The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-10
ALMOST SURE TO GET TROOPS.
ARMY BOARD IMPRESSED WITH
SITES OFFERED FOR CAMPS.

EstiIl Avenue Carefully Inspected.
How the Camps VIII BE Reached
and suppIied-The Board Made
Thorough Inspection of Water
WorIxs-sInyor MeIdrim Thinks
There Is No Doubt About Troops
Coming Here.
The short time the army board spent
yesterday looking over the sites offered for
the location Of troops at Savannah, Is TAX
en- as almost conclusive that favorable re-
suits will follow It is believed Savannah
will be recommended to the Secretary Of
War as a city well adapted in every way
for modifying a large body Of soldiers.
Advices were received from the board
several hours before it arrived, so that
every chance was given the local commit
tee to arrange for it. The board teached
here by the Florida Central and Pennsular
Railroad about $50 o'clock. and consisted
of Surgeon General Greenleaf, Assistant
Surgeon General and Maj H. NJ. Hopkins,
Assistant Adjutant General and Lieut. Z.
Jadwin, Corps of Engineers, and Maj.
Hodgson. They were met at the depot
by Mayor Meldrim. Health officer Le-
Hardy, Capt c. f. Gillette Aldermen Ow-
ems and Guckenheimer, and Mr.. John NJ.
Egan, vice president of the Central of
Georgia Railway land Ocean steamship
Company. Carriages were in waiting to
take the party over the route planned and
there was no delay in starting.
Among the things the board wanted to
investigate was the water supply. The
first place visited, therefore. was the wa
Ter works, where details concerning the
capacity of the plant the purity of the
water and facilities for supplying 1t were
fully explained. 1t is understood water
will be furnished from the works, which,
1t Is stated, can be done more convenient
" than by driving artesian wells. The
troops if located too far from the water
works, however, will probably be supplied
by wells which the city will have driven.
1t was evident to the board that there IS
an ample supply of pure Water, a most
important fact In the city's favor 1t was
plain the board was pleased with the sup
ply. The question of adequate water,
which has already proven a serious con-
sideration TO the government In locating
troops. was therefore. settled, and the
committee was ready to proceed else
where.
Returning to the city the party passed
Forsyth park and drove out Bun street
to the territory south of Estill avenue.
The land there is level and in every way
suitable for the camping of several regi-
ments For company battalion and regi-
mental drilling it is admirably adapted,
there being a wide eXpanse uninterrupted
by fluctuations of any kind. The locality
is about the right distance from the city.
both for the convenience of troops and
dealers who may furnish supplies. The
board was faVorably impressed with the
Fa1f
eral adaptability. Aside from the infor-
nation given by the local committee, the
visitors saw for themselves the advan-
tages afforded.
From Estill avenue the party drove
across to Thunderbolt, taking notice of
lands on the way. On the return the route
was through the Avondale tract including
the rife range, where matchless facilities
are offered for target practice. As this Is
a potent matter to consider, the board
gave much attention to the advantage or
fered at the range. and 1t Is believed will
emphasize 1t to the Secretary of War The
street car conveniences to this section Is
another thing that adds to It's eligibility.
Not only this, but the roads leading from
the city to all territory through which the
board passed went a long way towards
favorably impressng them. Easy facili-
ty for transportation to and from the
camp grounds was carefully noted.
Supplies may be taken out by rail, how
ever, since spur tracks will be built by the
Central Railroad from the Tybee road
across TO the camp ground, about a mile.
In this connection an offer was made by
Mr.. Egan, who informed the board that
in case troops came to Savannah they
would not want for surf baths. spur
track will connect the camp ground with
the Tybee Railroad, and all troops will be
transferred free to the beach at regular
Intervals. BY this means an exceptional
advantage is offered. Wood will also be
furnished at 1925 a cord.
The party wound up It's trip at the Ocean
Steamship wharves, where another great
advantage was found to exist. Whether 1t
is intended for troops TO embark from Sa-
vannah Is not known. but should the gov
eminent desire this, there is no question
about facilities Troops by thousands,
heavy artillery, wagons, horses and all
other things for shipment, could be loaded
anywhere to great advantage. 1T was In
tended to take a trip down the river to
further present the harbor's benefits, but
IL was found the board would not remain
long enough TO permit it. These matters
are established facts with the departments
at Washington, so that It was not really
considered necessary TO make the trip
1t is the belief of the committee that Sa-
vannah viii be recommended as a suitable
point for the concentration of at least 90
900 troops. Mayor Meldrlm thinks there
L
was asked how long Il would take to get
lands in shape for soldiers" the Mayor
said land informed the board everything
could be arranged on forty-eight hours
notice. To this inquiry l attach import
ance, for the reason the fact win be given
the secretary as one Of significance. Other
questions We're asked which leads to the
conclusion that Savannah is sure to get
troops, and that very soon. The commit
tee has worked diligently to accomplish
what everybody in the city desires"
The board was pleased with Its visit, but
would not indicate what its recommended
lions win be. The members referred TO the
reception given them, and intimated In a
general way that their trip was quite salts
factory Maj. Hodgson was a class mate of
Mayor Meldrim at the University of Geor-
gia. Their meeting was cordial and the op-
portunity of receiving Maj. Hodgsou gave
the Mayor much pleasure
After lunch the board went to It's special
train and proceeded TO Brunswick, where
il will be to-day "A dispatch to the Morn
. ing News last night from Brunswick stat
ed that Mayor Mason called a special