The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-10
Does Not Show Same Interest in
Magnolia Bluff as Mr.. Alger.
POLITICAL INFLUENCE NEEDED.
Letter to the Secretary of War From
Plain Statements-Present Of
hcfal Said Not to Be Carrying
Chamber OF Commerce II at Work


pressure il being brought on the war de-
pattment to hasten the Establishment of a
regimental post at the Magnolia station.
which Was ordered bulk for that purpose.
The government has lately 1t IS claimed.
manifested a disposition 10 make that site
simply the home of gunneTs 10 attend 10
the standing fortificalionS OF defense. In
taking up this matter. the Seattle Chamber
OF Commerce has written several letters 10
the war department and taken other steps
In the same direction. as IL seems that
Secretary Root does no. show the same in
terest as his predecessor, Secretary Algsr.
In referring 70 the aforementioned propo-
si,ion Of placing only defensive garrison
at Magnolia bluff. letter written 10 Mr..
Root last Tuesday by Secretary Prosch, OF
the Chamber OF Commerce, reads as fol-
lows:
This will be great disappointment 10
our people. ana VII cause them again 70
wonder why this particular locality should
be treated differently from other localities
throushou the country by the department
OF which you are the head. When the
government wanted lands for fortifcauons
al three points near Port Townsend and al
TWO points near Port Orchard. II bought
them al private gale from the owners. or
secured them through condemnation pro
ing, / believe, si1oso in the aggregate
When lands are wanted near Seattle, that
are very much more valuable Tor u siffiiiar
them outright. and they have given them
only to ma that lands in other localities
subsequently bought were first availed OF.
In another matter We have had STINT
lar experience" the letter continues, More
than $40 90. IN principal and interest. has
been paid by the people here to assist the
government in a waterway Improvement,
and the improvement has not yet begun.
Were the governmen, 10 undertake a ike
work along the great lakes. on the Atlantic,
in the Mississippi valley, or elsewhere on
the Pacific coast the people would not nave
been called upon To contribute foot or
land nor Il dollar OF money.
Not Been Treated Well.
las you may infer. We do not feel that
these matters so we'll as these Of other
parts OF the Union. In other places. In
fact, when the Federal government pas
lands and buildings 10 spare they are IRE
Quently given away. This was done twice
In the ueignboring county of Pierce. where
e+o acres reserved for militarv purposes was
transferred 10 the city Of Tacoma Tor
par and again a like area OF land. FORM
erly occupied as Fort Steilacoom, was given
to the state for an insane asylum. In ore
gon a costly government building put up
for a mint was given 10 Wasco county Tor
a courthouse. In Seattle. II our p epic
want Federal building in locality deeln-
ed suitable by the agents OF the govern
r1ent they are expected TO give the site or
the greater part OF II. This IL somewhat
irrelevant. and is told only for the purpose
OF Illustrating the wrongs We nave SUI
fered and of justifying the complaints made
thereat. We want TO be treated IN all gov
eminent matters as the people or me other
no, differently from San Francisco, Chica-
60 New York or Washington.
ITO revert 10 the subject OF this letter
the establishment OF a regimental post: |
viii say that that was the common and
general Idea at the time the work was he
gun Mai. Gen Otis first suggested H.
and he urged IL frequently and forcioiy. IL
is no breach Of confidence to say that he
regarded Magnolia bluff and Seattle rs the
ideal place for one of the great war estao-
lishments Of the nation. l think i Is also
not TOO much to say that Gen. Schoheld
and Gen. Miles down to every other mill
tsry officer who has studied the situ-
alton, looked at the ground aud become
acquainted with the city. its connections
and surroundings. have been inhued with
the idea attributed 10 Gen. OILS. Many OF
them have so pronounced privately and
officially Several boards have examined
and inquired. the results being verdcts In
favor Of Seattle. 4 number Of generals
Ia the army, including one who IS now
commanding one Of the great divisions OF
the country. have Eaid that Seattle should
be n department headquarters,
Based on Politics.
THAT It VIII he in time, with a little
more innu>nCe IN trade. In politics and in
national affairs. there can lie no question.
/ This beirg so II is wrong 10 build fer the
future upon so small a foundation As the
department is building here. So conn
dent are citizens in these respects that
thtS VtItI thfirdSf IL lclfttcitSiDis ipf
this body 10 let things move on a. they
are moving without a protest. In all our
actions. in all our proceedings, and appar-
entity in all the doings Of the department
until now. the building az quarters for a
fun regiment only was considered, and that
a. early A day as possible The garri-
son grounds were laid out with this view
and II has been disappointing that before
this they have not been occupied in ac-
cordancc with the original plan.
Il cannot do better. In conclusion than
Ton.
President Graves OF this chamber written
October g 1897. treating of the matters of
which | am nov writing. Another is the
reply. one week later. OF your rredeces sor
in oface, Gen AlgeT. You will notice mat
the war secretary said: i have had no
other thought on the subject but In make