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

T2f1--s ttssE CSE TEN FB3Ef~z nc d1Gs1bEefl
81 ere ssr~ee- ha tFaaksss formation ~ regi-
ussrftz. whiefs for several years has
bast inbred lg the secretaryf 81 war
and the gczscsass efnnsssansiing the arrnv.
cosnpafz Isl Itself, 81 provides A skeleton
organization ready IN be filled out IN
rIse eyrTse OF war. ard wfief s. pesaa-
Harry adapted 20 our strength and re-
| eussx.rses1fs: ard tire fact that every
other saatIs4l. wzth a single exception.
has Adopted this foFtnat.ss ~ meet tire
Conditions 81 sncss+rTl warfare, should
alone secure for the Recommendation an
! early consideration
/ selecting the sites.
For aJrae time the Seattle Chamber
/ Of Commerce has had Its eyes oFen for
| post keeping IN mind the feeling OF
| the war department II VIII iss regaeEn-
] berssd that last May a exrTrs 81 army
/ engineers visited the Soufs1 for the plr-
/ poe Of selecting TIE rrTEt suitable inca
| tons far fortlnr-stfons. About fifteen
| sftes ware seieclad. ard among others
the posnt Of land which they were
/ pleased 80 name Magnolia hun, but
/ which hitherto was called by tsEe steam
boat men West point. This podnt of
/ rsee<S. for the reason that II commanded
two strategic points - fhe Sound.
/ Farss. e protested Seattle, the entrance
To TacsTna and the entrance to the gov
/ ersxrpt eFy dock at Port Orchard.
Second. the Sound from Port Madison
could tse kept clear by fire from the
| guns on the poiist and the other en-
trance 70 The government dry dock
could thus be protected. Altogether
the site was declared 10 be very valu-
able and strategic osse. Fer the pur-
pose 81 further protecting the govern
naent dry Cock and Agate pass the engf-
neeFs sesessted another site foz fortifica-
tEons al Port Madiwoa
! All or the military men who have had
anything TO do with the subject Of
fortidcations and garTisons have had no
hesitation In declaring that Magnolia
b.ufT Is a natural and beautiful site for
post. On August 10. 1894. Brig. Gen
LIweIl :. Otis. located at Vancouver
barracks, and commanding she depart
nsgil< OF thss Columbia, in his annual
report 10 the ad1utarst general OF the
United States army at Washington
City. said of tiiis iocatt0n:
General Otis Recommendation.
In some locality of the Northern Sec
tim Of this state beyond the Cascade
Fsouflt8S fss. where now dwell 100, 900
people, part of whom are restless. dem
onssfsDtive and often times turbulent
upon faac.el psoyecation. and q popu-
lation. too. which is destined to be
greatly augmented within a brief pc
riod IF tHsne, one moderately large gar
1i1s1safa f.ft s,s.4
neatly maintained. The vicinity of Sc
attic offers the most favorable cx,Iisii-
tioas far ocaRion. as that is the center
Of Is territory in which the future use
of troops VIII be demanded. and the
place at which exhibitions Of lawiess-
ness beyond the power of the state 10
control have 50 frequently manifested
themselves. 4 short distance beyond
the city. extending into the waters OF
the Sound. Magnolia buff. one of the
most Important points selected by the
Qualifications board for defense works.
would appear to lie the proper site for
the post and fnfantry garrison, TO be
succeeded, as it doubtless would be
after :. few years, by an artillery conn
irgasad. There the Fort Townsend g,lr-
s'istn sipyul3 be stationed and Ire mate
riaay Increased. 4 force ghere of only
a single infantry battalbyn, if no more
troops were available would be Of great
ssgsIce. Wah efficient garriscns at the
cites Of Spokane and Seattle, and with
the present Vancouver barracks
strength kept Intact. all localities with
In this military department. with the
exception Of Southern Oregon and
ldaho. could be quickly reached by eff
fccilve bod.as of Troops. and as per-
/ ntanenty placed. would he In passs!on
10 obSers9 the northern boundary line
southern Idaho and a great portion of
Southern Oregon would be in easy
communication with Boise barracks, In
respect In which, the hong lroxsteSi OBJ
Jectton u its fgldefiaIte continuance asa
military station has been inst by a re-
et'ss abundant supply OF water Should
n'@ some such use of the Fort Isrwns-
end garrison be made. would the4, re
speGtfai.y ressngnend It's removal TO
this poiirT ana the abandonment Of the
pacs.''
How the Bin Was Secured.
Acting on this cue the Seattle Cham-
heg ~ CcSuanerce and the people Of Sro-
/ kslae immediately set about to secure
l.
nsendatsons Of Cen Otis. Spokane met
wsth no opposition. The bill for the
post there vas introduced hv Congress
man Wilson asld fought through bv
Senator Squire 81 fhat now the pest Is
assured. bat With Seattle Il was differ
/ el1t, Congressman poolittie fought the
{ Seattle measure and was successful in
the degree already stated. bat his on
! Position VIII have the effect e,uiy- II DE-
laying aliss establishment Of the INST
here btef a few musths at uYoSt Wssh
what has been written and reported
c1iass,rning Magnolia hun il world be
Impossible for the army officers 20 rec
"asmena any othe~ losa;ion. mach less
Tas>orra, for which Afr noodtt.e Is work
Ing aSsitl1sously
The essta bliShgnsnt of the ps,St here
would mean "a great deal for TIE city.
fcr with even only four companies of
infantry il would Increase tha flow Of
the circulating ncd},Eu about s.. 600 a
month. II more Companies were sta
tlcssled here. and possibly troop OF
cavalry, the people ~ the city. ard tho
merchants especially would fess the
heH~ticsai results Ia te,g. the post
wou}j pr shatsv b. c1averieyf into 81
department headquarters anf that
woti': mean ts1e annual expenditure 81
! tAtS Vicinity lover s.. tz}a. oeo
/ IT,, ChanHssev - CTvnmarce ana Il. O.
/ Graves. rs president. deserve much
credit ~ tire sklhfaI ard thoFusgh
! manner sn wh.ch the scheme has beca
/ s1'as'e1}Yevs>'. Much credit is also ,fgc a
S sTgsc IL COMMITTEES ~ merchants and
F s<>1 estate ans. consisting OF JoAu
! IaearN. T. us l,n.s,n tsrlsatsA rn..,...-s