The sun., 1889-11-30

As the Post ~ the UnhsaIthIest One In
the Army, ~ Aasy be Abandoned.

| the Aruay, ~ May be Abandoned.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-The measures
taken for the purchase Of Fort Brown military
reservation in Texas have new light thrown
on them in the current report OF Surgeon Cen
eral Moore, which sets down this post as the
unhealthlest In the country. He declares that
the sanitary condition OF Fort Brown. its
rotten and worthless buildings, and the prox-
Unity OF the towns OF Brownsville and Math-
| moras sufficiently account for the sick record
which It presents." He also couples this post
with st. Francis barracks In Florida az afford
Ing examples OF disease due to "old buildings.
with rotten woodwork, deficient lighting, and
no ventilation" Turning to specific diseases.
the average OF malaria as q disabling factor
was 3.12 per thousand through the army as a
whole, but at Fort Brown It was 2672. and the
two posts that approached 1t nearest was
Little Rock, with 14.63. and Fort SILL with IL 76
A similar prominence in unhealthfulness was
noted in rheumatism and other diseases.
Under the act Of March 8, 1885, Congress ap-
propriatod 100000 to buy the Fort Brown
reservation and to pay for It's occupation by
tho troops sincoit was ilrst taken for that pur-
pose at the beginning OF the war with Mexico
In ls46. In the year 1875 Board Of officers
reported that fair valuation for the resorva-
tion was $4,000; and this report was approved
by Gems, Sheridan and AuRur, Secretary
Belknap. and President Grant. This sum was
accordingly appropriated: there was dis
puted title. and before 1t could be settled the
act Of Congress expired by its own Limitation.
while in addition Secretary Proctor says that
that sum was refused by the owners. As to
,WainWrght once estimated IL 900 year ash as a
liberal allowance. two good witnesses from
While 1hs s MsS bbaS Sed so $500
would be excessive. The development OF these
and other facts caused the last Congress to
Sl6O,00O for the two purposes OF purchase and
aGHI,tanSe amnt nee of tent on the gr2nnh that the
ants TO the land, or as to their respective
shares OF 9@wnersnip, @ was still unsettled, and and
mex. step was the introduction Of bill 10.462
ipto t The House. during the second session OF
the amount to be given 10 the owners for the
land land and for all claims for its use and ocoupa,
Senate, but neither 6odS " finally acted @ upon It
n OF course under these circumstances the
War Department has never expended any part
which suspension OF payments was repuested
by Congress-. But the question arises whether,
Brown ought to be occupied at all as q lost,
and whether the true thing for Congress to do
the tH sn
iorty-three years ago. and then turn 1t over to
its present owners
doctors do not disagree the military experts do.
Gen. Sheridan. in January Of last year. wrote
question was under discussion. this decided
opinion:
~ believe garrison ought to be maintained at! Fort
Of large &c SS 3 e
Two three compAnieS Tor such might
as BE- g. Sc o
of great Importance to continue the post check
smuggling
To similar effect Gen. Stanley. about the
declaring Fort Brown to be absolutely neces-
sary as 2 military station; being strategic
also also dwelt ike % Gen. Sheridan. ssS upon its value
that that there was cemetery on the site
buried Union and Confederate. on the
9 hat aG @s4y esn seSs site had
no moro strategic value than any other mile
on the lower Rio Grando; !" and two years later,
was always subject to W overflow from IN the VT en-.
croachments Of the river; that 1t had just been
= 4 prey to the yellow fever. and that he advised
noticeable is that the following spring Gen. |
Shs[idGn Z. h himself wrote Of to Gen sherman that
revenue post in the commerce between Mata-
moras and Brownsville:", that it had been left |
behind by Forts Mcintosh Duncan. and Bliss"
and We should not spend any more money on
It. subsequent statement OF Gen. Sheridan
n Rond be- bSy keSt bere that
lakinG together the opinion OF Gen. Sherman
as ns to the lack OF real military necessity for
Surgeon Moore in regard to the unheaIthful- |
ness Of he site. 1t seems quite probable that
when ,Sa Gong Congress takes w the question during
Secretary Proctor evidently expects this con-
clusion. and sugEests that in that case proper
provision should be made for the cemetery.