The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-20
Army Headquarters Here.

ARMY ECUQ4uoItCIb HhCiCs
The movement to make Seattle head
quarters for military operations on the
Sound and in Alaska IL supported by
facts which constitute an invincible ar
gument Within the last two years the
face Of affairs on the Pacific coast, as,
far as their relation to the government
IL concerned, has been substantially rev.
olutionized The small and unimport-
ant business Of the earlier period could
be handled effectively from Vancouver
or from San Francisco. Now this Is as
absurd as to attempt to direct Federal
interests on the coast OF the Gulf Of
Mexico from Boston.
There was. before the occupation OF
the Philippines and the rush to Alaska,
the nucleus Of an important Federal in
terest upon the Sound. The government
has bestowed properly great care and
large sums Of money upon the fortifica-
tions that guard this portion OF the
coast. These. with the Alaskan connec-
ton, constituted growing department.
So much has been added that direct and
immediate supervision Is needed. The
future will see steady increase in the
dispatch Of government material from
this port to the Philippines. The new
conditions in Alaska may extend indefl-
nitely. For years to come the vast ex-
panse of that country, with its scat
tered population, will require Federal
supervision. Military posts must be es-
tablished and troops and supplies for
warded at need. This cannot be done
from remote centers, nor can any head
quarters be established in Alaska itself
that would not become essentially q
branch Office to be directed from Seat
tie.
This city has been, is and will be,
the head center for directing all military
business in Alaska This has come
about without influence or favor. solely
through the operation Of laws of trade.
All that we have to ask is that a condi-
ton which already exists be recognized
officially by the Federal government.
Let the work of the North Pacific coast.
that must be directed from this point
In any event. be concentrated and sys-
tematized by a military department
with Seattle as its headquarters. Most
requests of this tenorlook forward TO the
creation OF business and favorable condi-
tions through the countenance of Fed
eral authority. Ours is different It
contemplates only a recognition by the
Federal government. of facts already ex-
istng, a formal ratification Of that
which geographical position and COM
mercial advantage have already fixed
beyond the power of change or recall.
In their petition for such recognition
the chamber of commerce and general
business interests of Seattle have
right to expect the cordial cooperation
OF the entire Pacific Northwest. We
seek no undue advantage. we neither
expect nor desire the transfer to us of
what could as well be centered at any
other point. The scattered work of the
government. with the vast expansion in
the immediate future that is visible to
the eye Of any one who glances at our
Notifications, our coast and harbor i'm
provements. our relation to Hawaii and
the Philippines, our trade with the
Orient. and more particularly our i'm
mense task In Alaska, where new gold
fields will attract multitudes for a gen.
GRAFTON to come, must be concentrated
at definite center and made system