ITEMS OF INTEREST June 5, 1909 Issue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Fortifications to cost approximately seven million dollars are to be built to defend the Panama Canal. The most powerful and elaborate batteries are to be planted on the Pacific side. Three batteries will be erected there on islands lying from ten to fifteen miles off shore. Six miles up the Canal from the Pacific ocean there is to be a secondary battery, which will command the principal lock at Pedro Miguel. At Culebra, about the middle of the Canal, a military post will be constructed. On the Atlantic side a range of hills run down to the sea, commanding the entrance to the Canal. Upon them, at El Boco Point, modern batteries will be constructed at a cost of $2,500,000. It is planned to mount in these fortifications more than sixty of the highest-power disappearing guns.

Governor Hughes of New York has signed the bill to preserve the scenic beauties of the highlands of the Hudson. The bill creates a state forest reservation on the west side of the Hudson, lying in the towns of Cornwall, Woodbury, Highland, and Stony Point. It provides that this shall be known as the "Highlands of the Hudson Forest Reservation" and shall include all lands now owned or hereafter acquired by the state at this point. The control of this reservation is placed in the hands of the state forest, fish and game commission, and the forests thereon are to be preserved according to the methods of modern forestry.

President Taft has sent back to the War Department the estimates submitted to him for the support of the military establishment during the fiscal year 1911, and indicated his desire that they should be cut approximately $36,000,000. Assistant Secretary Oliver has succeeded in reducing the figures by $18,000,000, and they now have been submitted to Secretary Dickinson for final consideration. Secretary of the Navy Meyer has already accomplished his task of cutting $10,000,000 out of the naval estimates for the same period.

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June 5, 1909
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