The age-herald., 1898-03-24
STATE MILITIA
 MAY BE CALLED ON In the Event of War With
 Spain. REPRESENTATIVE MARSH Called on Secretary Alger and Urged That the State Troops Be Asked to Volunteer in Case of Hostties- Contract
 f,r Harbor Dredging.
ENTATlVE MA R s H

Washington, March 23.-Secretary Alger's office at the war department presented an unusually busy aspect today. Much of the secretary's time was occupied in confer ence with the various bureau chiefs of the department in connection with preparations to improve fortifcations on the sea coast In addition there were a number of mem bers of congress who called to have 0 word with the secretary, among them be- ing Senators Lodge and Hoar and Repre- sentative Marsh, of Illinois. The latter is chairman of the house committee mih- tia, which has recently reported the bill to re-organize that body of state soldiery to raise it's efficiency and to appropriate a million dollars for it's support The chair man said he had spoken to Speaker Reed recently in regard to the bill, and he hoped to be able to call it up in the house for consideration within a seasonable time.
 During his interview with Secretary Alger MT. Marsh urged that in the event of hoStilities the first recourse of the gov ernment fer soldiers be the state militia who had been invited to volunteer for the country's defense. These men. he pointed oout, are well organized well drilled and officered and are in a position to render very effective service. In view of these facts MT. Marsh believed that it was the duty of the government to call upon these citizen soldiers for duty in case they care to volunteer If any members or officers of the guard preferred not to enlist because of family or business cares and respons[bih- ties, then their places might be taken by volunteers
 Secretary Alger was very much inter ested in the arguments made by MT. Marsh and wfliie not committing himself on that subject seemed to regard the sug- gestions made by him as practicable. Af- terWarsls MT. Marsh called on President Mckinley and repeated the statements he had made to the secretary.
 Conference With Miles
 During the morning Secretary Alger was also in conference with Gen. Miles re- specting the military occupation of Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas island. The de- termination to garrison this fort has been reached by the secretary after conference with his aides and the navy department officials, and the questions now to be met are those of what improvement in the Qualifications now there may be necessary
 Already contract has been let by the navy department for dredging large part of the harbor of the island so as to permit the entrance of large naval vessels, and today bids were opened for erecting an 1m- mense shed in which the navy will store large supplies of coal.
 It is realized, however, that without very material improvements and additions to the Notifications and armament of Fort Jefferson it will be impossible to protect the coal supply from the depredations of a hostile fleet unless the United States men of-war were constantly hand for that purpose The armament of Fort Jefferson at this time consists of probably over hundred old time smooth bore guns, which would have to be supplemented by a num- Der of additional ones of modern pattern and effectiveness.
 Reports to the war department show that about 400 men up to this time have been enlisted for the two artillery regiments re- gently authorized by congress- About l. 600 men in all are required. Most of the new recruits are sent to join old established regiments and in many cases experienced men from the latter are detailed for duty at the sea. coast Notifications.