The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-05
THE ROW OVER THE CAMP
sAvANNAFS MEMBERS OF THE ADJ
VISORY BOARD TALK.


they Are Indignant Over the Betrayal
of the Boards Confidence and tbs
Misrepresentation Of Its Action-The
principal Reasons for the Selection OF
Macon for the Encampment.
The Savannah military. who, as one of
most prominent militia commanders in the
whole state said yesterday, are the only
state troops in the state who have any idea of
regular military discipline, are iu
state Of wondegment over the
wraueling going on over the selection Of The
military advisory board OF a site for the
state encampment.
The slanderous and injurious state
roents being made by some OF
the military, both officers and men,
of@the state concerning officers in
biSh standing are beyond the comprehen,
sion of the Savannah military, who are
used to obeying orders without hesitation
and who would not think Of questioning
re motives or authority Of a superior
officer in making any military arrange
ments whatever. They Rave confidence i'll
their officers that they will do what is best
for the command and the service.
sAvANNAH's MEMBERS TALK
Savannah has two members in the ad-
visory board, Col. G. A. Mercer and Lieut.
t;ol. William Garrard. A MORNING News
reporter saw these officers yesterday and
asked them if they had anything to say
upon the discussion now going on concern
inc the selection of Macon as the site for
the encampment-
Col, Garrard said he did not care to say
ANYTHING about tne matter. He was not at
liberty TO say what occurred at the meeting
of the board, though some member
hod hNT 90
In doing so, Col Garrard said, they
BETRAYED the confidence Of the
hoard. The statement published of the vote
was correct, he said, so far as he was con-
cerned. He voted for Griffin straight
through.
There was no unfairness, then, to the
other bidders in the selection OF Maconp
THAT goes without saying. Certainly
not, was the reply.
COL. MERCER INDIGNANT.
Col. Mercer, like Col Garrard, had moth
ing to say of what TRANSFERRED at the meet
ing of the board. He felt indignant at the
aspersions that have been cast upon the
board by misinformed parties. and talked
at some length upon the selection Of site
for the eucampment. He said that the
board had in view the selection of a per-
manent location, and as such it was
its duty to select the mott suitable
site in every way, healthful location and
convenient transportation being the two
greatest requisites. They were not bound
TO accept any place simply because it bid
higher than any other place, nor were they
bound to accept any of the bids. The adver-
tisements calling for bids specially stated
that the board reserved the right to reject
any and all of them. The board had per-
feet right to reject all bids made
and to select any place they thought suit.
able, even If it had made no bid, and a
further right to impose conditions upon the
place selected, to be fulfilled before the loca-
b ton Of the encampment there.
EVERY PLACE VISITED.
q The board visited all the sites offered and
made personal inspection of them Col.
Mercer was struck with the beauty and
evident healthfulness Of Chicamauga. He
felt that it was too far north, but
its other advantages outweighed this
consideration. He voted for Chickamauga
at first and not for Griffin, as had been
stated, and cast his vote for Griffin after
Chickamauga was dropped. He thought
Griffin very suitable place, it being higher
above the level of the sea than Atlanta
even, and having very healthful summer
climate
81 Although he did not vote for Macon hs
believed 1t to be by far the best site that
could have been selected, in many respects
M Its central location and accessibility by raj
make it possible to transport troops there
at less cost Of time and money than to any
other point that could have beer
selected, which is the creates
factor to be considered. II Chickamaugs
had been selected all troo ps south OF Macor
would have had to be ira nsported 400 mile.
further, 200 miles each going and return
ing. This would have been great addi-
tonal expense to the state.
Although the site selected, Vineville
toree miles from Macon is not III the noun.
talns, it is in the hills, 800 feet above the
level OF Macon, and said TO be not only E
very pleasant but very healthy locality il
summer. 1t is the fashionable suburb O
Macon
DIDN'T GET A VOTE.
Col Mercer remarked that Rome. which
seemed to be doing the most bowling in th,
mat er, did not get vote by the board. H
sad that the people who are doing the mos
howllng over the matter are the real estate
agents and people who expected to profit BY
tne location Of the site in the
the TWO members from Savannah were par
lectly dlslnterested in their action, and haC
10 interest to further in any way whatever
dAey would not have favored the applioa.
HGn OF Savannah, because they did not
oeAeVe that any point on TIT
coasI would have been suitable fol
a Summer encampment Brunswick. which
mad bid before the board. did not recei 9,
vote 'o00-
In reply to a question Col. Mercer said
mat the board will probably be called to-
gesner again soon. He did not believe its
action Will be reversed. as that woald be
practically confessing that there was some
thing unfair in it.
THE BOARDS CONFIDENCE BETRAYED
Col. Mercer is greatly displeassd with tb,
Nnwarranted statements, both of newsna
peFs and individuals, concerning the board
acuon, when its action had not really beer
aaQe public 1t mad been betrayed in som,
uegree oy some members, be could could mo-
say who but the truth had been entirely
;;niSconstrued aud perverted in the efforts O.
interested parties to make IL annaer, thai tn,
Macon > - '1e '0'e0'ioA VI
IN this connection Col. Mercer STRONGLY