The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-05-02


tary post, he was amazed at the natural
beauty Of the location. Always bluff,
sometimes profane, the immortal war
riors first exclamation, upon alighting
from his carriage, was:
"A second West Point, by G."
The sentiment expressed by the hero
of the Winchester ride briefly describes
the general surroundings to those who
have been fortunate enough to have seen
the great West Point.
Ever since war times the old, insight
Iy Newport barracks have occupied a
somewhat prominent location on a bluff
at the conjunction of the Licking river
with the Ohio 1t is the headquarters of
the Third artillery, now commanded by
Col. cambridge. The grounds are small
and the buildings mean. AS whole it
has long been an eyesore to the trinity
cities here, and some years ago John q.
Carlisle, Queen and Col. A. S. Berry,
now mayor of Newport, fathered a
scheme to have the old post abandoned
and new and better barracks erected.
At that time, it is possible, the gentle
men named had some interest in a tract
of land which they intended disposing of
to the government, and their plan was
condemned by not a few as being purely
mercenary in its object. While there is
no doubt that they hoped to be per-
sonally benefited by an adoption of
their proposition, there was also general
good in the scheme, and it was success
full SO far as the abandonment of the old
post is concerned. But the government
selected land other than that intended
by the projectors of the plan, and the
new barracks are now in process of con-
struction.
Projects such as this are usually pro-
posed by interested local men, who sub
NIT their plans to the war department.
If the idea is agreeable the war depart
ment reports favorably, and the con-
gresham from the district in which it is
proposed to build the post introduces a
bill to appropriate whatever amount the
estimate calls for, and it takes its chances
with the balance.
For the new post here, which, curious
ly, has not yet been christened, 100000
was appropriated for the purchase of
land and 100000 for buildings. Since
then an additional $4,000 has been al
lowed for the "completion" of buildings
and it is not unlikely the whole eXpendi-
lures will exceed 100000, q sum quite
small considering the extent of the new
post
About a year and half ago the gov
eminent purchased III acres known as
tho Biggstatf place, about three miles
from Newport by wagon road, but fully
eight miles by river, and detailed Capt.
A. ii. Young, \. Q. NJ, to take charge
of the work Of construction, beginning
with laying out the grounds and making
plans, and ending with the completion
of the post. That the appointment was
a good one is evidenced by the fact
that not a single material suggestion has
been made by Capt Young that has not
at once been favorably passed upon by
the war department.
The site of the new barracks is bluff
500 feet above the Ohio river, and over
looking the stream u distance of two or
three miles in either direction. The COM
handing officers residence is to be on
tho point of the highest bluff, from
which, to reach station on the Mays
vile, Lexington and Big Sandy railroad,
1t the base of the hill, 500 feet below, a
berpentine wagon road, covering a dis
lance of a mile and half, is being con-
structed From the brow of the bluff,
on which the different officers quarters
are TO be erected, the now famous west
ern Concy Island can easily be seen, and
with field glasses the sports INDUCED
in there can be observed. Almost
directly across the river is the village
of California, o., and further down
in the direction of Cincinnati numerous
suburban villages greet tho eye. About
the grounds are many old homesteads
and few country residences of Gin
cinnati and Newport people. Particu-
larry elegant is the new country place
of }. Henry Hcgeman, q veritable pal
ace of Queen Anne pattern, which fronts
the entrance to the barracks, and the
Bloom place, a twenty-eight room stone
residence, topping bluff adjoining the
new park site and overlooking the Ohio.
The park grounds, naturally beautiful,
will be ornamented by the residences of
the officers, three double and two single
structures, hospital, guard house, two
barracks, water tower, and numerous
minor structures.
The two barracks arc to accommodate
eighty men each, though it is not the in
tention at first to station more than one
company here-perhaps seventy-ive or
eighty men.
Gen Sheridan's exclamation, "a Sec
ond West Point!" has in it much truth.
In some respects the grounds are pref
tier, and certainly the officers will be
better located. At West Point the more
attractive part of the grounds is occu-
pied by battery and by walks, while
here the residences of the officers are
given the preference, and from them an
enchanting view is obtainable.
While but one company of infantry
will at first be located here, it is expect
ed to from time to time increase the
force, the idea of the war department
being to mobilize the troops at few
eastern and central eastern points. The