The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-21
FORT TOWNSEND RESERVATION.
Grand Army May Use It for Reunions
IInudi IL Is sold.

Washington City. Jan. 20-Speeial.-The
memorial adopted at the reunion Of the
Grand Army of the Republic for the De-
partment OF Washington and Alaska,
which was held by Farragut Post. No. Is.
last fan. has been presented to the secre-
tary of the interior. 1t sets forth that, in
the opinion OF the comrades. no more suit
able place for reunions could be selected
than the abandoned military reservation
known as Fort Townsend. and the Wash
ington delegation was, therefore. pe1iuoned
to use its influence TO secure from the Uni
ted States the use of the land and the build
ings thereon for such purposes.
Another memorial has been presented
asking congress to enact such legislation az
shah grant these reservations. and buildings
TO the school district at Fort Townsend Tor
school purposes.
Fort Townsend reservation was aban-
doned and turned over 10 the interior de-
partment on the lst OF last April. 1t con-
tanned about to acres. There are twenty
seven buildings on the reservation, count
ing all structures, all of which are or wood,
and nearly all IN an advanced state OF de-
cay.
Commissioner Lamoreux. OF the general
land office. when questioned as TO the pres
ent status and probable disposal Of the res
erration, said.
AS this reservation contains less than
5000 acres, and AS II was reitnquished April
l. 1895, IL IS not subject 70 the provisions or
the act Of August y. 1924, bat must be dis
posed OF under the act OF july 5. 1874. which
provides. In brief. FOR the survey OF lands
embraced 10 abandoned military reserva-
lions regularly, or for the same to be sub
divided into tracts OF less than forty acres.
or town lots or both. and Tor the appraise-
rneut thereof and sale at public auction,
after due advertisement. 10 the highest Id
der. at not less than the appraised value
thereof This law also makes provision for
tha entry under the homestead law by
those persons who settled thereon prior 20
The establishment OF the reservation, or
prior TO January !, 1881, or who have MANI
tanned continuous residence thereon since
the date of settlement
The memorial OF the Grand Army peo-
ME does not say" continued Judge iamo-
reux. how often they desire the use OF the
reservation. but know OF no reason why
the. permission may not be granted 80 long
as the reservation remains under the con-
trol Of the custodian. J. I. Brown. who vas
rlaced IN charge by the secretary Of the IN
terror May &c, $50
Act!ng Secretary o. the Interior John NJ.
REYNOLDS also gave assurance that a. Tong
as the status OF the reservation rema ned
unchanged an spphcE :ion Tor the use -
tba reservation Tor reunions 81 this char
s-tar az any time would probably be grant
81 legislative action. however. would Be
necessary. he sad, before the control 81
tho reservation could be relnquished 10
m state OF WASHINGTON for school or for
any other purpose. Pending the possibility
~ such action nv congress II IS probable
nothing will h. done by the department
toward Offering the land for sale al p1aiic
auction. as II is authorized % do oy exist
ing laws.