats, 

 to secure to the gunners, in their trial practice, the skill essential in 

 battle. Unless the gunners were accustomed to the atmospheric con- 

 ditions peculiar to the sea horizon — conditions of peculiar atmospheric 

 refraction, called "looming", and the like — it seemed to me much of 

 the value of their practice would be lost. 



4. The last objection was that the talented engineer officers, detailed 

 in charge of the work of testing and proving the great guns, and also 

 the large number of subordinate officers and enlisted men, would be 

 located so far from civilization; if the range were placed among the 

 mountains; that the isolation and inconveniences would be annoying 

 and at the same time unnecessary, if a good location could be found 

 nearer the arsenal. 



These views were mentioned to the officer with whom I had been 

 in correspondence, and other locations were considered, viz. : 



a. The sand plains in the rear of the city of Albany, extending from 

 the western limits of the city nearly to Schenectady. 



i. The low-lands in the vicinity of Wood creek, between Oneida 

 lake and the city of Rome, N. Y. 



c. The nearly level sands upon the Long Island coasts, as those at 

 Montauk point, etc. 



Of these sites the sand plains, near Albany, are the most accessible 

 to the Watervliet arsenal, but I questioned whether the heavy concus- 

 sion of the cannon firing would not be injurious to property in the 

 city and annoying to our citizens; while the roads over the plains 

 would be rendered dangerous for use by the shot and shell, proving 

 the guns. These objections, I was advised, might be overcome by 

 locating the firing point some four or five miles from the city, and 

 placing sentries on the roads at firing hours to warn travelers of the 

 danger of crossing the range. 



Since these consultations I have had the pleasure of examining the 

 work now in progress at the arsenal and have been gratified to learn 

 of the admirable plans for the work to come. The work at the Water- 

 vliet arsenal is extremely creditable to the ordnance officers in charge 

 and should be better known. Magnificent steel guns, similar to those 

 of the great German manufacturer Krupp, are now being made at the 

 arsenal. The guns are constructed of wrought steel tubes of enor- 

 mous size, reinforced by huge steel jackets, marvel ously turned and 



