The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-08-08
The ISLAND FORT
Large Garrison to Be Es-
tablished Here at Once.
Col. Barber and the First New York.
Looking for a Sjte-ArcilIery and
Engineers Coming.

Col. Thomas IT. Barber, commander Of
the First Regiment New York Volun-
teers and also head of the garrison which
win be stationed at Honolulu. is quart
cred at the Hawaiian hotel. lie is a hne
looking soldier ana most pleasant ac-
quaiutanee. Col Barber is q West Point
graduate. lie has been inspector general
OF the New York National Guard and
colonel Of the Twelfth Regiment of that
State. He is noted as one Of the most
efficient soldiers in the country
Since his arrival Col Barber has spent
his spare hours driving about the city
ard seeing the sights. He was out Sat
urday afternoon with DR. IT. W. Howard,
Of the Red Cross hospital and again yes
terday with some Of his own officers in
carriages. Col Barber has taken the op-
portunity thus afforded to examine var
ioIs tracts OF land near the city avail
able for camp purposes and has made dill
igent Inquiries of owners of outside prop
critics
AS for a camp location no conclusion
has yet been reached. Colonel Barber
said he would not try TO secure a level
tract the conformation Of the land max
ing an ideal drill ground of any great SIC
quite hard to find. He viii select d level
place for the immediate camp and do the
camp grounds viii be erected at once d
barracks, an immense one story build
ing, to accommodate 2,210 men, IN its
construction there will be a special eye
to comfort in this tropical climate, and
complete sanitary arrangements The
camp VIII be directly connected with the
water mains of the city if possible, and
! if too far away viii have an Independent
artesian wei of its own. Up to late last
night nothing had been done but work
on the building viii likely begin before
| the week IS out. 1t is the idea Of the
commander to employ Hawaiian work
men as far as possible on the barracks.
The business OF the cOmmi ssary depart
| lnehI OF the garrison IS also still IN an
| indefinite shape. Capt. Lydig is here with
| three clerks and Will outline the work
| during the next two or three days He
! Will have a substantial and comfortable
mess hall at the garrison and probably a
! depot in town. While some OF the sup
plies viii be shipped from the factories IN
| the States, the bulk of it, such as fresE
| meats, vegetables, fruit, etc, viii be pur-
Col Barber viii have about 1900 lner
! in his garrison. His own rF5iment mum
bers over 1900. The engineers detailed &c
| HonOIuIu number 500 men. Inen q bat
! TALON of California heavy artillery, mum
| bering slightly over 400 men, has been
| assigned 10 this garrison. Thus the CAM
! viii be quite a little city. The officers 81
| the garrison will have suitable quarters
| As yet col Barber has nothing to DC
! with the National Guard of Hawaii. He
| expects to be appointed Brigadier General
| in the near future, and most likely viii
! be, in which event the First Regiment
! in Honolulu viii probably be assigned &c
| his brigade. In its career for the present
after the flag raising, however, the n. @
| H. will exist in the capacity of territorial
| militia, out of service. Col. BARRIERS per
| sonal desire, as expressed yesterday
would be to muster the First Regiment
| in as a compliment. In this event II
| would likely remain as now and still have
| the honor of an ''active service" record
| These opinions or suggestions of Col
| Barber are by no means official and mus
| not be so regarded. He has received nc
| instruction from Washington as to the
! future status of HaWaii's warriors.
| Col Barber expects the New York reg
| iment to arrive about next Sunday on the
! I.akme North FOrak and Charles Mel
! SON three steam schOoners. L is not a
| fact. as reported in san Francisco pa
pers that the New Workers We're averse
| to coming to Honolulu. At first they were
| exceedingly anxious to see fighting IN Ma
Mia. but with peace prospects in view
| they early became reconciled to duty, III
these Islands. Col. Barber believes ms
men viii be more than pleased with Ho-
| uolulu and VIII never regret the assign
! 10.