Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-12-24
Cheap toys at the Racket.
The Rifle Range Will Be Located In
the Arcadia Valley.
(From SUNDAYS ST. Louis Star.

| Board of Review appointed by Gen.
Wesley Merritt. Commander of the
Department of Missouri. has compiet
ed its work of investigating the SAM
tary condition of Jefferson Barracks
and the Arcadia rifle range, and has
practically finished its report.
The board will not recommend the
abandonment of jefferson Barracks.
1t wi i'll not recommend the abandon
ment of the proposed rifle range at
Arcadia. These two statements are
official.
| The board will say in its finding that
jefferson Barracks can be made as
near to perfectly healthy as any post
in the country by certain radical i'm
provement. These are a new water
| system with teu-inch main from Ca
rondelet to the Barracks aud pump
| ing station at the latter place, with
capacity of 500,000 gallons day; an
| improved sewerage system; demolition
of all old buildings; construction of
many new buildings and Improvement
in the drainage of the stables.
AS to Arcadia, the board will say
that it is naturally healthy location,
and admirably adapted for use as a
rifie-range. 1t will say that the east
ern part of the range is slightly OBJ
! ectionable because of its marshy char
acter, but that. taken as a whole, the
location is desirable, and that the Gov
ernment should purchase it.
| Gen. Wesley Merritt believes that
all of these things are true about Ar
cadia, and as he has the power to dis
approve the report of the board. even
an adverse report from the latter would
not be final. Gen. Merritt believes
that jefferson Barracks is healthy, so
far as the location is concerned, and
the report of the board In this case,
also. is subject to his approval.
To St. Louis Star reporter Gen.
Merritt said: IL believe the location
of Jefferson Barracks is healthy.
think you can safely say that this
board will simply recommend that the
barracks be improved, and will say
that with such Improvement the un-
sanitary conditions will be removed.
As to Arcadia, l believe you may safe
" say that the board will report. fav-
orbly on it. Personally, think tia
lovely, healthy place, and admirably
suited for rif1e-range."
| Lieut-Col. Henry, President of the
board, declined to state positi"ely the
nature of the boards finding, but said:
"If I were you, in the light of all
you have seen and heard while you
have been working on this Barracks
matter, I would say that the findings
of the board will be to the effect that
with certain improvements, Jefferson
Barracks may be made healthy; and
would say that the Arcadia riae-range
is desirable location"
These two interviews should set at
rest any fears that st. Louisans may
entertain as to the fate of historic old
Jefferson Barracks.
At GAO o'clock yesterday morning
the Iron Mountain train pulled out oi
St. Louis, carrying in the Pullman
coach, lola, part of the Arcadia inspec-
ton party. Gen. Wesley Merritt,
Commander of the Department of Mis-
souri,; his aid, Lieut.. Thomas B. Mott;
Gen. John w. Turner and the repre-
sentative of the St. Louis Star boarded
the train at Union Station. At Vande-
venter Station Mr.. William Fl. Thorn
son, cashier of the Boatmen's Bank,
his daughter, Miss Mary McCreary
Thomson, and Capt. W. Z. Hodges,
Recorder of the st. Louis Commandery,
Loyal Legion, joined the party. Mr..
Thomson, with the hospitality and
good-fellowship which is part of his
nature, was provided with all things
needful for the material comfort OF the
party.
When the train reached jefferson
Barracks, Lieut.-Col. Guy V. Henry,
Lieut.. Col. Albert Hartsuff. Medical
Director of the Department of Mis-
souri,; Major Girard, Surgeon at JET
ferson Barracks, and Lieut.. Rivers,
Post Quartermaster and Recorder o.
the Board of Review, which is com
posed of these four last named gentle
men, got aboard. This will make q
complete list of the party, when Mr.,
Thomson's efficient man servant
George, is mentioned. He proved
himself most valuable adjunct to the
party.
} Arriving at Arcadia. the party found
conveyauces provided by Gen. Turno
| and Mr.. Thomson. These carried To,
party over che hills to Gen. Turnaa&
: lovely country home, perched on
= side of a mountain southwest OF -
t dia. and commanding most encb
t ling view of Cedar Mountain andh
Knob, and historic little valley q
the battle of Pilot Knob was
; with the Valley of Arcadia
} picturesque towns nestled bel
3 dinner sas served in trala
country styAtk. Dinner
again took conveSances
. the cold ride of thee
range.
t The Valley of Asc
. season Of the year > &c
ID formed By beautiful
8 their somher autnmu