The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-17


strength or OF our exemption from danger
OF attack as TO be unwilling TO take
lesson from other nations. England never
acquires mile OF territory. whether IL be
colony. q strategic post or merely q
cooling station for her ships of war. but
sne Immediately proceeds to render Il as
fmpregnabie as modern science and en-
gineering skill can effect
In the present case IL Is no remote coal
Ing s1ation that we are seeking TO protect,
but vital point OF one of the sovereign
states OF this Union, where there are large
cities and important business interests,
United States naval station and dry
dock, also largely operated coal mines.
and other important developments. The
war department has sent with this re-
port a map showing the various points on
Puget Sound where Notifications are 10
be erected-for example. at ard near
Fort Townsend. at and near Port Orch
ard. at Seattle, and al Tacoma. 1t Is
proposed to establish a military post at
some suitable and central point from
which these proposed fortiscatinos shall
be garrisoned, such military post 10 be a
central and convenient base of supplies
for all these Notifications
Secretary I.amont's Letter.
The letter of .he secretary OF war and
the report TO which have referred. which
has been approved. as / have stated by
the ~highes, military authorities of the
government, explain this whole subject
so fully and seem TO he SO conclusive
that / deem II desirable that they appear
In the Record as an appendix to my re-
marks.
Il have the honor To return herewith
senate btu No. 2.5ce. providing for the es-
Establishment of a military post and de-
fensiys works at Seattle. Wash, which
was referred TO me on january TO- 1876,
frsv-. .s.-- o -. Al
sure In possession of the war depart
ment"
Your attention is respectfully invited to
the accompanying report dated January
=. 1885, from Maj. Gen. ]. NJ. Schofield.
commanding the army. and also to the
copy OF the report dated January ~. 1895,
of Brig. Gen. +. s. Otis, commanding the
department OF the Columbia upon the
general subject OF national defenses In the
Puget Sound region, state of Washing
ton.
1.-THE above reports embrace all the IN
formation upon this subject on file In the
war department.
DANIEL s. LAMONT,
Secretary of War;
Gen. Otis Recommendations.
Washington City. Jan. ~. 1895.
Sir. ] have the honor TO return here
with two congressional bills Zone intro
duced In the senate by Senator Squire.
concerning proposed conveyance of land
to government In the city of Seattle, and
the other introduced in the house by Rep
resentative Dooiittie, authorizing the Sec
rotary OF war to accept land near the city
OF Tacoma, both pieces OF land to be used
for military purposes. which were referred
Informally to me for remark.
'As commanding officer of the denart-
ment of the Columbia have taken an In
tercst In the bill first mentioned. but have
mo- exact knowledge OF the meaning and
intent Of the second one, nor do | know
that any present military necessities exist
for its adoption. The FIRST I think. Is tho
result of recommendations which I made
In my recent annual report upon the de-
STABILITY OF securing, as soon as practica-
bic. military reservation on Magnolia
bluff-a spur OF land which projects into
the waters OF Puget Sound and which Is
about three miles from the center of Sc
attie-on which TO erect Notifications for
the defense of the cities OF the Puget
Sound country from foreign aggression
Upon this subject reported specially and
at considerable length on November
last. and as my views are conveyed in
that report submit the following extract
therefrom:
=" L now desire to exhibit moro fully than
j did in my July report the apparent con-
illusions which the United States board ~
termining suitable positions I'm the Sound
at which 10 construct defensive works
and In considering them | shall maintain
that the theory of defense and the meth
DDS OF application which IL recommended
are calculated to furnish ample protection
10 the Inhabitants OF the Puget Sound
country against foreign aggression, this
not only 10 show that nearly all OF ina
military reservations situated in the mar
nows or the Sound are worthless for mill
fary uses. present or prospective but
should consequently he relincuishe6 hut
also for the purpose OF demonstrating
that this practical scheme for defans-
submitted by the board 10 ore which >or-
ditions demand one which must finally
be adopted. and that the tnittatary action
10 carry IL out should be taken as soon
as circumstances viii permit.
The Magnolia Bluffs Site.
p" Tn connection with the claim that ini-
ttstory action should b. taken as soon as
practicable. I wish 10 suggest that In all
probability such action is row possible
through the establishment OF a military
reservation. warrssoned by q small force.
on the western half OF Magnolia hiuT. al
the entrance OF Elliott or Duwanll.h bav.
on which the city OF Seattle IS located
Looking 10 thu accomplishment of this
object. as well as 20 give other needed
government prctecs ion - she Inhabitants
81 t0Ee1 sound I recommended In nv
annual report of Angus; IS the transfer
az the Fort Townsend garrison 70 thar To-
c&iiIy textrart fran same. marked Exhib-
II 4. herewith enclosed. and that recon-
rnendation has caused che consideration
az certain measures by the citizens of s*~
attic. which promises an offer By them to
the government 81 all the land on thar
hluT which large garrison post would re-
auire- This feature OF this communication
reserve fer later discussion. proposing
10 coaster first the positions ard chArass
ter of the defensive works which the for
tff:casiou beard determined HT-sR as silt
able arc necessary.
- The blue print ineiosei. marked 'Eg-
hihst n Is a fNtriv correct presentation
OF Puget sound The points marked IN
red lines are present existing military res
creations. ard those fu Waite. also these
where white surround rei lines. are the
positions selected ~ the sortidcation
hoard fer foTstncAfions. II vtn BE- seen
that there are bot two entrances 10 the