The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-24


In the regular organization Smelling
has the reputation of being one of the
very finest posts In the country. It's
location is superb, and the government
reservation upon which the fort is To-
Gated is extensive enough to afford &C
commodation to practically all the
troops needed in the Northwest. It's
strategic location could not be better,
and 1t is a perfect point for the carry
ing out of the idea originated by Gen.
sherman, and carried out by his sue
cessors' to secure the mobilization of
considerable bodies of regular troops
near large centers of population where
the transportation facilities are such
as to make the transfer of the troops
to any given point a matter of little
time and no difficulty. The advantage
OF Smelling with regard to transpOrta
ton was called to the attention of the
whole army a few years ago when
there was an Indian uprising near Fort
Sully. The scene of the trouble was
within six miles, as the crow flies, of
Sully, yet a detachment of the Third
infantry from Smelling, 300 miles away,
was on the ground before the troops
could be transported across the river
from Sully. The event was the most
striking example that has been given
in years of the advantage of locating
troops at points where railroad facili-
ties can be easily had and the occur
renee had much to do with the imme-
date abandonment of many of the
smaller posts in the Northwestern
states. Given these natural and arti-
a n 1to l. i
that the government will utilize the
post to the fullest ultimately, and it
appears that the present is the time
for the carrying out of some of the
plans for charging the garrison ca
pacity of the fort.
1t is clear that, as at present arrang-
ed, Fort Smelling will not afford proper
shelter and house room for a full regi-
ment, and it has even been suggested
that a portion of the Third infantry
should be assigned to one Of the minor
posts of the West. This is not at all
necessary. If the war department
would but improve and add somewhat
to the present buildings, the entire regi-
ment could be housed for the present
and with the meeting of congress an
appropriation will be forthcoming for
the building of new barracks. There
is considerable amount of house room
at the fort-buldings in the lower post
now used for quartermaster and COM
missary stores-that might be utilized
for barrack room for the present, and
in these the recently added recruits
could be CHARTERED for the winter.
Room will be made readily enough for
the disposition Of the stores. The de-
partment may make the improvements
necessary for the temporary housing
Of the troops without the intervention
, of congress, and with the coming Of
another spring there is no doubt that
permanent improvements will be made,
and the natural advantages of the res
ervation be utilized.
Since the acquisition of the property
as a military reservation it has ALWAYS
been part of the military PLAZA to use
Fort Smelling as an abiding place for
large bodies of troops. There is plenty
of room on the reservation for a brig
ade, and we may look for the immedi-
ate location of a regiment of cavalry
in addition to the present garrison Of
infantry at the post. This will GER
ldlnly be the outcome OF the dDdnUOn-
ment of the small posts in what has
been known as the Indian country, and
IL will be carried into effect probably
within a year. 80.
For the present st. Paul is very de-
sirous that room be made for the Third
regiment. The return Of that regiment
to the fort is proof that the department
intends that 1t shall remain i'll this
section of the country for some time,
and it is clear to those who know the
conditions that temporary quarters
could be provided for the enlarged reg
! iment at less cost than would be in
yolved in the division of the regiment
and the transportation of a battalion
to a frontier post. If the wishes of the
officers of the department Of Da-
| kata and those Of the Third regiment
are in line with those of the people of
| ST. Paul, there will be no necessity for
dividing the Third.
! Among the other good things II
has accomplished the war has pre-
| scented a solution of the race problem