The San Francisco call., 1897-04-05

of absence for one month. He is in line
ment of Major General Ruger he will be
advanced, a the retirement of the ma ior-
general Will cause advancement all along
the line. The probabilities are that
Colonel Shafter will be commissioned a
brigadier-generaI and that he will then be
assigned To one of the departments, posi-
bly the Department of the Colum bia.
Should that prove TO be correct then the
post at the Presidio will go to the ranking
colonel. who is Henry G. Cook, colonel
of the Fourth Infantry.
The grading of the territory north of the old
parade-ground at the Presidio, which has been
going on for some time, has given rise 10
great deal OF gossip The Ques ton that has
often been asked is, 'Why does the Govern
ment want such large parade-ground as it
VIII be when the new ground is added to the
old, which will be done as soon as the grade oil
the eastern end of the old ground shall have
been completed. II only dozen companies are
TO be kept MT the post?" There are some who
say that this is being done 10 accommodate
larger number OF men, and that it Is the inten-
ton OF the depar tment TO have full regiment
OF cavalry at the post as we'll as two regi-
ments of infantry. 1t has even been men
toned that The Twenty-fourth Infantry is 10
be ordered to the post. Whatever the purpose
OF the Government is III having the extensive
improve ments made at the post, it is true that
II will be an immense parade-ground for the
1t is said to be the purpose of the War De-
partment 10 concentrate the bulk OF the
troops now in the State at one central point,
and that point is the Presidio. 1t is urged
that there is no necessity for maintaining
troops at Angel Island or the Bencia bar
racks, but these cannot be brought here for
the reason that there is no accommodation
for them. and there is no appropriation for
building any. The Represen tatives from CAL
lfornia have on many occasions had their at
tention drawn to this matter, but they have
not pressed for money for additional an
II is almost certain that if the money was pro-
vided for the purpose post would be estab-
llshed at the new Notifications beyond Fort
Winfield Scott. One will have to be estab-
lished there eventually, for the distance is too
far from the Presidio.
Next Wednesday there will be held at the
Presidio the post field day. the last one before
the grand tournament, which is to last sew
erai days. There will be mum bsr OF inter
esting events that will no doubt attract a grea;
number OF people 10 the post.
Among those who win participate in this
event will be Sergeant r. Pucketi, "the Pre-
sidio sprinter and the pride of Company G.
First Infantry" He will run his last 100,
yard race, for after that he will be debarred in
tnat class OF events here. Pickett is the first
soldier at the Preside to receive q medal for
athletic events and the only one in the de-
partment of California to receive a silver
medal for spr1nting. The sergeant won three
races with a great handicap in each One was
four yards in Il 100, five yards in 200 and ff-
teen in 440. yet he won each. For his efforts
he was given a special silver medal, which
was presented 10 Dlm Dy Lieutenant Roudiez
last Wednesday. The sergeant is entitled to
athletic honors, having won more than twenty
first prizes, and being the only one who has
not been beaten in some event on past field
days at the post.
The quartermaster's department has adver-
tised for bids for forage and straw for the
several posts of the department. Bids are
also called for for a new forage storehouse at
the presidio.
The new brick barracks at the Presidio are
fast approaching completion and ii is prob
able that they will be ready for occupancy be-
fore the close of the month. They have been
built after the most approved models, and
will, when finished, be the most comfor able
TO be found at any post.