The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
FORT A

We are almost ashamed to present to
our readers the above poor cut of one of
the finest military posts in the United
States, but as it is the only view at hand
we will have to make a virtue of neces-
sity even if it does not do justice to the
beautiful post. Every one who has had
the pleasure of visiting the fort praise
the magnificent location and fine view
that the many elegant buildings make.
The main structures are built quite COM
pactly around the four sides of q rectangu-
lar parade ground, which is about half a
mile long and a quarter wide. AS you
look at the cut the right hand side is fill-
ed in with officers quarters. These, fer
the most part, are built double, for two
occupants, and are elegant two-story
buildings, with mansard roofs. Neat
fences have been erected around each
building. and 9 substantial sidewalk
runs the whole length of the row.. It
only needs the street lamps co complete
the illusion, and then the stranger would
think he was strolling In one of the fash
icnable suburban residence portions of
Chicago or Cleveland, instead Of being
las an eastern writer would put it, far
the outskirts of civilization, and
in the heart OF a hostile Indian coun-
try. On the left hand side of the view
you can see in the foreground the stone
guard house, where the naughty boys
are keptin "duranee vile" for a longer
or shorter term, according to the magni-
tude of their respective offences.
Stretching away inthe dim perspective
you will notice the two-storied soldiers
quarters, with spacious verandas in front
running the full length of the buildings.
Each company's quarters have o dining
room and kitchen on the lower floor, the
upper story being used as sleeping apart
mehts. A stroll through these rooms
with one of the officers would surprise
an uninitiated civilian. The perfect
discipline that you see displayed among
all the men is in striking contrast to the
tumult and uproar which would be seen
when the same amount of business was
transacted in private life. The cleanli-
ness everywhere displayed, from the
cooking range to the cots In the dormi-
tories, would put to shame many social
ed first class hotels. The upper floor of
of the verandas are used every week for
short range target practice; this, taken
in connection with the magnificent field
target practice, has developed many fine
marksman in the post, as is shown by
the large number of officers and soldiers
wearing N their coat collar the square
buttons with concentric circles.
A fine gymnasium stands at one COR
ner of the parade ground and is filled
with trapezes, ladders, pulling machines,
Indian clubs, dumb bells, a bowling al
ley and all the other appliances usually
found in a first class institution of this
kind. The large room can be easily
cleared of these aids of muscular devel-
opments and then used as a lecture h ali
or ball room. A fine stage was erected
at one end of the room, so that local as
well as travelling theatrical talent have
here a chance to show off before admir-
ing audiences. The upper floor of this
building is used blythe post band to prac-
cice in. The Assinaboine band is noted
in Montana for it's fine musicians and
the firstclass music they produce. Stand
ing at the further end of the parade
ground is the large comomdious structure
for the reception of the sick ones. If
there is anything that would alleviate
the misfortune of being an invalid we
think the having a fine place like that
to be nursed in would do it. The build
ing has two large wards on the lower
floor and an isolation ward up stairs,
making in all, Accommodations for about
fifty patients. Capt. FL. G. Burton, post
surgeon, is assisted by Drs. Cline and
Adams in attending to the health of the
post.
The elegant Gothic chapel has been
pronounced by good judges to be the fin
est building for that purpose in Mon
tana. The lower floor of the building
contains two school rooms-attendance
at the day school for the children of en-
listed men is compulsory. A night
school is kept open during the winter
months for the elisted men, whichshoWs
the large attendance Of from fifty to six
ty men, who wisely think "they are
aever too old to learn Glasses are here
in all the CONNIE English
branches, besides courses of lectures be-