The Anaconda standard., 1895-04-12
OUT AT FORT MISSOULA
Parade aud 0,hsr Grounds Clean and
Smooth as Wax.
THIS IS A MODEL REGIMENT
Most Beautiful Spot On Earth For a
Post-Singing "rhe star Span
gied Banner'-Daily Drill
There Are ESQ soldiers.

NIssoULA, April 11.-Thcrc is general
satisfaction in this city over the fact that
there is no probability of the transfer OF
the 25th infantry from Fort Missouia this
year. The officers and mon of Colonel
Burt's command havo many friends aud
admirers in Missoula and If you ask tho
average resident of this city anything
about tho troops at the post he viii tell
you that there is no better regiment in
the service than tho 25th and that there is
no post that 10 better kept than Fort Mis-
soula. And that opinion, which has been
held by Missoulians for a long time, has
lately received Official confirmation that
establishes it's correctness beyond any
doubt. When Inspector Swan made bis
report to the department commander he
was enthusiastic in his commendation, Of
the troops stationed here and Of the situ-
alton and condition of the post. When
General Merritt, the commanding officer
of the Department of Dakota, looked over
, tho post on his recent visit here. he re-
marked as he was leaving, "No wonder
. that Swan praised you, here" -.--s
II would 5e difficult to find anywhere q
location moro suitable for the mainte-
, nance of a lrst-class post than the site OF
Fort Missoula. and it would be impossible
10 uuu n DetttE iot Oh ff1el tuAn tut coioEcu
soldiers of Colonel Burt's command.
Their discipline is superb, their drill Is
perfect and there is evident everywhere
an esprit du corps that is delightful. The
men are rs proud of their regiment as are
the officers and they vie with each other
in their efforts to add TO the eff 'iency of
the command. In two years there has
not been n single desertion from Fort
Missoula, record which probably no
other post in the country can equal and
which testifies emphatically to the admir-
able condition of the regiment.
Everybody is busy at the post just now.
After the long winter season of compara-
tive rest, the troops are being drilled three
times each day. in companies and in bat
talon. Dress parade has not yet been be-
gun for the season, but will be inaugu-
rated in short time. The police system
of the post has been kept busily at work
ever since the snow began to melt on the
company streets and parade grounds and
the whole place is as neat as wax. After
hc had examined the post, General Mer-
ritt said to Colonel Burt: IT have never
before visited a post in the carly spring
where did not find puddles OF mud and
water and a winters accumulation of tin
cans" But there are none of these evi-
dcnccs of neglect at Fort Missoula. Ma
jor McKibbin is too thorough an officer
and his management of the police sys-
TEN is admirable. Colonel Burt said this
morning to STANDARD reporter: II am
o crank on police work and so is Major
McKibbin. We believe in having the
work thoroughly .done." The reporter
did not have an opportunity to inquire of
the men who perform police duty what
they thought about the matter, bus il is a
safe wager that they will endorse en-
phatically the colonel's statement as to
the insistence upon thoroughness. I
But there are no evidences of any dis
satisfaction among the men. They are
proud of the post and proud of the regi-
ment and are willing TO perform the duties
to maintain the high standard
of both. There are now at Fort Missoula
more than $50 men, each company being
full. There are 40 recruits being put
through the mysteries of the drill at
present and their presence in the line de-
tracts somewhat from the precision which
the command lastfall. But
they are getting broken in rapidly and an
other week or two will remove their raw
ness and there will be the same smooth
ness in the drill that called forth applause
last season.
After the performance of the routine
duties Of the morning the men are called
out for company drill, which keeps them
busy for an hour. At IL O'Clock the
bugiers take stand under the coiors and
battalion drill is called. The band takes
its position at corner of the parade
ground and at quick time the companies
march from their quarters to take posi-
tion in line, Captain Hodges company on
the left and Captain Wilson's on the right.
Adjutant Leonhauser forms the line and
reports to Major McKibbin. who
gives tho battalion some good stiff
work for an hour. Tho battalion drill
this spring he's been practical
work in the art of war, and the men are
marched outside the post and drilled on
the plain, where they are formed and re-
formed, marched and countermarched. in
company line, in piatoons, in column of
fours and a whole bewildcring lot of other
movements that make a civilians head
swim. Then, back to the fort, down the
street at double time aud then to the bar
racks. 1t is q sight well worth a trip to
the post TO witness, and one which in
spires very wholesome respect for the
efficiency of the boys who wear Uncle
Sans blue. 1t is no wonder that n re-
cruit forgets which is his right hand. The
only surprise is that he remembers that
he has any hands at all.
Colonel Burt and Major McKibbin have
devised and Lieutenant Deyol has exc
cuted wonderful improvement in the
post. one that adds greatly to the attract-
iveucss of the place and that will be APP
preciated BY city visitors 10 the post this
summer The wooded island in tho river
south OF the fort has been converted into
n beautiful rustic park. The river chan
mel that separates the island from the
bluff upon which the post Is built has
been spanned by rustic bridges Of mili-
tary. but none the less artistic design,
and these approaches TO the new park are
attractive. The largest of tho
half dozen bridges is what is termed a
single span sling bridge and is built, as
are all the others, floor and all, of logs
q II ~.nIou CraffaraH .kos.s a.