The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-24

= ne New York ''>un', Wants an Army
Post at seattle.

Ne" York sun
a. .he last session OF congress me sum
was appropriated for the i'm
80 .a Oh military posts. with the pro-
az constructing a new fort an pr,ge-
1ouuo- IL IL understood that the var de-
pdftment VIII use this aufnori.v ia lay
ous no less than sles.fso in building suoh
a post and the employment of SO much
VI Tue years available funds AT mis- one
point SHOWS the high Importance at
aleu- 70 the protection OF Puget sound.
p'enhlnaFy examination OF sites for
sils purpose, aid also, In general. for the
ueIense OF the northwest coast was made
~ board OF able and distinguished en-
sheers, comprising Coils. Mendesl Alb
DOT and Comstoek, and Lieut. Coils Rob
eft and Gillespie. Gen. Otis also accom-
panied the board. and they visited As
loria. Tacoma. Seattle, Port Townsend
and Port Orchard.
In his last report Gen. Otis remarked
that since 1856 the government had done
very little TO protect the Puget sound
region from possible foreign atr9ak, al
lnoush population there had greatly In
creased within few years. and soon an
extensive ocean trade will be carried on
between these cities and Asiatic ssaports
During the ten years ending with 1855 it
set apart thirty-three sites for military
Juan de Fuea, the waters of Puget sound
and Beliingham Bay. and after that date
ten other reserva lions. But last sum-
mer an examining board found COM
paratively few OF these reservations suit
ed to defensive purposes. One of the
most important, however. of The points
selected by this board was Magnolia
blum. near Seattle, which Gen. Otis de-
clared TO be the proper site for the post
OF an infantry garrison. 10 be succeeded
as II doubtless would be after few
years. by an artillery command. lie
presented the various advantages OF sta
tioning a force there with view to Its
use in any part of the Sound that might
be required With efficient garrisons at
Spokane and SEATTLE and with the present
force at Vancouver barracks. there would
he effective bodies of troops In position
10 observe the national boundary line
AS 20 the works designed 10 prevent
the massage of hostile feet through
Puget sound, IL Is a great advantage Tor
the defense OF those waters that at sew
eral points there are high oluns having
a plunging fire. II should he observed
that while the work Of the army IN es-
tabllshing a new post has yet 10 begin
the navy has already under way very
fine and capacious dry dock when VIII
doubtless be the nucleus OF valuable IA
val station. This docks is situated AT fort
Orchard. nearly opposite Seattle ana
about sixteen mics therefrom, on the
other side Of Admiralty inlet. The protec-
ton OF this navy yard is thus an addltien.
al reason for the selection of points OF
fortincation Such sites are tound at
Point Wilson. Admiralty head ana Mar
rowstone point. Concerning these peh.
Miles once said 10 the senate military
committee OF congress that an enemy
shin would be under fire for eight mics
until 1, got up to them, and eight more
miles II n succeeded In passing them.
The establishment Of the new posi- IN
Puget sound is. however. directed 10 'ie
General purpose OF stationing the nucleus
Of a force which can be used for various
purposes in that region. while the placing
Of heavy guns at various sites VIII come
later. Puget sound is becoming more ana
more n point OF strategic importance It's
coal supply IL valuable 10 our war vessels
and TO those OF an enemy. It's commerce
IS important, as shown by the movements
Of vessels bound TO foreign as web as 10
American ports. The proximity OF van
CONVEX island is, OF course. a factor OF the
frs. importance Now that new army
nos, ,s 10 be established there. ana work
on the navy yard Is going along. the pros
oect Ia brighter for its protection