The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-30
ATLANTA'S OFFER FOR A CAMP.
EXPOSITION BUILDING RENDERED
THE GOVERNMENT.

W. ASAAAN
Ex-Secretary HOke smith and Con-
gresham Livingston Put the Prop
ositiOn Before the War Depart
ment ard Urges Its Acceptance.
Ten Thousand Men May BE GUAR
tered There-City to Furnish
Water Free-InstructiOns Issued
for the Examination of the Site at
Once-CongressmRn Bartlett Pre-
SCENTS the Propositions of Macon
and BarnesviIIe for Camps.
Washington, Aug. 2s.-Atlanta viii prob
ably succeed Chickamauga as a military
encampment
Former Secretary of the Interior Hoke
Smith and Representative Lon Livingston
to-day called at the war department and
offered the government the use of the
exposition buildings and grounds, and the
magnificent city water works free of
charge.
Mr.. Smith said Chickamauga should not
have been selected. 1t is very nice as
military park but it does not possess the
necessary facilities for such a large en-
campment.
The matter is now under consideration
at the war department, and If the report
which has been asked from Gen. Pen
nington, is favorable to the conditions at
the exposition grounds, there will likely
be a movement of troops toward Atlanta
within a week. or not much more.
This new consideration of Atlanta comes
as the result of visit of Mr.. Hoke Smith
and Congressman Livingston 10 the war
department to-day.
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn and Adjt.
Gen. Corbin were particularly consulted.
The complaints of conditions at the differ
ent camps were referred to, and Mr..
Smith. who acted as spokesman, stated
the offer which Atlanta was ready to
make. He first told of Atlantas superior
climatic and health conditions and then
cited the excellent accommodations which
could be secured at the exposition grounds.
He told of the buildings which are in
were when erected, and of the character
of the ground surrounding them and of
the water which the city would furnish,
all of it, free Of cost.
Gen. Corbin was impressed by the secre-
tary's statement, and especially by the
generosity of the offer made the govern
ment and at once tefegraphed Gen. Pen
nington, in command Of the department of
the Gulf, to make an examination of the
exposition grounds and report immediate
ly their availa bility, for camping purposes.
Upon this report will, 1t is understood, de-
pend whether troops are sent to Atlanta.
Secretary Smith and Col Livingston
told the officials that at least 10000 could
be accommodated, and that they would
be properly cared for in such surround
ines.
Congressman Bartlett of Macon was at
the department at the same time, and
urged that troops be sent to GAINESVILLE
and Macon He brought offers from the
authorities of both places offering the ne
cessary ground, all the water that was de-
sired, and electric lights for the camp free
of cost to the government. Orders were
also sent for the examination of the sites
rendered by those places.
Gen. Corbin and Assistant Secretary
Meiklejohn expressed themselves as most
favorably impressed with the offers made
by these Georgia cities.
1t is not known just what troops would
be ordered to Atlanta In case the offer of
the city were accepted, but 1t looks as if
they would be the troops now at Fernan-
dina ana JaCkSOnNlHe. MOST OF tne troops
have been moved from Chickamauga, and
there is no complaint about Huntsville and
Knoxville, where camps have recently
been established. 1t seems most likely,
therefore, that the troops now at Jackson
vile under Gen. Lees command, and which
are understood to be destined for Cuba
will be those sent to Atlanta. This is sur
mise, however, for the proposed transfer
has not gone so far as the suggestion of
troops which are to be located there
Up to the close of the department this
afternoon, no reply had come from Gen.
Pennington beyond acknowledgement of
Cen Corbin's order. II is expected that
he will make the examination at once, and
whether troops are to go to Atlanta will
be decided within 8 few days at farthest.
Judge Bartlett also made inquiries at the
department about the assignment of mill
GAINESVILLE and AilledgeviEle He urged
that the former instructors be reappoint-
ed or that other appointments be made as
early as practicable. He was told that Of
ficers would be sent to these schools, but
probably not before Oct. /. None of the
school assignments viii be until then. The
congressman from the Sixth district Sc
cured the discharge from the army of a
number of boys from his district who now,
that there is no prospect of lighting, want
TO get back to work. His requests in this
line were promptly granted The assistant
secretary stated that all those men who
desired honorable discharge had only to
make application and discharge would be
granted.