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Naval Yard
Rodd Point Battery
or,
J Rodd Point; and
Duntze Head Brothers Island
Macaulay Point
Submarine defences
Total
::
:
::
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451
Removal to Plumper Bay
5 10-in. M.L.R. guns
3 10-in. M.L.R. guns 2 10-in. M.L.R. guns
4 10-in. M.L.R. guns
2 64-pr. M.L.R. guns
4 10-in, M.L.R. guns
2 64-pr. M.L.R. guns
::
•
::
£
50,000
50,000
46,000
45,000
3,500
184,500
242
Appendix No. 4.
VANCOUVER ISLAND.
As against 166,5477., the cost of corresponding works in the Memorandum referred to.
This only provides against an attack from seaward. As regards the defences on the land side, all that would be required at present are extemporized works, thrown up when war is imminent.
On my way to inspect the reserve lands at Burrard Inlet, I visited Nanaimo and Departure Nanaimo and
Departure Bay. Bay.
The sites mentioned by Colonel Lovell are those best adapted for any permanent works of defence, but I am quite of his opinion that any money required for "establishing those works, with their maga- zines, &c., and the barracks for the garrison, together with the cost of maintenance, would be expended to greater advantage in assisting to make a railway from Nanaimo to Esquimalt, a distance of about 55 miles, whereby not only would the coal trade of the place be developed, but a constant supply would be insured to the ships of the navy, without the risk of its being cut off at the Island of San Juan."
Guns of position might be provided and kept in store, and emplacements for them with communi- cations be made, but I fear that no men would be found to work them when required, and it would seem best to defer any action there for the present.
In my Report of the 21st ultimo I mentioned the points on which batteries could be best placed Burrard Inlet, for the defence of Burrard Inlet should it be determined at any future time to fortify that harbour; and it is to hoped that the Government of the Dominion of Canada will reserve these sites for defensive purposes, and also secure points at Nanaimo and Departure Bay.
As regards the Fraser River, the channel is so intricate that no attack from the seaward need be Fraser River. feared in that quarter.
In conclusion, I may state that I visited Yale on the Fraser River, and found that the Canada Pacific Railway is being pushed forward with vigour and rapidity. Its course lies along the right bank of the Fraser River as far as Lytton, more than 150 miles from the mouth. It is therefore protected by the river from any sudden raid coming from the United States' territory.
(Signed)
W. ČROSSMAN, Colonel, R.E.
August 5, 1881.
Inclosure 3 in No. 129.
Memorandum with reference to the Removal of the Naval Yard at Esquimalt from its present position to
Plumper Bay.
THE Naval Establishment at Esquimalt dates from the time of the war between this country and Russia.
After the affair of Petropaulowski the wounded men were brought to Vancouver Island, and were placed in a house at Duntze Head, which has since been converted into the Storekeeper's quarters, the Naval Hospital having been removed to a building at the head of Constance Cove, formerly the barracks of the Royal Engineers.
Since then, storehouses and "other buildings have been erected from time to time, and the place has gradually become a Naval Yard of some importance.
As many as fifty-three buildings, all made of wood, of various sizes, have been put up, to the value of about 30,0007.; roads have been made, and the ground levelled, and the establishment now contains stores to the value of 70,0007.
Its position, however, at the mouth of Esquimalt Harbour renders it liable to bombardment from a distance, so that to make it secure against attack it will be necessary to construct, in addition to the batteries near the entrance, a strong self-defensive work on some point on the land between Albert Head and Rodd Point, a work which, with its armament, could not be constructed for less than 50,000l.
It is for consideration, therefore, whether it would not be better to move the Yard to a more secure position.
Such a position can be found on Plumper Bay (see tracing No. 2 inclosed*), and the accompanying estimate, which has been framed providing for all requirements, shows that the alteration could be made for 50,0007.
The estimate has been founded upon the actual amounts that have been expended on the existing buildings, taking into consideration also the prices of material and labour in Victoria; and as 25 per cent. has been added for contingencies, it may be considered to be a very full one.
It is submitted, therefore, that, as the stores in their present position cannot be rendered secure from destruction by bombardment, except by establishing an advanced work of defence, in an isolated situation, and requiring a large garrison, it would be very much better for Her Majesty's Government to expend the money required for the construction of such a work on the removal of the Naval Establish- inent to a place higher up the harbour.
Although at the present moment the site and buildings at Duntze Head would not meet with a ready sale, and it was impossible on the spot to ascertain what sum would probably be obtained for * Not printed.
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