In  1848  a  joint  coouniaaion,  composed  of  naval  and  engineer  officers,  was
orgtnixed  to  make  a  recoDnoissance  of  the  Pacific  coast,  with  a  view  to  a  desig-
MlioD  of  sucii  points  as  it  might  be  deemed  advisable  to  fortify.  That  boara
baa  recently  made  a  report  in  which  they  point  out  Tarioun  positions  where,  in
their  opinion,  fortifications  should  be  constructed.  These  positions  are  divided
into  three  classes  in  the  order  of  tlieir  relative  importance,  and  a  list  of  them
Till  be  fonnd  appended  to  the  report  of  the  chief  engineer.  The  commission
recoQunended  that  measures  be  token  as  soon  as  possible  for  the  cnnstniction  of
fortifications  at  San  Francisco,  San  Diego,  and  the  mouth  of  Columbia  river.
There  can  be  but  little  doubt  that  these  three  last  mentioned  points,  from
(heir  importance  in  a  commercial  point  of  view,  wilt  require  defences,  and  con-
sidering their  remoteness  and  the  difficulty  of  affording  them  speedv  relief  in
time  of  war,  I  sbonld  think  that  no  time  ought  to  be  lost  in  carrymg  this  recom-
mendation into  effect.  With  regard  to  the  other  pointa,  my  remarks  as  to  the
extent  to  which  the  Atlantic  coast  should  be  fortified  apply  with  still  greater
force  to  the  Pacific,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  and  ex  pease  of  cons  tmctiug  for-
tiScations  and  of  providing  them  with  proper  garriaons.  I  need  not,  therefore,
repeat  those  remarks.
Before  closing  this  report  I  beg  leave  to  make  a  few  remarks  on  a  subject
ibich,  though  not  embraced  by  the  resolution  of  the  House,  is  yet  so  intimately
cDDnected  with  the  defences  of  the  country  that  the  report  would  hardly  be
complete  without  some  reference  to  it;  and  that  is  the

ARMAMENT   OF   FORTIFICATIONS.
