Chapter I.

I.

The Cost of Our Present System of Fortification

An examination of the table no. 1 in the appendix, which is drawn from those on pages 92 and 108 of the report of 1851 of the Engineer Bureau, and from published statements of an official character, will show that the following is correct:

In 1851, the Engineer Bureau, in a "tabular statement of all the fortifications erected, under construction, or intended to be built, on the Atlantic and Gulf frontier of the United States," stated that the fortifications of New York would be completed when the works specified in the third column if the above table were finished, and that the cost of the entire combination at New York would amount by that time to.........................$4,874,987

Of this sum there had already been spent in 1851............................................................................2,541,464

The balance estimated to be required to complete the then unfinished or uncommenced works was stated to be..................................................................................................................................................2,333,523

Between 1851 and 1859 there has been spent for repairs and completion of the works specified, and one not included in that specification, (although it purported to include all works intended to be built,) the sum of..................................................................................................................................................1,119,500

There is yet required to be spent to carry out the then projected work, (of 1851,) according to the engineer estimates........................................................................................................................................2,372,189

And to complete the one actually commenced, and the one now recommended by the bureau, neither of which were specified as intended to be built in the report of 1851.............................................................1,150,000

Total..............................................................................................................................................4,641,689

The amount that had been spent up to 1851 was.............................................................................2,541,464

Therefore, the total estimated cost of completing the fortifications of New York that have already been commenced is................................................................................................................................7,183,153

The excess of the actual expenditures and present estimates together, over the estimates of the total amount required to complete or construct all the works "under construction, or intended to be built" at New York, may be obtained by subtracting the amount of $2,332,523, the total of column No. 5, from $4,641,689, the sum of columns No. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. The excess is..................................................................$2,309,166

Or an excess of cost over the estimates of 1851 of nearly 100 per cent.; or, in other words, the cost has doubled in eight years.

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