Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-01-17
FORT LOWELL REMOVAL.
A Mass Meeting of Citizens Held Last Evening to Take Measures Against 1t The Secretary of War, Mark Smith and Gen. Miles Tele- graphed to.

The public meeting called last even- ing relative to the abandonment of Ft. Lowell was we'll attended and no time was lost in taking most active measures against the proposed move.
 B. M. Jacobs was made chairman of the meeting, and Capt. W. J. Ross secre- tary.
 Remarks were made by Col. Zabriskie suggesting that a telegram be sent to Delegate Smith to see the Secretary of War, asking that the order be stayed for ten days, until showing of the condition and needs can be made by citizens of the exigencies of the case. Pey. NIT. Mansfield made some remarks B. presented set of resolutions which sse adopted as preliminary step. G iSrks were made by Messrs. W. c. t ISss>R. A. Johnson, w. J. Osborn aud Ts s.eckendorf, relative to importance of the post and its retention.
 The chairman appointed an executive committee of five consisting of Col J. A. Zabriskie, W. Zeckendorf, Hon. w. 0 | Davis, Rev. l.. D. Mansfield and l.. NJ. Jacobs, to act In the matter at their own discretion, and the meeting ad- l journed,
 Col. Zabrlskie was ma de chairman O | the committee and a set of telegrams were formulated to be forwarded at | once 70 Washington.
 The following are the dispatches sent, signed " the committee, Messrs. J. A. Wm. Zeckendcrf, W. c. Davis, l.. M. Jacobs and L. D. Mansfield:
 GEN. NELSON A. MILEs.-In the field | near Pine Ridge Agency:
 Secretary of | War has ordered abandonment of Fort | Lowell. Can you assist us to prevent | action or delay 1t?
 To THE HoN. SECRETARY OF WAR.-I 
 If Fort Lowell is aban- doned at this time, while the Indian craze is general, the Apaches will be on the war path within 90 days and south ern Arizona will be placed at their mercy. We earnestly ask a suspension of this order until we can forward con- elusive facts for your consideration.
 HON. MARK A. SMITH:
 We sent tele- gram to Secretary of War asking that order for abandonment of Fort Lowell De suspended to enable us to forward acts. See Secretary immediately and 1rge compliance.
 On receipt of answers to the dis patches m case the stay requested is granted, measures will be taken, peti- lons prepared and all steps needful to he prevention of the removal made.
 WHAT LowELL's LOSS MEANS.
 The removal of Fit. Lowell from a financial standpoint, saying nothing of he danger Of attacks to which Tucson s exposed, IS of larger figure than most of our people imagine.
 A business man of the city makes the statement that from S75,0OO to S1OO,OOOi per annum IS brought annually to the 'ity. The pay roll of the fort aggregates some S65,OOO per year. In addition to his this the supplies from the surround ng country are a considerable sum. Jne party has supplied the fort with | '6OOO worth of wood sthis fall, and mother about S15,O0 worth. The in lirect expenditures of the fort form a arge percentage of the financial benefits o Tucson.
 That there is dana CT for this locality D abandoning the fort is undeniable, nd the new resolutions to be forward d to Washington cannot too strongly irge this point.
 WHO BROUGHT TTABOCT? It is suggested that the efforts made pr the reduction of the reservation, Thich Is now 13 miles in length and six tide may have something to do with he orders of it's abandonment,
 Gen. McCoOk's report sent in some ( lonths since that the cost of putting ( he fort into needed repair would ( each close to one hundred thousand nay be another cause for the order of emoval.
 IT MIGHT BE WORSE.
 The abandonment of the fort is an not . nmitIgated evil as regarding the tinan- ial interests of Tucson. The military reservation is handed I yer to the Department of the Interior. \ It IS probable that the land will be in- Iuded in the bill mentioned in the residents message, recommending that red lands be put in iu charge of states nd territories. This will open upl luch fine land to irrigation and settle lent.
 The Indian school will probably have 0 connection with the present school ear town under charge of Rev. Billman, ore schools of that sort being needed, V 5 the facilities of the present school b re totally inadequate to the demand pon 1t. The expenditure of such school f, light aggregate to the amount of the f; resent fort output, land as much more = rought the city by the move as the 'rt as present brings. The Indian .hool near town expends s35,OOO per t. mum in the city.