The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-08
ISLAND CITY NEWS ITEMS.
A Company of Artillery Men to Man
the Forts.
QUARTERS FOR THEM TO BE ERECTED
As soon as the site Can ne selected
and the work Donc--Criminai
District Court,

dispatch from Washington:
Washington. March THE war de-
partment has decided TO construct bar
racks at Galveston at once for the ac-
coinnodation OF one full company OF
artillery to man tho fortlficatiops now
practically completed there. Clinton
Smith. chief OF the bureau OF construc-
ton OF the quartermaster generals Of
| flee. is now en- route to Galveston for
the purpose of locating the sito for the
barracks and informing himself rs TO
4 the best location TO be used.
The department originally asked an
allotment of 100000 for these bar
racks, but this was cut down TO 100000.
and ags!!:s % $4,000. which amount is
| now available for the purpose.
II Is the intention of the department
to complete this work as rapidly rs
possible, SO that troops may be ordered
| to Galveston at the earliest moment TO
| properly care for the guns which are
now in position.
| Mr. Smith registered at the fremont
hotel one day last week, since then he has
been busy looking over the ground Tor the
| purpose of determining the best location Tor
| thu barracks. When seen today be abso-
lutely refused TO discuss the purpose ol his
hip here. and referred the reporter 10
Lieutenant Richie, VINO also refused TO tank.
1t is learned, however. that the substance
OF the foregoing dispatch from Washington
was practically correct, and that the
quartcrmasters department Is anxious 10
40 the work as expeditiousiy as possible
The money available Will be uLinzed tur
quarters fer officers and men. and tney can
be gotten ready in about four moHths II any
emergency should arise.
Mr.. Smith is here for the purpose o.
making a report to the qu,,rterinaster
general, and questions at issue viii be de-
cided after his report is submitted to the
Washington officials
He has examined the property In Den
Yer Resurvey, and IL is understood no VIII
advise against making a post there on ac-
count OF q lack OF loom. When the
ground for forufication purposes at Boil
var was purchased IL was the intention
Of the department to locate the main lost
there. Since then it has been discovers
that a better location for the post may be
had on the government reservation, south
OF the south jetty and adjoining the fort
and mortar battery now nearly COM
pleted.
One objection TO this site, and. In tact,
the only objection, is the proximity OF the
city pest house to it. This matter VIII be
brought to the attention OF the council AT
its meeting this evening. and steps viii be
taken TO have the pest house moved 10
some other location, so as to remove the
objection TO the proposed site
Mr.. Smith has also been in consultation
with City Engineer Peek with a view 10
ascertaining what arrangements can be
made with the city for supplying water
to the poo. There viii be no trouble on
this score, and the fact that good water
may be had Mt Fort Point, which could
not be mad at Bolivar is one Of the strong
arguments which will be brought to bear
to get The main post located on this side
OF Bolivar roods
Since he has been here Mr. Smith has
repeatedly stated that the desire OF the
quartermaster generals department Is TO
hurry this work as much as practicablc,
so that the guns now In position aud
those soon TO be erected may receive
proper care. He has also said that while
$4,000 Is available Cor tho first work, only
s25 900 quarters have been provided for Tho
other forts which arc to follow those now
nearly completed
The coming OF Mr.. Smith settles
one point which has been n nooted qucs-
ton here for some time that rs, that the
forts are TO be garrlsoned and not left to
the care of an ordnance sergeant or two, as
many OF Uncle Sans Qualifications are.
With the neuclus Of post started here il
VIII not be difficult matter TO get further
allotments in order to build the post up TO
q proper standard.
This move at this time should not be
construed as having any connection what
ever with the Spanish trouble. Should
war come permanent quarters would IN
no wise be necessary to tho defense OF
the port. The magazines are all pro
yided In the empacements, and they are
now ready for business. The Significance
CT the move. however, lies In the fact that
tho forts aer to bc manned This Is the
first Indication that tho war department
has given az to its Intentions In this d
Tection, Although IL has been deemed
highly probable that the forts would be
manued nothing definite was known here
Until the Trlbune's special was builotincd
this morning.
Dir. Smith says he WIN remain here until
tomorrow
AT q meeting of the city council tonight
an ordinance was adopted abolishing the
pest house near tho government reserva-
ton, where the war department proposes
to erect barracks. and forbidding the cree
ton of other objectionable buildings This
was done at the suggestion OF Mr. Smith,
here representing the Quartermaster's Of
Gee. who gave the council TO understand
that unless they should be shown some
the barracks would be located
at Bolivar Point.
CpTMJNAr Dtc,rr cor f,nI,pr