The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-16

which In time will become necessary TO
protect the cities OF that section against
possible foreign aggression In this
connection Rad in mind the undoubt-
ed necessity wf.cn VIII arise. with the
growth OF your population. Of main
tanning . considerable body of United
States troops in the Puge< sound cou1'-
try for such defensive purposes. and
possibly for trltegaal use should coca
sion require g.; and I wished TO fix upon
two or three points, which, possessing
the greatest military advantages. prom
isef permanently For many reasons
Magnolia bluff seemed to me to be the
most IrnpJrtaat defensive position on
the Sound. IT Is easy of access, has
quick communication with either strite-
g.c positions and with natural centers
OF population, Is near a fiourissling city
ard l-aS those natural advantages IN
surfing convenience of approach and
health or garrison, which all military
posts should possess.
81 therefore mentioned II in my re-
port az l did. as one OF lie results OF
my observations Of a trip made at my
own yolition and without direction from
superior authority. The recoanmenda-
ton has no more weight than a simple
personal suggestion. might say, which
was forwarded from these headquar-
ters for the cons .derat,og, OF that au-
thority should 1t be deemed OF suffi-
cient moment to merit serious attention.
But however THAI may be, l am firm In
the conviction that Magnolia bluff IS
the Sound whether for defensive works
or in v5ew of other military consiiera-
tons, and that it Is point from which
proper system Of defenses for the
Sound could be developed. I think,
therefore, that the Pacing of a garrison
there wolld become the initial act In
an important military project. and that
the matter deserves serious Geaibera-
ton.
''It is my opinion that a strong effort
tn the part OF the Inhabitants is essen
tiai TO the success OF the schegne and
some Hhelality on their gart wiz be
necessary. To your question whether a
donation to the government Of the land
required Will be a necessary condition
TO the establishment Of a post. have
no autinor.@S to uply officially, but Will
state privately that such donation
would be to Your interest. To your
question. How large a tract OF land
VIII be required for the purposes OF the
proposed post?' I would reply about
1000 acres, and 50 located as TO include
the bes. defensive positions and give
neeiful facilities for target practice by
troops stationed thereon. To the re-
naming question, as TO what portson
of Magnolia bluff / have in mind I
would reply that 1t is the extreme
pcint some distance beyond Smiths
cove. only observed the bluff from
the deck Of a steamer. and therefore do
not know with any certainty how the
ground lies. but 1t appears to me froGn
my casual observation that the land
lying west Of tine drawn from the
mouth OF ShiiShc,e creek where II
erlptieS into Salmon bay. southeaste-ly
10 a point on the southern edge Of the
blum, about three-quar.ers Of a gaGe
Yves. of Smiths cove. would be required
for the establishment OF an effective
military post; together with right-.of-
way by convenient approach 10 tae
track Of the Great Northern railway
and Ia the city If Seattle. I say that
the land embraced within such bsNin-
fares woslld measure about ]. 500 acres.
Should the citizens OF Seattle adopt
efi-s.ent measures might send an
officer 70 overlook the ground.
An important consideration Is the
matter of good. wehoiesome water in
abundance. Seattle could supply that
al a moderate COST
The Rili a. 1t Passed.
Following this fester Mr.. Graves. as
president Of the Chamber oe Commerce.
wrote asking The general IN vlsst Seattle.
and make a personal examination OF the
point ami also advise the chamber as Il.
the hest method IA pursue IN securing the
establishment Of the post. In reply - ibis
ths geaecal answered that II Nouls be
impossible for him tn come, but ina. he
would detail Mai Marshall, the chief
gaafeerrnaster ~ This military depart
raeat, ana the major arrived In the latter
ssavt os November ard remained over two
weeks. whlle he vas here Mr. Graves.
air. I.esry and Ju5ge Barke drew ur che
1}ow ms bis and sent 8, - Senator Squire.
With tie request that he secure rs pass
age through congress.
BE I. enacted by tie senate aua house
- representatives. q thc Cal;es States ~
america ~ congress assembled:
That urssu tire transfer an.l convey nee
- t.se United States - a good asas3 sUfgi-
c.eHt tlt,e 10 ny1 less shaa 80 acres az
&-nl without cast 10 fhe United States.
situated IN she city n sesttle. IN King
c1uEty. state ot Washing ard coHxtl-
ultlaS @s eligible and Ssg3'aois site fs- an
s-Zay pas. ana defensive works. ard so gsa
approved auA acccpse3 by tbe secretary
% @aE for such purposes. thSa arr there
aHlsa rs~ 50 >yviary q Szar IS hereby sa-
ehov4ze2 - establish ard ioCate or sa3I
Land United States army t-ast os se3eh
eaaracser snd capacity RS ths sseze AIRY
9. aaT SHAH sa&rsst ARA s.s7~sse"
TIA WAS ausy tgsroslslScl rs scr SOU ~
aal oo Ja-suaty = x Vas rsfeyva. ~ sAe
caauaasltee on rsslssasy a14Es, In saa
meantime Mr.. poo-i.s.@'s anegse.a.sa. -