The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-15


" II II dag countless centuries
\\A\N ago. the northern part of the
\W\W Pacific coas; OF the American
" continent WAS assuming def
mite and tangible form, ac-
cording TO some scientists. huge crack
was opened from the sea. caused by the
cooling OF the earths surface. ana the
waters of the Pacific ocean rushed In to
Nil the void. That void Is now Puget sound.
When earth and water assumed the reia-
tions they have since horne TO each other,
there jutted out from the eastern shore OF
the Sound that point of land. almost entire
~ surrounded by the Iimpsd waters of the
Sound now occupied by the United States
government as "A military post, and which
has been called Magnolia bluff since men
began first 10 trace slender and winding
trails through the dense forests OF the
Douglas fir hemniing the shores OF Admir-
atty inlet
That no finer spot for a military post
could have been found in al Of Western
Washington Is conceded by the military
men who have examined the site of the
post At Magnolia bum. Standing upcn
the highest crest OF the BLUM. almost 100
feet above tide water. ole can see through
the openings In the fringe OF frs surround
ing the clearing from Wh.3by island on
the north To Nashon island on the south.
For twenty miles 10 tbs north mOrtars
planted In the fayine east OF the post would
command the Sound. making the entrance
Of the var vessels OK an enemy impossible.
The great point 20 Il military man, OF
course. Is the strategic position occupied
by the bluff. hut striking as tbs may seem
even 10 the civilian one Is impressed more
by the commanding view IL affords the
pleasure seeker,
year ago a dense forest Of frs ana
cedars covered the crest Of Magnolia bluT.
..F
stiil hung In the balance For three years
the people OF Seattle had struggled against
apparently inSutmountsble obstacles 20 SO
cure the selection Of the site by the war
department for an army post Today fifty
or more acres % that dense jungle Of tirs
have been cleared away. and where once
the tall monarcAs of the forest stood are
now being built handsome ana costly build
ings soon 10 he occupied by the soldiers
and Officers OF two companies or artillery
which VIII he sent here next year ~ man
the post
To Reach the Army Post.
A Post.yntonigencer representative. at5
Ell by the courtesy Of Constructing Quar-
.crmaster w. " Robinson. s.. was oD-
ahies recently u make a tour of the miil-
tary post site al Magnolia b'uG There
are tw0 ways ~ reaching the post ramely.
by carriage or herso from tho city - the
bluff az by electric car 80 lnterbay sta
ton. or the Great Northern. from which
one has Ia walk somct hing over Il u3se 10
tie point waVre construction l. In pro
sress. Tsere are natural obstacles -
either means q reaching the site 90 tho
post which may an be removed by the
expenditure or a littie energy and money
on the part OF IA. city RutaJri,les In fact
the crying complaint ~ people who travel
n the post Is the depleranle condition 81
tae read leading from iNe e.ty - the
boundary lire ~ tbe army post The reai
fellows tA9 bridge al nE the hiufT from
North Seattle te lu;ertsX a0a thence. cr,fss-
ing the ira cks - tie Great Northern AMI
Seattle X International hy "a iasgcsire