The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-29

Gen. Otis. commander Of the Department
OF the Columbia. stationed at Vancouver,
Is the originator OF the plan to establish
an army post at Magnolia BLUM. near this
city. In his annual report. two years ago.
he mentioned the matter and recommend
ed that point As q most admirable loca-
ton Tor an army post. Some time there
after the Post-Inteliigencer published an
Associated Press dispatch containing ex-
tracts from Gen. Otis report. Few paid
any attention TO the matter. and IL had
never been discussed here. and II would
PROBABLY have been let drop. had not Mr..
T. A. Marshall. a shingie dealer of this
city. taken the matter up. He called upon
President Graves. Of the Chamber Of Com
merce, some weeks later and asked him IL
he had seen the dispatch above mentioned.
President Graves replied that he had. and
had written Senator Squire about 1t q
month before. but had received no reply
TO his letter. Mr. Marshall then told Pres
ident Graves that he had a brother on Gen.
Otis stan. and that he would open CORE
spondeDce with him on the matter. This
course was commended. and Mr.. Marshall
wrote. When Maj Marshall had prepared
his reply TO his brothers letter he called
at Gen. Otis headquarters. and submitted
the letter to him. do not send that let
ter" replied the general. but 80 yourself
and make a careful examination OF the
typographical features OF Magnolia blum
with reference to Its availability for an
army post. I have only seen IL from the
water. II you find IL all right arouse
those people over there to the Importance
OF securing an army post In their imme-
dlate vicinity. and call their attention
to the recommendation Of that site in my
annual report" Mai Marshall came. and
after famiiiariting himself with the adj
vantaxes Of Magnolia bluff. he appeared
before the Chamber OF Commerce, and
laid the matter before that body. The
chamber at once took up the work and
win not lay II down until Uncle Sam has
carried out Gen. OTIS recommendation.
and established zone moderately large ar
my post on Magnolia bluff"
Speaking about army post matters, Maj.
Marshall said: '"rhe expenditures made
for the maintenance of the department of
the Columbia Is nearly 5000, go per year.
People are apt to think that as the pay Of
common soldiers Is from Sfs to ST per
month II does not amount to much. but let
me ask you a question: What class OF
iaborers have you in Seattle who. after
paving rent. grocery bills, butcher bills.
fuel and light bills. shoemaker and baker
bills. have from sI3 10 SIT per month left
for spending money! Besides this. the
ofYicers get from 3i25 to 500 per month.
according to rank, and they spend their
money. too. If the government locates a
post on Magnolia blum you will see that
almost traekiess forest converted into one
of the most beautiful parks in the United
States" So mote IL be.
Lieut.. Wadhams. the popular executive
officer OF the United States steamer Mohi-
can. who made 80 many friends during his
stay on the Sound last year, Is again here
as executive Officer of the Monterey. He
saws that the monitor will remain on the
Sound all summer. and after going into
the new government dry dock at Port Or
chard early mex. month. will have her
boilers thoroughly repaired. Lieut. Wad-
hams Is an enthusiast on naval matters.
and follows the sea because he loves the
service, and not for bread and butter. His
wife is wealthy In her own right and
would be glad to have him devote his time
10 handling her money and looking after
her Investments but that sort OF thing
would not suit him. He has had several
business offers on shore. hut II would take
more than old Ben Turner's logging team
to pull him out OF the navy. As an enter
talrcr he can't be beaten. He can enter
tain 3 whole roomful OF people by the
hour. with apparently no etfor, on his
part. He Is a good story teller has a great
fund Of anecdotes. and frequently lectures
on naval matters before Young Mems
Christian Associations and kindred organ
lrations and always draws crowded
houses and sends his hearers away feeling
glad they came Would that the navy had
more Wadhsms in II.
ST CRAWFORD.