Show I fiVE AND A HAlf MILLION ASKED Secretary Taft Wants Appropriation Appropriation for Construction Work for Coast Artillery Washington Nov 10 The annual report rep rt of Secretary Taft to be sub submitted submitted mitt d to congress at its convening In December will contain estimates a ag for construction and other work in the coast artillery ser service service service vice luring curing the fiscal fiscHl year year 1909 This construction work is to provide in part for shelter for the coast artillery troops authorized authorised by b the act of Jan 25 95 last for which It Is necessary to erect thir thirty thirty thirty ty company barracks barrack six band bar barracks barracks barracks racks set of officers quarters and sets of noncommissioned staff of officers officers officers quarters By the legislation of the time last congress the coast coa t artillery re received an increase of com corn companies compan panics pan with a corresponding number of officers Will Be Concentrated In accordance with the decision of Secretary Taft last November a con concentration concentration concentration scheme is being worked out in the coast artillery service by b which some of ot the separate forts where modern coast defenses are installed or in process of Installation are to be completely manned m nned and the remainder placed in the hands of caretakers two of the principal principal principal pal forts were selected as main pons pots having as nearly as practicable gar garrisons garrisons garrisons of per cent of a full nan man manning nanning ning fling detail the remaining forts being beins regarded as which are to 10 tobe tobe be left to such detachments as are ue necessary for the proper care and preservation of the defenses Quarters at Main fain Posts It is proposed propos d in furtherance of the he concentration scheme to at atthe atthe atthe the main posts the necessary barracks Is and quarters for accommodating the iho increment to the coast pro provided pr provided vided d for by congress and to follow this with the construction at those main posts of the barracks and qUarter quarters necessary for the accommodation tion of the troops now at the sub posts The posts at which work is to tobe tobe tobe be done one and for which appropriations will be bl asked include the following amounts amount asked for being given ghen in round numbers Baker California Stevens Oregon Scott California find and andWard I Ward J |