New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-10
TO OCCUPY sandy HOOK.
THE GOVERNMENT GROUNDS GRANTED FOR
DETAINED PASSENGERS

SECRETARIES FOSTER AND TRACY UNITE TO
SECURE 1T FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Washington, Sept. o.-The War Department this
morning gave assent TO the use of portion Of
Sandy Hook as detention station for passengers
and Immigrants on the ships now lying In the
Lower Bay Of New-York Harbor. This action
taken this morning, it is stated by General Grant,
the acting Secretary Of War, upon representations
of Secretary Foster and Secretary Tracy, who both
urged the necessity of taking prompt action to re-
move the luarantihed persons to place Of safety.
General Grant stated also that telegram had
been received from the President at
Loon Lake, in which he said that in his judg-
ment the request of Secretary Foster for temporary
use Of the land should be granted
Four hundred tents loaned by the G. A.
r. were shipped on special Baltimore and Ohio
train to-day to Staten Island to be transferred at
once to Sandy Hook
The following is the correspondence, that has
taken place the subject:
New.York, september 7.
Secretary Of War, Washington.
Health Cncer has agreed 10 grounds at
SANDY Hook Government Of your
Department. as place for temporary refuge camp for
healthy cabin passengers from ships detained az
Quarantine. strongly recommend this course a sther
situation is perilous No sickness Will retained
camp, but removed Swinburne's Island Please
commanding this Department
porary OF reservation II necessary.
CHARLES FOSTER.
Under the same date Secretary Foster also sent
the following:
II Department consents occupation Sandy Hook,
temporary barracks will be Immediately constructed. As
before stated. these will be only for passengers.
Meantime. If 500 army tents could be loaned we might
secure immediate transfer. II shipped. please direct
Qusrtermatcr ship express special BATH
and Ohio. to Staten Island direct to Health Occr
jenkins.
The following telegram from Ncw-iork, under
dat" OF September 8. was sent by Secretary Tracy
you receive Fosters telegram OF SANDY
Hook tons sent last nightY Important request
be complied With
General Flagler indorsed Secretary Fosters re-
quest follows
The proving ground at Sandy Hook is in daily
carrying trials and tests OF the
Importance. ON these trials depend all OF tho
important work relating coast defence construction
pressure Of that all the facili
Of proving ground at present insufficient for
carrying OIL the work rapidly as Is ncediul. tenn
porary suspension OF the work at the proving grounc
would partially suspend work ct the construction
Adjustments eventually suspend 10 entirely.
A detachment OF troops ana about 100 civilians are
engaged these trials ana reside or the reservation
Such that proposed would MAKE IL necessary H.
remove all people. would leave valuable ma.
suitable for their protection The Engineer
Department also large force OF employees residing
the which wsuld necessarily be compelled 10
suspend work and NOV. away. In all this work the
Department large important cont acts involved
and suspension OF the work would make 1t mpossi bic
To carry contract obligations
Ip MY judgment the loss United States Of the
reservation a. proposed great that II should
be permitted except extreme ana las, resort
should place could be found for
the purpose indicated would involve great
loss which would be both peasaDer for the occu.
patton and more suitable.
Acting Secretary Grant sent the following to
Secretary Foster:
ing batteries North Point. Sandy Hook The Ordnance
Department In constant Of proving grounds.
rendering ell parts Of the island unsafe suspension Of
operations would suspend elsewhere ond might
fortunately involve the Government with contractors.
detachment Of troops and hundred civilians
employed there. 1t is earnestly urged other
place be secured -Four hundred be sent i'm.
medistely from here.
The following was sent to Secretary Tracy:
In your last dispatch. would say that reply
has been Secretary Fifth Hotel
in answer his telegram. also sleeraphed you your
office News building
Secretary Foster answers General Grant as fcl-
lows:
Ground selected Sandy Hook docs not at all inter.
with proving grounds, forts ordnance buildings
The belonging Government originally 500
1, by accreon than / 900 acres in area and
several miles long, proposed site than mile and
Government dock and used by engineers and
tiey safe sit Naturally separated from portion OF land
occupied by military by salt marsh practically mpssabic
Would like hand once. in Of eNiacncy.
II used they need be unfolfed. They should be
complete with poles pns. Sandy Hook OnCrs the only
practicable place for the establishment Of the
tenlatcd prompt answer is earnestly requested
| General Grant answers follows this morning,
the telegram, Of Secretary Foster having been Ic-
| ceved late last night:
Consent Is given temporary Of the isOlad
part OF Sandy Hook selected by you for landing cabin
passengers from N0rmsnna and other in
quarantine This is upon your assurance that the point
from the operations o! the proving grounds
and more than a mile and half from the Government
dock hundred tents complete borrowed from the
Grand Army encampmcnt committee VIII BE- forwarded a
once Please confer with Major Comfy ordnance officer
and A. j. Perry, depot quaitermaser 10 tails
| II tents lot needed. please advise by telegram