The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-04
OTHERS ARE SKEPT|CAL
Discussion of the Fort Missoula
Telegram.
WILL BE A CAVALRY POST
Csrter's Assurances Are Received With
Grain of Salt - People Have
No Confidence in Sec
rotary Alger.

Missoula, May 3.-The Fort Missoula
telegram of Senator Carter has been a
general theme of discussion for the
past three or four days. The friends of
the senator are confident that it means
what it says, but there are SOME others
who are skeptical enough to assert that
that yellow bit of telegraph paper is
only a repetition of the assertions that
have been made so often since the 25th
infantry marched away from here
more than a year ago. There is enough
Missouri in this latter class for them
to insist that you must show me-
They say that they will believe it when
they see the troops coming here to oc-
cupy the post once more.
This much is certain. There have
been plenty of recommendation from
civil and military officers to make Fort
Missoula regimental cavalry post for
the next century. It's location with re-
spect to the points to which troops are
liable to be moved and its situation in
the midst of rich agricultural region
combine to make it a model spot for
large post. All of this argument and
many others have been presented so
often that the people of the state are
thoroughly familiar with them and
there is no need of repeating them. 1t
is also asserted by the friends of Sena-
tor Carter that he has labored earnest
ly to secure the continuance of the fort
as military post. Had he worked as
hard before as he has since the order
went forth to dismantle the place there
would not have been so much discour-
| agement here in regard to the PROPOSE
| ton. AS it is, the people here are in
clined to receive the present assurances
with a little grain of salt. II may be
| that the statement that the fort is not
| to be abandoned is all right. There is
| no one who doubts that the Montana
senator received the assurance The
only doubt is in regard to the sincerity
of the lamented secretary of war. 1t is
| feared that he is handing out gold
| brick or a can of beef or some other
| confidence game.
AS to the merits of the case, there is
no doubt that the site of Fort Missoufa
is superior to that of any other mill
tary post in this part of the country
regiment can be supported here at d
much smaller cost to the government
than at most of the posts of the West
The location is admirable for strategic
purposes and all of the leading military
| officers since the time of Generals Sher'
man and Sheridan have agreed in theil
statements in this respect. All of then
favored the permanent continuance o.
the fort here for the numerous reason:
that have repeatedly been advanced
The selection of the site of Fort Harrl
son, near Helena, was piece of politi
cal jobbery that the people of MISSOURI
do not forget. They were gold-bricket
properly in that and they are nov
looking for the cavalry regiment tina
would replace their infantry when /
should be removed from here to Har
rison.
1t is possible that the recurrence o
dynamiting in the Occur d Alenes AM
the necessity of troops there will hav
a decided influence upon the garrisonin'
of the fort once more. Had there beel
a full garrison at this place there Woult
have been no delay in landing troops a
Wardner. They could have been Their
in eight hours after the first news o
the occurrence of Saturday was receiv
ed But Senator Carter will be hsre
himself, in a short time and may b
willing to throw more light upon tn
matter. 1t is vexing the people her
considerably and the stationing of
new regiment here will be of tinancia
benefit to the city.