The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-26
TEE UNITED STATES ARSENAL.


During the session of Con less last year an
amendment to the sundry civil bill, prorid-
ing for the sale of the government arsenal and
grounds at Indianapolis, passed the House of
Representatives but failed to pass the Senate.
A similar amendment has been attached to
the sundry civil bill now before the House,
and will be acted upon by Congress before the
4th of March. The representative from this
congressional district has also introduced
bill in the House requiring the Secretary of
War to deed the arsenal and grounds to the
State Of Indiana for the use of the State Uni
versity, without any provisions for remunera-
ton to the United States
In view Of these persistent efforts to dis
pose Of the arsenal, it may be well to iiqaire
why its adjustment is deemed desirable, and
to ascertain what proportion of the citizens
favor it. No reasons therefor have been seen
in print nor have we heard any arguments
tending in that direction. 1t would,
no doubt, be a pleasing circumstance for
the trustees of the State University to get
buildings and grounds worth half a million
dollars for nothing; but the probabilities in
their favor not promising. Tho United
States government has sometimes sold real
estate and buildings which it no longer re-
quired, but has never given any away One
case of that kind would be made a precedent
encouraging every member of thelower House
to increasing efforts to get portion Of the
effects of the general government for distribu-
ton to his hungry constituents. Within a
few years the "sick man of Europe would be
robust and vigorous in comparison with
'.Uncle Sam" All efforts Of this kind to get
something for nothing viii be futile, and con-
sideration of them may be deferred. Ii the
State deems university desirable or essential
its Legislature should make sufficient and
proper provision for it, Who wishes to buy
the arsenal, prompting the presentation Of
bills authorizing the War Department to sell
joined, hope to control the sale and make a
little money out of itf
What other reason or reasons can there be for
these attempts to d;spossess the governments
In 1875 Congress passed an act requiring the
Secretary of War to appoint board of officers
to determine what arsenals could be dispensed
with, and which Of those then occupied should
be retained. The board made its report to the
following Congress, and its recommendations
were carried out. -Four arsenals out of four
teen were sold or transferred to other branches
Of the government service; none were given
away. Among the ten arsenals retained was
the Indianapolis Arsenal, and the following
reasons were prominent in deeming its pos
session by the United State desirable;
"The disestablishmeat of the arsenals at
Columbus, o., and Detroit, Mich, will leave
too great an area of country between the At
lantc coast and the Rock Island Arsenal I'M
provided with an ordnance depot, and hence
the board recommends the retention of the
Indianapolis Arsenal, as one for storage and
issue, to meet the wants of tho Northern lake
frontier and the central portion of our country
lying to the immediate west Of the Atlantic
States. Indianapolis is a great railroad center;
its other facilities are prominent, and the pres
ent arsenal at this point has, in its substantial
and capacious store houses, and other advan-
tages all that is needed for the purpose re-
CURED"
The above may be taken as the ground on
which the United States government consid-
ers it desirable to retain an arsenal at this
place. Some short-sighted mortals cannot
understand what possible use there can be for
war depot in peace times We are obliged
to confess, at once, that it's usefulness or neces
sity is not readily apparent in periods of pro- ]
found tranquility and yet all experience and
all history warn that times Of trial and
trouble are very apt to fall upon US at seasons
when least expected, and when they do come
good stores of arms and ammunition, acquire !.
ments and equipments in convenient locali-
ties for infantry, artillery and cavalry, are
invaluable. Is it not desirable thing that
the stars and stripes-representing the mill
tary authority of the United States-should
float somewhere in our State? 1t is true that
it has an abiding place over the mandatory
of army clothing at Jacksonville, more, per-
haps, to the benefit of Kentucky than Indi
ana. and there is no military force whatever
at that point.
Can we not discover reasons why this arsenal
might become of some little utility to the
city of indianapolis Has it not been so in
the near pasts How did the good citizens of
Indianapolis feel about it in July, 1877, when
three companies of militia were organized
from the best men of the city, who had ranged
themselves voluntarily under the flag that