Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-06-02
BISMARCK'S POST.
What Is Said Of the Work From the
Department Head
quarters.
Will Be Garrisoned Fully When Troops
Are Withdrawn From
Foreign Soil.
The st. Paul Pioneer Press, under the
caption, "Bismarck's New Military Post"

The st. Paul Pioneer Press, under the
caption, 'Bismarck's New Military Post"
says:
Preparations are now under way in the
department of Dakota looking toward
the abandonment of Fort Yates, and the
establishment of a new military station
at Bismarck, N. D., to take its place.
Major Pond, chief quartermaster of the
department, is now in Bismarck select
ing the site where the new buildings will
be erected during the summer.
The agitation for the removal of Fort
Yates to some more convenient point
where railroad connections could be Sc
cured, has been going on for a number
of years, and the order was issued a short
time ago, after a proposition had been
submitted by the people of Bismarck, do
mating a site comprising $40 acres of land
two miles southeast of the city. An ap-
preparation was made by congress of
$4,000 for the construction of the neces-
sary buildings.
One of the arguments that was used in
advocating the change of location was
that Fort Yates is not now convenient for
the speedy transfer of troops to points of
danger. In time of peace the only pos
sible use for the garrison would be the
suppression of Indian outbreaks, and it
was urged that it would be possible for
hostile bands to do a great amount of
damage before troops could be sent to
the rescue. The nearest railway station
is sixty miles away, and this made it in
convenient, both for the transportation
of troops and the conveyance of supplies.
The government had built Fort Yates
at a small expense, as the land cost moth
ing and the buildings were not of a per-
manent and enduring construction. Fort
Abraham Lincoln, which was located a
short distance from Bismarck, was aban-
doned in preference to Fort Yates. for it
was necessary that troops be kept near
the Standing Rock agency at that time.
The people of Bismarck entered strenu-
Gus objections to this move on the part
of the government, and they have been
keeping up the fight ever since to secure
the selection of their city as a military
station.
The deal has now all been closed and
"a government engineer has been ordered
there to lay out the sewage system and
make the necessary plans. Major Ponds
visit there is for the purpose of selecting
the point on the reservation where the
Ou1lOl1lES WILL OC ClCCCCO, duu xC Will
complete the arrangements so that the
bly, return here Thursday morning.
but they have been put under way SO
that advertisements for bids could be
made. It is stipulated that the proposals
shall all be in by June IL, and the work
will begin as soon thereafter as possible
The bids include the construction, heat.
ing and plumbing of one barrack, two
double sets of officers quarters and Q
quartermaster's subsistence %storehouse
all to be constructed of brick and Other
fireproof material. They will be com
pleted this summer.
At the present time the single set o.
barracks will be ample for all emergen
cies. But one company-Troop D of thu
First cavalry-is stationed at Fort Yates
Capt. H. E. Tutherly is in command O
the station. 1t is not expected that i
will be necessary to build additional bar
racks for several years, at least unit
there is a general withdrawal of troop:
from foreign possessions. It is probabl,
that a tributary station will be main
tanned at the old site to guard agains
possible Indian uprisings and to protec
Fort Yates was established June 6
1875, for the protection of the Standing
Rock Indian agency, it being adjacent tt
the garrison. It was at first designated
as the United States Military Station
Standing Rock, D. T., but on Dec. &c
1878. the name was changed to For
Yates. 1t is situated on the right banl
of the Missouri river, on a system of ter
race. like plateaux, fifty-six miles from
Bismarck byland and seventy-eight mile
by the river route. It requires one da,
for the transportation of mail from Bis
marck, which is the nearest railroad
point, to Fort Yates, and this only unde