The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-11-11
MADEACOOD SHOWING
Annual Report of Brigadier.
General Merriam.
CONDITION OF THE DEPARTMENT
EARLY Abandonment Of Fort Walla
Walla Urged-Sanitary Work
Necessary at Vancouver.

washington, Nov. 3. - Brigadier-
General Henry G. Merriam has made
his annual report to the secretary of
war. 1t shows that the department of
the Columbia is in fairly good condi-
ton, although the reports of the quar-
termaster department and the medical
department would indicate that there
is need of sanitary work at two posts
along the Columbia river. Vancouver
and Fort Candy seem to be in need of
immediate attention. General Merriam
in his report says:
Tranquility has prevailed through
out the department during the entire
year, leaving the troops to pursue, with
out interruption, the instructions from
army headquarters. The results as
shown by my inspection of the different
posts are entirely satisfactory. found
the troops in commendable state of
general efficiency and the administra-
ton of the various supply departments
conducted with economy and efficiency.
"The conditions which determined
the location of most of the posts in this
department have greatly changed, as
results of railroad construction and con-
sequent development and settlement Of
the country. ALI questions growing
out of our relations with Indian tribes
are practically settled. Forts Spokane
and Sherman, both mparatively new,
may be said to have already fulfilled
their missions, and the new post now
under construction at the city of Spo-
kane, admirably located at that notable
railroad supply center, will soon be
ready to receive the troops thus to be
available for its garrison. Fort Walla
Walla, an old and popular station, has
lost much of its strategical Importance,
while it's defective and inadequate
water supply adds another argument for
its possible early abandonment. AL
most the same remarks may be applied
to Boise barracks. 1t would seem that
in the near future at least one OF these
should be given up, and possibly the
other might be increased in strength
for better administration and instruc-
ton. Vancouver barracks, the Oldest
station in the department, is situated
in the strategical center of the region
west of the Cascade range, now trav-
ersed in all directions by railroads, as
we'll as a navigable river. Means of
immediate construction with the rail-
ways entering Portland are all that is
needed to render this an ideal station
for a larger garrison, including all
arms.
"Forts Candy and Stevens, the latter
now ungarrisoned, have been greatly
magnified in importance by the recent
successful improvement at the mouth OF
the Columbia river, rendering that
maritime gateway available to the
navies of the world. A larger garrison
of artillery troops, equipped with the
best of marine armament, should be
supplied this and other auxiliary sta
tions at the earliest possible date.
1.-THE new artillery post now under
construction near Seattle in connection
with the fresh water basin proposed in
that vicinity for naval vessels is also a
point of equal Importance and should
be forwarded as rapidly as possible to
effectiveness.
General Merriam says that he did not
have time to visit Alaska and make
personal inspection Of that territory,
and quotes what his predecessor, Gen
eral Otis. said regarding the territory
in the report of last year. Much OF
that report was adopted by General
Miles in his annual report on Alaska.