The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-30

RlYer, Alaska.
War Department.
Washington August 81 1900
By direction OF the President. the military
post to be built at the mouth OF the Nome River,
Alaska. viii ne hereafter known Fort Davis,
in honor Of the late jefferson Columbus Davis.
colonel Twenty-third L. :. Infantry. and breyer
major general L. s Army, who commanded the
first troops in Alaska and who died November so,
1873. after tiiirty-three years active service in
the army. ELIHU ROOT,
Secretary OF War.
There is something pathetic in the choice
OF the site for this new post as 1t will
mean an American Siberia to at least one
regiment of United States troops. who
would rather have an opportunity TO re-
main in civilization or even to get a chance
TO go to China and obtain distinction Al
ready there is something of a marked un-
easiness OF the part of the commands sta
toned at northern points, and those off,
GERS who have any influence with the War
Department are using it to save them
selves from lie Alaskan assignment.
There are few men In the rush and
hustle of city life who can realize just
what four years service in the barracks
at Fort Davis would really mean, and it
is regarded as doubtful by some if one
man in ten could put up with even enc
yeaH of the service without going crazy.
Here in an icy waste, thousands of miles
eral companies OF men will be compelled
10 remain until the War Department. in
its judgment. shall decide to allow them
to return to freedom
The term viii mean eight months Of
night in every year and four months OF
weather Of such an undecided character
that there can be but little hope in Its
coming. Special uniforms VII have to be
devised to prevent the men from freezing
dnos ar,1 ri drYfrr mill
in the open in a temperature ranging
from 40 to 60 degrees below zero. With
the exception of few starving miners In
each year there will be no visitors and
nothing Will serve to disturb the stiffness
of the routine.
It is therefore not regarded as strange
that there should be general movement
toward lodging duty at the fortress on the
Nome River, and the War Department ex-
poets to experience a good deal OF trouble
in retaining guard of any size at the
post as there are sure to be numerous
assertions and few men will ever care
to re-enlist when term has run out. The
question of insanity is also bothering- the
officials, as troops have been known TO be-
come mentally unbalanced through mo-
notony al stations which are lively in COM
parison to what can be expected at Fort
Davis.
The fortress will be isolated even from
Nome City and will for nearly the entire
year be cut of from that interesting min
ing town. The number of miners in
Alaska and the frequent disturbances
have forced the authorities to establish
the military post. however, and there is
row no help for it. For many years the
department lodged the proposition to
place a garrison in far northern Alaska
and in the interest of the men who would
be condemned TO 90 there were successful
in doing without it.
An army officer said yesterday:
With all due pity for the unfortunate
officers who will be assigned to duty at
Fort Davis, the department has granted
permission for them to take their wives
and families with them il they SO desire.
Few men wouli relish this. however. as it
will mean solitary imprisonment for a
term CT years. There can be no society
and no intercourse. 1t will be but huge
penitentiary for innocent men, Any con-
Wet serving a term III Sing Sing will find
himself enyied by the garrison at Nome
River, as the criminal has at least light
all the year around and has some recrea-
ton There will be meme of this for the
men at Fort Davis. and every enlisted
man in the army breads shrinkingly the
fearsome ordeal which he may be selected
to undertake.
Fort Davis will be cut OF from Tie
world during the entire year eSesut for a
oerioI of about three months when ii may
s., reached by Government steamships 1t
will be the most isolated fortress IN the
world when completed and will be calcn-
lated to drive terror into the he4rt-of any
men Practically. il is nothing short OF 4
terrible penal institution eside which ST.
IBERIA can have few horrors TO exhibit.