The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-08
KANSAS news.
Vast Improvements Planned
For Fort LeavenWOrth.
Will Be Made the Greatest Mil
itary Post in America.
TO BE RECONSTRUCTED
A Million Dollars Will Be Adj
vantageously Spent.
One Feature a War College
Training School.

Leavenworth, March Sort Leaven-
worth will be the greatest and most
important military post in the United
States inside OF two years, and per-
haps sooner.
by that time the garrison will consist
OF an entire regiment of infantry, not
less than squadron of cavalry, one
company of engineers and three bat
teries of artillery, one field battery, one
mountain battery and one siege battery.
The present infantry and cavalry school
will be increased in size, scope and
value of its work. constituting the most
important military school in the United
States next to West Point. West Point
is the training school for the future
officer. The war college, as it will be
called, will be the finishing school. At
West Point the theory of war is taught,
the war college, SO far as it is practical
in times Of peace, will give the prac-
teal application of these theories to the
young officer.
These statements are made on the au-
thority of one of the officers of the
board appointed last week. The board
has arrived at Fort LeavenWOrth. 1t
is composed of Maj. John D. Knight,
corps OF engineers; Maj. George Il.
Pond, quartermaster'S department;
Maj. Charles Richards, surgeon, sta
toned at the post Capt. NJ. NJ. Macomb,
III al llllSIy, anu lISl AIGQl- ISOOSIl II.
Allen, 14th infantry, recorder. The board
will be occupied at least a week making
its examination,
WILL RECONSTRUCT THE POST.
This board was appointed by Score
tary Root to examine the post and as
certain its needs in the way of build
ings, barracks, officers quarters and
stables necessary to accommodate a
much larger garrison than has ever
been stationed there. The war strength
of a regiment of infantry is 1873 men
and fOrty-Seven officers, a squadron of
cavalry 4S1 men and fourteen officers,
while the artillery and engineers will
bring this number up 500 or more men
with fifteen officers, making a total gar
riSOn of over 1000 men. To quarter all
the officers, men, guns and horses and
equipment of these organizations it will
be necessary to practically reconstruct
the post and that was just what Secre-
tary Root proposed to do, and with that
end in view the board of officers was
appointed to see what was necessary.
A garrison of the strength mentioned
will require just treble the barrack
room, double the number of stables,
three gun sheds, of which at present
there are none, double the number of
officers quarters and additional build
ings of the war college. The large hos
| pital already appropriated for viii be
| none too large for such garrison, and
! besides that Mai. Richards will recon-
mend in the report that the present
ACA
| infectious diseases only.
Besides this many of the quarters
| and barracks will undergo extensive re-
| pairs and alterations and in all the gov
eminent will spend little less than a
million dollars in carrying out the
plans.
| WARDEN MCLAUGHRY'S PLANS
Warden McClaughry of the federal
| prison also has some plans by which
| some of his charges can be used about
the post as a sort of street cleaning
| department and for building and re-
pairing the roads, and he will meet with
! the board to talk them over.
A committee representing the Bust
ness Mems club and the Commercial
| club will also meet the board and viii
work for them in every plan whereby
the city and Fort will be benefited. The
club will also entertain the officers dur
| ing their stay