Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-05
WITH TORPEDO EXPERTS.
WiIlets Point. Its Armament and PURPOSES
The Post and It's Buildings.

rs he junction of The East River and
Long Island Sound. The end and be
ginning of these bodies OF water are
not fixed by law or geography, but the
opposite pro ections, knows as Throgg's
Neck and Wilets Point, $500 feet
apart, are usually conceded to be the
limit. They are fourteen miles III an
air line northeast by east from the city
hall, but the rider or driver is obliged
TO go twenty miles to reach either
place.
Unlike its neighbor across the water
Willets Point is short and broad. the
projection being but little over 2o00
wards long and about 1000 yards wide.
on the west side are the waters of Lit
tie Bay. and on the east side Little
Neck bay. The nearest towns are Bay
side. directly south on the main north
shore road along Long Island: White
stone. two miles to the west; Flushing.
four miles to the southwest (air line:)
and Jamaica. seven and half miles
to the southwest. or. more nearly,
south. Access is had by rail Via the
North Shore Branch of the Long Island
Railroad to Whitestone, the nearest
station to the post, and it is just two
and one-half miles from the station to
the commandant's office. The railroad
gives a half-hourly service during the
greater part of the day, but is too dis
tant to be convenient. There are
money order postoffice and a telegraph
office on the reservation, and nearly all
the government transportation is per-
formed Ivy the boats of the quarter
masters department, which can land
their cargocs on wharf at the post.
The observer approaching Willets
Point by water from Manhattan on one
of the numerous sound boats will first
notice. soon after passing milestone
with its conspicuous coal-nockcts and
numerous lighthouses, a group of
buildings in the southwest corner of
the reservation. There are two large
brick factory like buildings used as a
quartermastcr's storehouse and an
electrical laboratory. To the north is
a wharf rather lightly built of wood
about twenty feet wide and 500 feet
long, the outer end is of extra width,
and on it are three small sheds for tenn
porary storage and a railway track
leading to the stOrehouSes and the
works. Near the wharf the surface of
the point rises, and beyond the banks
are too preciptous to permit of any
buildings between it and the water
over the top of the bluff and the ram
parts surrounding it may be seen
three huge derricks engaged in the new
work Of strengthening and improving
the Notifications now going on. ana
high above them towers the flagstaff
of the post. At the end of the Point
the surface attans the height of sixty
feet and at the foot of the steep bank
is a very shallow N-shaped fort. con-
tanning easements for Two rows OF
guns, eight in the lower row of each
wing and ten in the upper row Of
each, together with one single case
ment in the bastion of the apex. The
walls of the fort are thirty feet high.
and have a length of $50 feet on each
wing. or a total length Of $50 feet al
lowing something for the projection at
the apex. In siX-foot letters uuon them
is painted 'Torpedoes. Don't Anchor"
for the channel is protected by sub
marine devices against the passage of
hostile vessel or feet.
Rounding the Point. some of the off
GERS cottages may he seen a little to
the rear where the ground is at normal
level. y dense growth of trees protects
them to some extent from the cold east
winds which blow down the Sound.
The barracks for the men, three high
brick buildings with slantng roofs,
each surmounted by a cupOla, one for
each company, are next seen. and far
oft To the southeast. at the end of the
reservation, is a group Of a dozen or so
of the older wooden structures of the
post. small buildings as a rule, but all
neatly painted. These are used chiefly
as residences for the married soldiers
and their families.
Willets Point became a government
post in 1891 by the purchase of 10 acres
of land, and in 1863 there were pur
chased 26.35 acres additional on the in
land side, in all 1858 acres for which
So. $50 was paid, d good stiff price, as
is usually the ease when Uncle sam is
buying. There are now on this land
112 buildings, devoted to n great Narie-
ty of uses. Thirteen of them are Off
GERS cottages. and, according to the
usual government usage every house
but that of the commandment has ac-
eommodationS for two families Pass
= ing into the grounds. through the gate
s way With its huge stone pillars, past
the guard house and up the hill to the
right by the museum. the more or less
pretentious commandant's residence is
speedily reached. which, like officers
quarters. fronts upon the parade
ground This covers five acres. and
was formerly the scene efsmany inter
esting ball games befere crowds of
spectators every Si1nda* between mines
representing he post and outside clubs.
y Sabbath Observance Society had Il
stop put to this. however, and now the
games are only PLAYED privately be
tween rival mines of the garrison, and
lack the former excitement. Infantry
drills are naturally not as frequent
here as at other places. as much of the
soldiers instruction is of a purely
scientific nature.
The principal new building on the
post is the new mess hall, which has
Just been completed. Much new work
mas been done ON the defenceS. hut the
recent military orders forbid publicity
being given thereto. 1t is no secret