The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-18


officers, TO consist Of Brig. Cen Elwell 5.
Otis. Capt. Walter L. Fisk OF the corps or
engineers, ana Capt Crosby p Miller, as
sistant quaFtermaster, Is appointed 10
meet at Seattle at the call OF Gen. EIweH
: Otis for the purpose OF making ali ex-
animation Of the site for a military post
and defenses proposed TO be donated by
citizens of Seattle to the United States
under the provisions OF the act approved
March ?. 1886"
The Contamination AT Hama.
Understanding that +. o. Graves had re-
ceiVed a communication with reference to
the matter from Senator Squire. Post
Intelligencer reporter saw him last night.
Yes" said Mr.. Graves, Il have received
telegram from Senator Squire stating
that the army post has been located here.
and that the war department has ordered
Gen. Otis and a special board OF officers TO
examine the site. presumably for more
exact determination Of the site and its
boundaries. | do not hesitate to add that
the settlement of this matter is one Of the
most important events in the recent his
tory of this city. Ii is the contamination
of efforts which the Chamber OF Com
merce and others have been making for
more than year"
ITO whom is the credit Of the first sug-
gestion of the matter due. Mr. Graves?"
The first official suggestion of the loca-
ton here was made in Gen. Otis report for
1894 As commander for the department Of
the Columbia, he pointed out the desira-
bility and necessity Of having a large post
on Puget sound. and suggested Magnolia
bluf as the most suitable place for it. both
because il had been selected by the fUrtiii-
cations board as a site for defensive works
and because Of its proximity to SO central
and important a city as Seattle, from
which troops could be readily transported
by rail or water 10 any part of the depart
ment. Some two years ago. you know, the
f0rtihcations board. consisting Of Gen. a b.
bott, Col. Comstock. Col Gillespie. Col.
Roberts and Col. Mendell. visited Puget
sound and recommended various sites for
coast defenses. among which were Admi-
rally head and Point Wilson, commanding
the entrance TO Admiralty inlet, and Mag
nolia bluff. commanding the approach both
to Seattle and to the naval station at Port
Orchard. The last session of congress, at
the suggestion OF Gen otis. made an APP
preparation for locating an army post on
the Sound, the sequel 10 which was the
visit Of Gen Schoield last summer and his
report, just approved by Secretary of War
Lamont"
Its Advantages.
In what special ways do you think the
post will benefit Seattle, Mr.. GraVes?'
wei, in so many ways that it would
be difficult TO enumerate them on the spur
of the moment. The most immediate ad-
vantage, and that perhaps which Will most
impress the general public. is that the To-
cation of the post here means the eXpend-
iture Of a large amount of money in inn
proving the site and building the necessary
barracks and quarters as well as for the
monthly salaries Of the men ami the pur-
chase Of supplies.
There are other advantages, however.
hardly, If al all. less considerable though
. hon -. IL.
readily as the money that the post will
bring here. The beautiful situation chosen
can be converted into q lovely park, which,
with its level parade ground and its inter
esting military exercises. Will be a source
OF constant attraction TO visitors. In this
connection. undoubtedly. one OF the first
steps taken will Ice the construction Of a
handsome drive between the city and the
post. The officers and their wives VIII con
stitute am agreeable addition TO the social
life of the city. and II is no tri1e to antici-
pate that when they may be assigned hence
to other fields OF duty. they Will carry with
them pleasant memories If their life here
and spread abroad the praises Of Seattle.
Beside all this, the very fact that the
post Is located here viii stand as a never
failing advertisement. marking II and
singing II out as an important center. AS
has already been suggested with reference
70 the establishment of the new engineer
=
VIII put us into closer touch with the au-
thorties at Washington city, and the more
frequent communication thus brought
about will be Of advantage in many ways.
Benefits To the Militia.
From results that have been observed
elsewhere. also hazard the prediction that
the constant presence OF army officers and
men viii tone up the state troops with a
spirit og enthusiasm, and possibly supply
them with even higher standards than they
now have Of thorough drill work"
"Do YOU regard the new post as a harb.n-
ger Of better things for the city,
HarbInger OF Better things.
Il do. indeed" said Mr.. Graves, as his
face lighted up with enthusiasm why,
Seattle is RAPIDLY becoming r sort OF gov
eminent ccnter for the Northwest. We
have already a woll equipped weather hu-
rc8u office, a government recruiting sta
ton. government dry dock ana naval STA
! tlon an our doors. ami We are now assured
[ - an engineer In charge of our river and
ha~hor improvements ana last OF all the
army post ~ Is nor too much 70 expect
that Va sh1il soon have also a separate
lighthouse q strict far ,h state and 4 las-
ka wi'h headquarters 81 Seattle. and 1
wav Whisper 20 yog ccrdlec.i3ly that I
an ir-Iinei - believe from So hat I have
hoard that when The army post gets Us
ha~ra. ks Well IN order the military head
quarters for the Department, of The co.
aw..1 R.N - trao~ferTr} fD seattle
"Nhatahaut tho work now necessary 10
secure the r,W site. Mr.. Graves"
What - Nccs -,-ary to BE Done.
"Ah. now. sir ytp come 10 che very meat
. ~ th" matter. and 'ha' Which we~t deeply
concerns me. our people must bes-lr
themselves THE urt providing Tor fle
location 80 the site requires 'aa{ tha land
snail be given free ~ cost 20 the govern