The San Francisco call., 1898-03-27
MAY GARRISON
 FORT POINT Prospect of Regulars Again Occupying the
 Old Fort.
General Shafter Also Consider ina a Plan to Locate the Ar
 tillery Post There.
Headquarters of an Important Branch of the Army May Be Removed
 From Angel Island

Old Fort Point, a conspicuous object in the harbor of San Francisco, may again be garrisoned by regular soldiers of the United States army. The in terior of the old brick and granite structure has been swept clean, the ac- cumulated rubbish of years has been removed and many preparations have been made for the reoccupancy of the premises by military forces.
 It is probable that two batteries of the Third Artillery will soon be ordered from Angel Island to take station in the fort. Batteries A and H of the Third, now stationed at the Presidio and on duty at the works overlooking the ocean at Fort Point, are not ade- quate for the duties devolving upon this branch of the service. The guard duty, the care of the high power guns, the mounting of new ordnance. the handling of ammunition and the multi tude of smaller detail duties. require a force larger than the present garrison. The double brick barracks at the Pre- sidio contain accommodations only ade- Quate for the infantry and artillery there stationed, hence in order to shel- ter new batteries the old fort is to be utilized. It is held to be also desirable that there should be constantly in the immediate vicinity of the high power guns at least two batteries of trained artillerymen.
 Inspection of the old premises shows that the interior is dry and comforta ble. The granite foundations and the brick walls are in condition to stand for centuries. The fact is recalled that the Government in the old days erected buildings of durable character. Unless demolished to make room for more modern Notifications the walls of the old fort will stand long after the or dinary barracks of the present epoch have crumbled away. Occupancy oi the quarters will not impose hardship on the troops. The ocean outlook is in- spiring and the sea breezes ought tC invigorate the garrison.
 It is just possible that General Shaf- ter may decide to transfer the head quarters of the Third Artillery from Angel Island to Fort Point and estab- fish two posts on the Presidio reserVa- tion-one for infantry and cavalry al the present station, and the other fo1 artillery at a point near the high power guns.
 The quartermaster's department arranged yesterday for the transfer ot the new twelve-inch breech-loadine rifle from the Southern Pacific freight yards to a point on the bay near the Notifications, where the gun is to be mounted;
 Orders were received at the Presidio by wire from Washington yesterdat di- recting First Lieutenant John D Bar rette, Light Battery c, Third Artil- lery, to proceed immediately to Fort Slocum, New York, for assignment tC duty with the new Seventh Artillery Another telegram was received direct ing First Lieutenant Charles D. Pal mer, Light Battery F, Third Artillery to report at once to the headquarters of the new Sixth Artillery at Fort McHenry Maryland. Officers of the engineer, ordnance and quartermastel corps of the army in this department are busy. It is surmised that the en- gineers are putting everything 1T readiness to utilize the torpedoes stored at Goat Island station.