The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-08
\ TALK WITH MIR. LAMONT.
Army Post and Coast Defenses- His
Faith I'm the People.

Secretary Lamont IS one of those men
who possess the faculty OF always being
agreeable No matter how busy he is or
under what circumstances he may be
found he can always find time for
pleasant word n is said that this has
been one Of the great factors in his sue
cess lie also has the faculty of obtain
ing information and giving ont only just
so much as he thinks proper In talking
with a Post Int eliigencer reporter yester-
dav afternoon he remarked that while he
might look over the proposed route of the
government canal. yet he had no opinion
to express for the public Continuing, he
said:
AS recall the matter, the survey was
made under the directions OF Engineer
SymonS OF course the result Of his work
Will be placed before the department |
Will saw however that M TO the present
time the matter has not come before me
personally At this time n would be inn
possible for me 10 tell anything about
what course | shall pursue. I would not
he justified at the present time even in
stating whaf | thought OF the feasibility
of the canal. for my personal investiga-
fion has been very limited. II IS more for
the engineers 10 decide what can be douc
Seattle is very fortunate IN having such
bodies Of fresh water as Lake Washing
ton and Lake Union at her very door
The people are very anxious 10 know
Secretary Lamont" said the reporter
THE exact condition or affairs in relation
20 the army post7''
The reporter then told the secretary the
story current In this section o. how Con-
gressman poolittis had offered an amend
ment Ia the original b3l and what had
happened
Secretary Lamont leaned hack in his
seat; and as he started IN 20 tell about
the bill laughed heartily Yes" ne said
'1f remember correctly poolittle put IN
his amendment a. the wrong time. with
the result that it became attached TO
some legislation referring 70 Bismarck
\ n : don't think that the original Bin
provided any special place for ire army
post hut instructed tho secretary 20 So
ie't a location and then report The ioca-
ton VIII dcHrnd % a considers hle extent
on she reports the departing receives
from tae men who inspect the sound
Gen Scho0eld Is now giving that matter
considerable attention. Ger OTIS lis A
very able man and W. shall give >onsif-
grafton tn what he has 80 say on tire sub
sr,t -
In talking ~ the policy To concentrate
the forces Of the army AZ the populated
certefS Mr. Lamont said;
The cost - maintaining troops in
srarsely settled sessions is several times
what it wo,tld be under the conditions i'm
troops are near large csties they can ~
QCi Sly transported fvorn ore place 10 an
other. A. the urrsen, tiue We have plen-
- ~ barracks throughout the country.
beat rot eaouEh soldiers 20 fn them
The subject Of Coast and Sound defeuses
WAS then r-ao3 upon. The secretary
said that the matter VAS under considera-
uo0. engineers having been on the Coast
AMI Sound during the paSt year 10 look
up BE matter Continuing ne said:
4 suppose thai gh8s matter has been
vol considered by the fnen who .s-ere over
the ground and taat a report Will De
made uf~e1 che requirements Of the Coast
aEr3 Sound %
Secretary Lamont reused MP consider
ahlN @hoa tae SsgEGestloa vas made that
Englaad Nfth Esau!mal1 as a base Of ope-
Tatiens could capture every city on the
Pset5ee coast within tea days.
y hardly thlak a." &c sad. The spirit