The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-07
VAST. MILITARY CAMP,
Government May Utilize chicka.
manga Park
FOR CONCENTRATION OF TROOPS.


The Reservation VIII Accommodate 10000
soidisrs-The Place High and Dry with
an Ample supply of water-Its Advan-
tages as q Ground Tor Practical Maneuv.
sring and Tactical Instruction-A Mill
tary Possession Of Special Importance.
Washington. April THE war de-
\ partment and the generals of the army
are considering the question of utiliz-
ing the eleven square miles Of the
Chickamauga Military park. owned by
the government. as the point for con-
centrating troops In the south for or
ganization and instruction. and also as
the location Of such reserves as may
be needed for the gulf and south At
lantic Notifications from New Orleans
to Charleston.
Such portions of the reserve as might
be needed could reach any of these for
tifcations in twelve hours from Chick
amauga. When not needed they would
J be in healthier camps than on the coast
in hot weather. A railroad with two
stations at the park skirts its western
boundary. There are 5000 acres of open
been removed, and 1000 acres of dry
fields, the whole suitable for excellent
camps.
Ample supply of Water.
Immediately after the passage OF the
bill making this park a national
maneuvering ground the park commits
sioners began to consider the question
of securing an abundant water supply.
and to distribute it with a view to fur
nishing the best camping grounds In
addition to six excellent springs and
five ordinary wells eight artesian wells
have been sunk in such places as to
afford the best results for camps. Lo-
cations for four more of these wells
have just been selected by the commits
sion, and preparations have been made
for sinking them at once in case the
decision for military concentration
there is reached. Meantime 10000
troops can be provided with excellent
4 camp.
In the clearing out of the forests the
4 idea of the park becoming the army
maneuvering grounds was kept in view
by the commissioners, and it's orders
were to leave room everywhere suffi-
Client for teams or batteries to drive
portion of the eleven square miles is
practicable for wheels.
a Room for $4,000 Troops.
All portions of the park are reached
n by the best roads which the government
a could construct. There is ample room
to camp $4,000 troops. AS the Chicka.
manga river. which is fed by mountain
streams, bounds the park, for severa
miles, there is abundant water for the
horses of cavalry, artillery and tbs
transportation.
The entire park Is high and dry, nont
of ii being subject to overflow Th'
surrounding region is largely forest
and wood for the camp will be cheap
AS ground for practical maneuverini
and tactical instruction on field o
y actual fighting, the best professional
soldiers in the army regard its advan
tage as unsurpassed. No other pos
sesses such ground.
Fighting Lines Marked.
Over 1OO, 900 men fought for two day
j within the present limits of the park
All the lighting lines, and all the line
of tactical movement have been ascer
tanned and marked, and are concisel
explained on historical tablets. TIL
roads over which the opposing armie
moved to battle and operated durin
the engagement belong to the govern
ment, and the more important of thes
n have been improved. The road mile
4 age Of the park system is 100 miles an
Il traverses seven distinct battlefelds.
I For these reasons. officers of hig
rank regard the park as militar
possession of special Importance at tn
present time.
Il NJ I,nIcI nI1DE