Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-31

Interesting History OF How It's Loca"
ton was Obtained.

Will De Ouereo LOT safe Nltnln tne ue4t iS"
months. It's location renders It ex-
eeedingly desirable property, and vari-
Gus uses have been suggested for 1t
That which meets with greatest favor Is
for our citizens to organize q joint Stock
company, purchase the buildings and erect
on the site q handsome hotel and opera
house. We mention these matters only casu.
ally, in view Of the probable early sale OF
the property, as no distinctive character has
been given to any of the projects suggested.
Meanwhile it will be of interest to those OF
| our readers whose memory does not carry
| them back half century to learn something
concerning the location OF the barracks In
this city and the efforts exerted to secure 1t.
We therefore present herewith extracts
bearing on the subject from the files of the
old Georgian, now preserved In the archives
of the Georgia Historical Society. They
will be found very interesting reading:
From the Gsorgian, Wednesday. Dec. Z. 1881.
COMMUNICATION.
The fathers of the city, fear, are not dis
| posed to take any steps to secure the re-
| mOval of the barracks, at least the subject
was not touched at their last regular meet
| ing, aud Isuppose the troops will be quietly
| allowed to leave US during the ensuing sum
mer 70 our own resources as heretofore.
won't pretend to say how much real security
| we might enjoy were they to remain, but
| know that their presence would inspire
much coufiieDce and might serve to keep
/ some at home who have said, after the
events of last summer, nothing but actual
necessity should induce them to stay an
| other This is q subject hardly proper for
q newspaper, as I would give some OF the
very weighty reasons have heard urged In
private circles. do hope our citizens will
not let this matter sleep. VIRGINIA.
From the Georgian, Wednesday, Dec. IA, 1881.
CITY COUNCIL "A special meeting was
| held on Monday. A com
mittee, consisting OF the Mayor and three
Aldermen, was appointed to confer with the
| proper authorities respecting the removal OF
the buildings of Cantonment Oglethorpe to
a more eligible situation near the city.
From the Georgian. Friday Dec 16. 1881.
A regular meeting of the City Council
| was held Yesterday. < X The
| committee to report In relation to the re-
| moval of the cantonment buildings, and to
report on the acts of officers, asked and
were granted further time.
From the Georgian, Saturday, Dee 81, 1881.
CITY COUNCIL "A regular meeting of the
Board of Aldermen took place on Thurs
day.
The most interesting part OF the proceed
| ines was the adoption OF the following reso
1
| mitfee appointed at the last meeting:
Resolved, That the Mayor be authorized to
correspond with the Secretary OF War, and
| to request a removal Of the troops stationed
| at Csntonment Oglethorpe, together with
| their permanent location, within the popu-
lated precincts Of the city; and, secondly,
| that a select committee be appointed to
draft memorial to Congress, praying that
suitable barracks may be erected or provi-
4 de1 for their accOmm OdattOn.
From the Georgian. Saturday, Jan. %, 1892.
Extracts from the official report of the
proceedings Of Council:
The committee appointed to draft a me-
| mortal to Congress, praying for the erection
| of suitable barracks within the limits of the
| city for the accommodation of the troops,
submitted the following memorial for the
consideration of Council, and recommended
its adoption.
JAS. EPPINGER,
| r. D. ARNOLD,
GEO. SHICK,
Committee.
To the Honorable the Senate and House OF
| Representatives Of the United States In
/ Congress assembled:
The memorial Of the Mayor and Aldermen
Of the city of Savannah respectfully
showeth:
That f. has been the practice of late years
to remove the United States troops from
| Cantonment Oglethorpe, near Savannah, to
a distant part for several months In summer.
Your memorialsts are informed, and have
reason to believe, that this course has been
| pursued solely in consequence of the ex
| IRENE unhealthiness of that situation, and
the permanent location of United States
| froops among them being Of importance to
the community they represent, they respect
fully invite the attention Of Congress to this
subject.
Your memorialists do not ask for the con-
tinuance of the troops at the post they now
occupy to the imminent hazard of their
lives, but they would, With due Difference,
submit to the consideration of Congress the
| expediency and necessity OF forming an
other military establishment to be located
| in this city. For years past Savannah has
been favored with as much health as most
of our Atlantic cities, and has been
exempt from any malignant disease, and the
| professional gentlemen who have been con-
| sulted on this occasion are decided in the
| opinion that under proper restrictions the
| troops might enjoy good degree of health
in position within its limits.
An eligible site for barracks could be OBJ
tanned at fair valuation, and your memo
rialists respectfully and earnestly solicit
your honorable bodies to authorize the pur-
Chase Of ground and the erection Of bar
racks of durable materials, within the city
of Savannah, sufficient for the accommoda-
ron Of at least one hundred men, in order
that this community might be benefited by
the residence OF United States troops among
| them, and particularly at time when from
the periodical emigration of many Of our
white population, military force is most
needed.
Aud your memorislists will ever pray.
From the GeorJian, Monday, Feb q, 1882.
We are extremely gratifed to learn that
| since the reception of the Savannah memo
rial at Washington, orders have been re-
| ceiVed from the War Department to prepare
| Immediately quarters within the city for the
| troops at Cantor ment Oglethorpe during
the ensuing summer.
From the Georgian, Wednesday, Maq 8, 1882
We mentioned some time since that orders
had been received from Washington to pre-
pare quarters for the United States troops
| on this station within the city, agreee bly,
to the request of the City Council. The
| Theatre, from the great extent of room
within its walls, and its healthy, airy situa-
| ton, has been rented for the summer for
that purpose, and is now undergoing a COM
| plete cleansing preparatory to the troops
| being removed into it. The officers will be
| quartered In its immediate vicinity.
II the present summer proves as favorable
| SIS those for several years past, the risk OF
| sickness by the men will be no greater than
| II at the Augusta Sand Hills, and we are in
| duced TO expect successful result In this
| trial from the fact that the temperance
| reformation has reached them, in conse-
| ouence of which, their habits, aud copse-
| Quentlv their general health, hiss essentially
| improved. By the laudable exertions OF
Mr.. Sewall, pastor of the Mariners Church,
a temperance society has been formed
among them, to which forty four, out Of
| fifty four at the post, are attached, several
of whom were previously of the most dist
lated habits Mr.. Sawell IS heartily
seconded by Captain Merchant and his OH
GERS, and we hope every citiz N will lend
| his aid during the ensuing season In foster
| ing this spirit Uf reformation.
From the Georgian. Friday, Nay IS. 1892
CITY COUNCIL Ga motion
of Alderman Eppinger, 1t was
Ieesolged, That the commanding f1icer of
| the United States troops on this station be
| allowed to fence in the space between the
Theatre and the southern boundary OF the
academy lot, subject to removal at the
pleasure Of Council.
From the Georgian. Tuesday, October %, 1892.
U. S. TRooPs.-We are gratified to learn
| that the troops on this station, under the
command OF Captain Merchant, hfty-ive In
number, who have been quartered In the
| Theatre during the summer months, have
been as healthy as they would have been at
| the Sand Hills OF Augusta, or indeed at any
other healthy place. Up to Saturday last
| but one death had occurred among them,
| and the sickness has been trihing, not
withstanding the opportunities OF dissipating
| afforded by their location within the city.
| We bavo understood that the War DeDart-