The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-27

Haa. z. o. Graves. president % TIRE
Caarbsr o. Comnaeres. wh0 Nent East
several weeks ago IN the interest o. raet-
1erx couu~cteS wisa me army psst ~ Mag
uo.ia bluff. ard Incidentally a. . delegate
g sas sound naGnsy convention a. IE1ia-
napolis. returned via IRE Great Northern
Yesterday having beer erniu@nslg success
<sI n a. That perfnsned 20 thai portion %
hls trip assasiafe4 zts1 tie army post
affairs.
TO a Representative Of the Post-TnteiiI-
serrer yesterday Afternoon NJ. Graves
s<s thai ~ had beer tsaa be 70 attend The
Indianapolis convention. out thAt ~ rad
Forwarded his proxies. and Seaftle's inf1u-
eg.ce would ~ fek ia TIE shaping - the or
sanszattou. TIE part OF Air. Graves tour 30
wsshanxeon and New York % paramount
sraxysrtanes 20 his city was In connection
ssith the military posi-. and X may Be said
that a. shs sine ths president q The Cham
her OF Commerce started East the outlook
zsas far from encouraging. In fact, the
prospect was a blue one. and the chances
-ere against the pity. No better ennis
sary could have been selected 20 bear "A
representation of facts 20 the nations CAPT
Ia thar Ar. Graves re enjoyed the dis
tingal=hsd acQuslatABesSof the most promi-
nsnt people Ia Washington. and his
long rsaidancs there as head OF one Of ths
rsos. important departments IN the govern
mental ~-onomy gave him familiarity
~tth departmental courtesy and usage
with al Of the obstacles 70 overcons that
1fr Graves felt surs ne would encounter
T. N not altogether surprising that al the
ead he should accomplish all that he had
intsa1ed.
While IN Official life Bfr. Graves was
promoted successfully until he occupied
the position % chief Of the bureau OF en-
craving and printing. which be held dur
ing Cisvslsu6s fret term Re therefore
gained a potent influence b. ais long Of
fetal service ara knows AL the little un-
derlying influences and their ramlhcations
whtch control official action. He was
right a. home among bis Old companions
in the public service He said that he did
not attempt The converting OF anyone 10
the idea OF locating Tire post al Magnolia
blun. The most cogent reasons came
from the army Itself. Gen Otis report.
made as general commanding the depart
ment OF the Columbia left nothing TO be
sald IN that behalf Ia fact. II was not
the selection OF the people OF Seattle or
WaShinzt state. bat OF the army. as well
a. that OF Ger. Otis. and several com
missions OF army officers appointed 10
that duty. Fr0wniug British guns a.
Esauimai;. she rising shipping importance
OF Puget sound. the growing cities, the In
creasinE riches of 8 ricaly endowed section
Of country. the strategical railroad import
snce. fl case OF trouble Of the place select
- ard the proximity % naval station. on
which the Eensrei government has laYishe3
money. 10 the spot proposed. have AL no
doubt contributed alike 10 the unaRimlty
~ opinion OF the army officers who have
already reported.
There we're. however deep-seated pre- u-
Dies against the Magnolia bluff army posi-,
held by several whose cooperation was
positively necessary. Those preiudices
had 20 De overcome. and Mr.. Graves per-
formed that part OF his work well He
sid be found that Secretary Lamonts
mind had been diverted from the import
ance ~ Ger. otls' recommendations hy
stories 10 The effect that the proposition
was real estate boom deal. pure and
Simple. Gen Miles opinion was practi-
taLy the same. and Mr. Graves found a
high stone waa In his way IN the secre-
tary's statement that Gen. Miles indorse-
ment Of she scheme mus; first be obtained.
This mandate was subsequent 10 the send
ing % the following letter 70 the score
tary by Mr.. Graves Immediately upon his
arrival.
washington. u. c. Jan. :. 1897.
Hon Daniel s. Lamont. Secretary Of
War Washington. II. C.-Slr: on behalf
OF the Chamber Of Commerce OF Seattle,
] have the honor 20 present for your con-
s5derattUn the following facts regarding
the stems which have been taken by the
citizens II Seattle 70 acquire a site for
an army post on Magnolia blun. near
that citXs
'-The law providing for the establish
ufent % an army post on Puget sound re-
C0ircs the donation for the purpose Of not
less than 60 acres Of land. The citizens
81 Seattle. acting through the committee
appointed for that purpose. rendered 90
IRE government that quantity - land on
Magnolia bluff a. site for the post. Tho
commission % Officers appointed 70 report
upon "a site recon- mrudct that an aHtf-
ttausl tract ~ sfxty-threa acres lying
along the shores of Salmon and Shffshols.
hays BEE Included so as 60 afford access
b3 boat 20 the post from salmon hay.
tnus Increasing the land required 90 hs
donated 90 5ef acres Ever since the de-
ciston ~ the secretary Of war I'm favor OF
this site. the citizens OF Seattle have
made The most strenuous efforts 10 secure
che entire tract required. Committee
have been actively and continuously AZ
wark iu both raising the money and So
curing the title 20 the land. and every
possible measure has been resortea ~
watch seemed likely to help on rho desired
end. A. result ~ nearly nine months
~ aT8upus work We End ourselves utter
y unahle - secure more than the ga
acres originally rendered. IRE additional
HxfN three acres lying along the north
side of the site is held az 50 high q figure
end ~ seeh various owners - 20 be en-
tfreiv beyond oar reach ! am therefore.
difoetad ~ ssk ven 80 exercise The dis
erection conferred upon Won hy the law
~ accepting the go acres whieh we frd
= wtthin eur power 90 give We respect
faliy submit the following reasons iu sap-
Port 81 thts request,
"u1 MacGolia bluN has been officially.
designated &c one ~ the points On Puget
SOUND on which fortltHrRttans are % h..
placed. We are informed thar about aa
acres VIII Pa required fog thEs p,Irnosa.
TIE go acres rendered embraces tNe lana
required far defensive purposes az thts
point, y the Hand rendered far fhr posi-
Ne not accepted the land required far
seTti4cattans must he secured BIS either
purchase or con3eFnnatf on. The $50 acres.
entHrsciaE the iar3 fer eosh post and for
ttacations can now BE had OK the soy
~rnnert Cor nothing. - tha aHEft{a-al
SIKH -fhEcr arres are 3nfu nsfe.f the whole
Fro)r't wH} ta4l ans the government viii
"a slh ertrt go heavy expense s.. Seril~-
iag che nt rr1uirhd Tor fart{n-arir-s
hes7f1 frr gre Interests 90 tNe Erve-n-
fnsri voa.t seer3 to demand tha accent
cost.
"a TIE Sans rendered embraces an -