Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-09-02
COL. BLEES' HOBBY.
MILLIONAIRE WILL PERPETU-
ATE HIS NAME.
Features of the Military Academy Now
In Course Of Construction ut Macon
To Ne One of the Finest In Existence
Elaborate Plans.
Macon. Mo. Lottery

macon, MO-, Lottery
The Blees Military Academy, now In |
,ourse OF construction here, is intended |
% be a magnificent architectural rnonu- |
ment TO the pet ambition OF its wealthy |
founder Like all men OF means, Col. |
+. w. Blees has his hobbies. He loves |
ine horses, and has score or more
of some OF the best bloodcd animals
| in America in his stables. Painting,
music and horticulture receive his
warmest encouragement and support,
but his real. earnest, controlling pas
sion Is for the military and the deyei-
opment Of martial instincts. His own
training was obtained in the Prussian
army, which ne entered Immediately
after his graduation and was commits
stoned second lieutenant He was
among the first In this section to Of
fer his sword TO the state when hostili-
ties between the United States and
Spain commenced.
Col. Blees came to America in 1881,
and after teaching in various schools
and academies In this country, accept
ed position as commandant OF Girls
void College Corps of Cadets, Daven-
port, la. In recognition OF his success
In that capacity. he was appointed lieu
tenant-colonel in the Iowa National
Guard and aid-de-eamp to the COM
mander, Gov. Horace Boies. He after
ward resigned his position to accept
the head mastership OF St. James Mill
tary Academy here, and later was APP
pointed superintendent The academy
was discontinued during Col. Blees' abb
senee at the bedside of his parents in
Germany, and after their death some
time was necessarily employed in
winding UP the affairs Of the princely
estate in the old country. But all the
time the dream of an academy that
would perpetuate his memory as an in
stitution Of influence and power in the
land was with him, and as each stone
and brick is laid in its proper posi-
ton the rearing of the structure causes
a responsive ascendeney in the
colonefs hopes. The grounds for the
building have been carefully selected.
with regard TO health and with a view
10 the picturesque. Nature has done
much for them In the way OF gently
rolling hills, natural streams. cascades
and table lands, and the landscape gar
dener will do the rest. Within the
campus there will be a lake covering
eighteen acres. and just across on the
rolling hills. natural streams, cascades
grounds, will be another body Of water
nearly as large. Rustic bridges. grot-
toes. foliage labyrinths. fountains ant
statues viii make the grounds an idea
, resort to the students and attractive
, to visitors.
: The general plans by the superin
! tendent, Col. w. w. Clendenin, arr
, embraced in the following:
The academy ground proper com
prise 1i3 acres. and lying adjoining i
the farm OF Col. Blees. 400 acres
known as the "Blees place." which viii
supply the academy with everything
that can be produced on a model farm
/, where all modern methods of husban
dry are employed For the present th'
buildings will be limited to the acad
emic hall. gymnasium, kitchen, laun
: dry and power house. The arrange
: ment of the buildings mentioned viii
d be equal TO anything in the country
d and is the result of careful calcula
: lions, in which each member of TIL
: faculty has assisted. Everything, from
e the fiagstaffs on the towers to the con
crete in the basement, Will be abso
a lutely fireproof. There will be a 55.
S 1s5-foot recreation court in the cente
| OF the academic hall. fitted up witt
II pianos, lounging seats and all name
i of games for indoor entertainment
; This court will be decorated with hand
= some foliage plants and portraits o
illustrious American citizens. All tn
cadet rooms will open upon this court
which is to be lighted by skylighl