The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-07-19
is TIL aist INFANTRY GOING TO
THE LAX S?
what General Morrow, Its Colonel,
Thinks ON the subject. An Inter.
esttng Interview.

change stations of the 10th and 2lst lnfan-
try-that there was no money for this pur-
pose-that it might be reported that there
would be no change of regiment, &c.
Knowing that the 2lst has been repeat
eddy promised a change of stations by Gen.
eral Sherman 50 soon as the Northern Pa
cific railroad was completed, which will be in
September, We called ON General Morrow
at his quarters in the barracks for the pur.
pose of an interview" The conversation,
which We give in the form of dialogue be.
low, will hardly need an interpreter:
Reporter, Showing the article) Have
you read this Generai!"
General. -''Yes, sir, have"
Rep-"Well, do you believe it? Have
you abandoned all hope of your regiment
gong to the Lakes this fall?"
Gen.-"No, sir, do not believe it. 1t
sounds very little like the War Department
aud very much like reporter. The only
way the question OF change of stations for
the 2lst Infantry could come legitmately
before the War Department would be by a
recommendation, based on long aud faithful
services on the Pacific coast, from the Gen.
eral OF the Army or the Adjutant General.
Such recommendations would have very
great weight. Ordinarily, l should say,
they would be concurred in. Now, il such
recommendations have been made, the War
Department is sure to treat them i'll sober
and dignitied manner. Besides, the state
ment that it will one hundred thousand
dollars to change the taco regiments is very
wide OF the marx. 1t will at the utmost not
cost more than the half OF that sum. l have
been looking into this subject, and find it
will cost about $50 per man to transport
troops from Portland, Oregon, to Detroit,
Michigan. These are the highest figures.
There will not be over 600 men in the two
regiments. In exchanging stations OF regi-
meuts situated as are the 2lst and 10th, 1t
is customary to leave certain classes of men
behind. For example, all men who have
less than a year to serve; all married men
with large families; men who desire to set
tie III the country after their discharge from
the service-are usually left behind. If
these classes are left behind agreeable to the
custom in such cases, there may not be as
many as 600 men to be transported. But
say there are 600 This number of men at
$50 each would cost $4,000. Each man is
allowed 100 pounds of baggage free. For
Tree freight. This will nearly, if not alto
gether, cover all the freight OF the two regi-
ments. Ii you add SlO,0 600, which is very
large sum, for getting companies to and
from their stations to the railroad, you will
make the entire cost OF moving the 2lst and
10th Infantry $40, 900. have not even ia
ken into consideration that the Northern
Pacific road is 'land grant" road, and can
therefore receive but half of the cost of
transportation in money"
Rep.-''Has the War Department this
sum-"
Gen.-''Congress appropriated So, 475, 600
for army transportation. This sum is not
large, indeed; it is too small, when it is con-
sidered what multitude of things have to
he paid from it. But, if it is not intended
to change the stations of any troops this
year, the sum would be considered very
large. There never was a year l apprehend
since the war, when regiments were not
changed. and l doubt not the present year
fiscal year / mean will be no exception to
the rule. / may be very sanguine on this
subject, but do believe the 2lst Infantry
and the 10th will exchange stations"
Rep. -"How long has your regiment been
on this coast?"
Gen.-'A portion of the 2lst Infantry
came to this coast is years ago, and all Of
it has been here IA years. Since the last OF
the 21st came to California in May, 1869.
regiment after regiment has been here and
gone. The 10Th Infantry came west with
the 2lst, but the gallant 18th has been
nearly year disporting itself on the pleas
ant shores of Lake Ontario; the 4th Artillery
came out three years after the 2lst, and it
has been nearly two years basking in the
sunshine and gas-light of Eastern civiliza-
ton. SO, you see, regiment comes aud reg
iment goes, but the 2lst remains. 1t has
been here so long that the time when it
came seems like the vanishing point in the
perspective OF picture. Since it first saw
the golden shores Of the Pacific" the War
Department has been ruled over by seven
secretaries; and four Division. four Depart
ment. and three regimental commanders
h we come, commanded aud departed. The
Dist has out-lived even the Indian tribes.
When the regiment sailed up the Columbia
the Modoc was tending his herds at the base
OF Shasta, and the Nez Perez was living
quietly in the peaceful valley OF Innaha
Where are Modoc and Nez Perez now!
They have faded from the land like the
snow from the brow Of Hood. The Indian
has gone, but the 2lst remains. 1t is rooted
to the soil of Oregon and Washington like
one Of their FIR trees. 1t has longed aud
waited for the railroad. The railroad is
here. but even its mighty engines have not
power, it seems to tear US from our ancient
habitation. But the 2lst will not complain.
II there is no money to move US, there will
be no money to move any other regiment,
and we should have no right to be dissatis-
he'd. But relying on the eternal jnstness
aud fitness Of things l saw the 2lst. ike the