St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-09-03

00us olulOu OuyOer, maze m In
spection Of the place on behalf Of
the latter when it was proposed K
send all troops, regular and volun'
teer, then At the Fair Grounds, ovel
to Covington, due to tue water sup,
ply troubles. In an interview will
the States reporter 1t the time O
his return, he expressed himself ..
impressed with Covington as ,
camping site and had absolutely nc
objection to raise against it. HI
told the reporter that it fulfilled the
requirements Of An ideal camp in
every particular. The high ground,
the sandy soil, the fores;s Of pine
timber and the beautifully clear,
fresh water o. the picturesque Tche.
functa river, made the spot . per.
feet one. Added to the advantages
of general healthfulness, the FACT
that infectious fevers have never
been known to come anywhere neal
the place, Covington leaves abso.
lutely nothing to be desired as Z
point where large bodies Of troops
can be concentrated without tue
slightest danger, but, in fact, to
their general advantage from .
health standpoint.
So much for that side Of the ques.
ton.
Taking up the phase OF convenient
handling ard quick throwing out OF
troops to various points in the South
as we'll as of upon the high seas,
New Orleans itself can speak for
that. As advanced in these col
amns time and time again and verb
fed by absolute facts and endorsed
by every prominent citizen who Vas
interviewed upon the subject, it is
acknowledged tina: New Orleans
can handle more troops from her
wharves than any city in the Union,
bar none Five big trunk lines have
their terminals On the very river front
at New Orleans. Their rails deploy
GU. for thousands Of miles to the
north, east, south and west and to
intermediate points of the compass
and districts OF this State and those
surrounding. Such great roads as
the Illinois Central, Southern Pacific
Queen and Cresceut, Texas and Pa
cific and Louisville and Nashville,
have thousands Of cars, both freight,
cattle and passenger at their dispo-
sal and could rush troops here in
minimum time. Their switches and
the belt road lining the levee front
present remarkable facilities for the
rapid unloading and quick DISPOSE
ton Ut troops thence to the hundred
or more transports that could find
wharf room along our magnificent
stretch Of river front. Innumerable
large warehouses within the vicinity
Of the tracks and river could contain
all the army stores sent here either
temporarily or permanently.
But there seems to be no chance
for the present to secure the en-
barkation Of troops from this port.
The above is briefly detsiled to in
dictate just what advantages New
Orleans presents therefor.
Being able to take care Of such
bodies OF troops. it can be
readily seen how extremely easy it
would be for this port to take care
Of lesser bodies which might be en-
barracked at Covington. The latter
is within two hours' rice of New
Orleans and the rails Of the East
lead direct to the North
eastern wharves and connect with
all other lines by the belt road and
switches. By common consent it
seems to be agreed that the United
states government will have in the
to maintain . large standing
army and = well organized ana
equipped State militia.
After the downfall of Spanish reign
Cuba and Porto Rico these islands
md mcst likely others of the West
India and Carr:bian groups. will
reed tie constant attention o. United
soldiery. From what port
a the whole country could troops
" thrown out with more rapidly
md ease than ~ New Orleans?
from the very fact that these tropi-
;al insurrectionary countries will
iced the Quieting hand Of the United
states ct intervals that portend to
V feequent, it will be necessary to
maintain = large number Of troops
t the most convenient point for
thereon. The proposition
AZ plain as two, and two makes
our.
Covington is just sufficiently re-
moved from the influences Of
reat city to make the maintenance
{ fine discipline oil that could be
esired. In fact, where ever there
70 large army posts in this country.
it'll possibly one OF two exceptions !
notably, the Presidio ut San Fran !
theySare situated some dis !
l0ce away frUm the cities in whose !
they : located, and yet
, near that they can be reached by
le terminals Of various large rail-
,ads With III rapidity. this would
) exactly the situaiioa Z Coytng {