The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-06

rended by the highest military authorities
OF the country. In May OF the year before
last corps Of army engineers visited the
Sound for the purpose OF selecting the most
suitable location FOR foFtifscations, That
commission had about fifteen sites 20 Sc
iect from, but they found nothing 20 COM
pare wtth the Jugtlng headland called Mag
uolla blun The map herewith only dim
Is shows its commanding position. IL IL
a huge wedge OF land running rigat into
the center OF the Sound, and from It's
helghts. from sixty 70 100 feet above the
water level. on a clear day can be seen tho
southern end OF WILDLY island "a the
NORTH and Tacoma TO the south could also
be seen, but that IL IL hidden behind the
Robinson heights There Is no such atra-
teglc point. 50 easily made impregnable IN
any waters.
These engineers saw that It was the only
place that could b. made 20 thoroughly
protect the upper Sound. including the
cities OF Seattle and Tacoma. Its heights
also frowned on cambridge ISLAND, and
protected the tao entrances TO the docks
at Port Orchard on which the government
has spent 80 much money. other military
commissions that have since visited u
have found that II protects the entrance
20 the government canal. on which the
government Ia going TO spend SO much
money.
Brig Gen. Elweu S. Otis. I'm command OF
the military department OF the Columbia,
which Includes Washington. ia August.
1884. made this statement ia his annual Ne
port.
In some locality Of the northern see
tieu al this state beyond the Cascade
mountains. where now dwell $4,000 peo-
pie part OF whom are restless. demanstra-
tive and often times turbulent upon IAN
cied proyocafion and q population. too.
which Is destined To be greatly augmented
Within brief peliad Of time. one raosier~
ately large garrison should he established
and permanently maintained
THE vicinity 81 SEATTLE ofrers the most
favorable conditions for a location. as
that Is the ceater % a territory IA Which
the future use % troops Nill he dofna nded.
and the place az which exhibitions Of law
lessgess beyond power OF the state To zen
troll have 50 frequently manifested them
selves, A short distance beyond the city.
extending into the waters or the soand
Magnolia RiuN, one or tho most important
points selected By the fortiAcations board
fer defense works. would appear TO be the
proper site for the post and Infantry gAr-
riaon. 10 be succeeded. IS II doubtless
would b. after few years. oy an artillery
command -
In a private letter % +. o. Graves. pres
hent Of the Chamber Of Commerce. Gen
Otis wrote.
For many reasons Magnolia hlufr
seemed - fne 20 be thc most important
defensive position on the Sound II Is easy
Of aceess. has quick communication With
other strategic positions and with patural
centcrs ~ population. e near a sourish3ag
city ana aas those natural advantages in-
sarlne convenience ~ approach and health
81 gsrrisas.. which al military posts should
p0sse1s"
since tsen Sen. schoneld. the general
oommardiuE thc United states army ere
ad5atant general ~ the army ard others
have strongly recommended the site, Sec-
Rotary ~ War lamont when NJ was here
last summer Endorsed these high military
opinions.
In addition IN its natural advantages as
place easily fortified. ~ comprises ceave-
rfence - approach witch AL military nosfs
sha4ld possess" u q IN the very center -
transportation. not only Nv water. bat rs
land an3 81 ~ either point except th!s is
there Street communication with mere thaa
oae tf,srsesrfiaeut lire Here the peSt
viii ba afforded dffv-t communicates with
she Great Northern enly Few hundred
varls from thr boundary ~ the site. the
Northern Pacific. the Columbia a Puget
Sound. the seattle. lake Shore g Eastern.
ara thc Northern Farinc Rui FaEet sound
shere railroads ~ woul1 be oniv fair
too n }neasssse the Canadian PaC.nr. as