Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-10-13
ABANDONED POSTS.
Protests That Have Poured In to the
War Department-TwO Historic
spots Attract Attention.

war department WHICH mas Iesulteu III d
general transfer of the United States
troops and the abandonment of many
posts in different parts of the country
has brought, as might have been expect
ed, many protests from persons whose in
terests have been affected by the with
drawal of the troops.
Around every military post in the
United States has grown dependency
with proportions in harmony with those
of the garrison. In the majority of cases
the prospect of financial gain through
dealing with Uncle Sans men in blue
caused the influx of civilians to the vicinity
of the posts. In other cases army posts
have been made the nucleus of fashion,
able resorts by persons of means. As
Secretary Lamont's recent order included
posts around which financial and social
interests have revolved for years, it met
with
STRONG RESISTANCE,
and not day has passed since its is
suance that letters and telegram have not
been received by the secretary asking
that it be modified so far as certain posts
were concerned.
Secretary Lamont made close inspec-
tion of many of the army posts last sum
mer, and the result of his Investigations
is largely embodied in the order which
has caused such dissatisfaction in certain
quarters. There is no likelihood that
the order will be changed in the least
particular.
The loudest wall comes from the sum-
mer residents of Mackinac Island, who do
not relish the idea of the abandonment of
the post which has given prestige to their
favored resort.
FORT MACKlNAC.
The military reservation comprises 103
acres and the park OIL acres, making a
total of LOLA acres belonging to the
United States. The post commander of
Fort Mackinac reports, under date Of
Sept. 80, that the magnificent residences
in the park have each cost from $4,000
upward. This makes an aggregate in
vestment Of Approximately $l,ooO,oo0.
As soon as it became known that Fort
Mackinac was to be abandoned, the rich
cottagers bestirred themselves and
brought all the influence to bear which
they could summon, but Secretary La
mont proved to be obdurate. No longer
will the summer residents have the privi.
lege of seeing full company of sol
diers quartered there for no more practi.
cal purpose than to unfold to visitors the
glories of dress parades.
The residents of Santa Fe, New Mexico
have shown even more dissatisfaction with
the war department order than those OF
Mackinac Island, Everybody who has
| visited this quaint old town knows how
closely it's life has been linked with that
of
| THE GARRISON AT FORT MARCY.
| This "fort" occupies two blocks of land
in the centre of Santa Fe. 1t is only
stones throw from the plaza and the
famous old government building. From
a military point of view its location is
exceedingly bad. The city is dominated
by the hill which Gen. Stephen Kearney
fortified in 1916, and an opposing force
Marcy completely at its mercy.
While the officials at the war depart
ment have no sympathy with the spirit
which favors the maintenance of post
after its period of usefulness has passed,
they doubtless appreciate the feelings of
the civilian in that far-awav corner of the
country over the loss of this post. The
complaints which have poured into the
war department from men prominent in
New Mexico have been met with the state
ment that congress has the power to re-
establish post in Santa Fe and furnish
money for the construction of proper
buildings, and that the people affected by
the recent order should seek relief from
that body.
| One result of the order which is now
being put into effect will undoubtedly be
the introduction of bills in the coming
session of congress for the re-establish-
ment Of several army posts.