The evening world., 1889-10-30
ARMY PRACTICE SCHOOL.
CAVALRYMEN AND ART1LLERYMEN ARE
HERE TRAINED FOR THEIR DUTIES.

Exceptionally Fine Location OF Fort Riley,
Knn.-LHrEc sums Expended 10 Make
1t the Model Military Posi OF the Coun-
Iry-Mnior Onden's MOnumcnt-Centre
OF the United states.
Eve years ago, whom the Government
decided to establish II school of practice for
the cavalry and artillery, says the lhiladcl-
phia 1.nieS, Il board OF officers with Gen.
Sheridan al its head picked out Fort Riley,
in Contra! Kansas. rs the mont suitable point
on account of china c and location. 1t Is
situated ut about equal distances from the
Atlantic, Pacific ana Gull stations Of tho
artillery and within easy reach of MI the
cavalry stations. 1t Las a pleasant nud
heHlthiul china o, wi h neither the severe
Winters of the northern posts nor the hot
Summers of the southern uues.
Fort Riley is the largest military reser-
walton in the country, containing ~, $40
\ ncres of land on the north and west sides of
!ho Kansas or Kaw liver, at its junction with
the SIN oly Hill and ltepuIlicGn Rivers, and
40 miles above the mouth of the Kansas,
which is nuvigable in some seasons as far as
the post.
The original post was built around a square
parade ground, the officers quarters occupy
ing two sides ind the mems barracks the
other two sides. for in the early days when
Indians weic the principal inhabitants COM
pnc ness was a requisite IN n military post.
For several years prior to 1887 little or
nothing was expended by the Government on
Fort Riley, as il was decided to abandon it,
the rdtsOn dehe o, ltS original existence, the
Indians, having Disappeared. Since il MnS
/ chosen as tho Size OF the school of practice
or the cavalry and ARTILLERY tine Government
has appropriated ABOUT 1854 ,000, which has
bceu expended in new quarters for officers
an men, stables, gun sheds, wRter-works,
hospital and all improN ements neresSnrTfor
q wei equipped station. II nov accommo-
dates a regiment of cavalry and i've baLtelies
of artillery.
The new quarters for officers are LuilHin
double sets with wide porcl,cs. The interiors
are finished IN yellow pine. oiled and suel.
lacked, and open tireplaces md bathrooms
add -reatiy 10 their comfort and convenience.
Tile new quarters occupy both sides of an ave.
nue, eighty feet wide. leading from the parade
to the handsome house of the commanding
officer The barracks occupy two sides OF
tho parade, with additional ones extending at
right angle. Separated NY II uRrl ow ravIne
nom the cavalry quarters are those of the
artillery, bu. t on the SAINT general plan, with
barracks, gun siTo,ls aud stables.
IN an elevation in the rear is the new hos
pital, constructed according to the latest and
most approved sanitary plnns.. From its wide
southern porch the eye rests in the fore
ground upon the red roofs of the garrison.
Fcvond it, the river winding like II silver rib
bon through the valley, stretching away to
the furthest horIzon is the rolling prairie. ,
A pretty some chapel which has been en-
tirclv renovated. is Tiled on Sundays by
officers and their families and enlisted men.
who listen to the chaplain or some clergy
man who may chance to be visiting the gar
During the week lectures. concerts and oc.
caslonally the picturesque military wedding
~enliven its walls. =
A fine new stone building has been erected
for the post trader, which contains the store
with its combined attractions of groceries and
dry goods, billiard room and posttUfice, pro
sided over by II woman.
On the summit OF a bluff commanding a
magnificent view o. the surrounding country
rises u simple shaft of red sandstone inclosed
by an iron railing. Ih!s montiment was
erected by the enlisted men in memory OF
Major +. A.. Ogden, the officer under whose
supervision the first post was constructed.
During the summer of 1858 cholera broke
ont at Rile and ragged with such violence
that even the doctors left their posts of duty.
Major Ogden remained. doing ali one man
man could o 10 relieve the sick and dying,
and losing his lite rather than desert his fel-
low-men in such a time OF terrible need. The
shaft which marks the crave of the hero
stands On the exact geographical centre of
the United States without Alaska.
During the eightsen months p.eCeding last
June Riley was parriSoned by tour troops If
the Seventh Cavalry. Y. =. A., which for
fourteen years served i'll Dakota. and which,
in the terrible fight of the Little BigHorn in
June, 1876, lost 81 many of Its brave officers
and men. In June of this year three, bat
terles of artillery and the eutire Seventh Cav.
airy have c%ccnpied its new quarters,
Gen. danes W. Forsyth. the commanding
officer and Colonel Of tho Seventh. is partic-
ularIy fitted Tor the important post which he
fills.