The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-20
Best Informed ArtilleriStS Urge An
Appropriation.
Portland Citizens Inter
ested in Matter.
A Detailed Statement OF Plans
Proposed.

Over against the stranded Californian
which seemed to be resting easily yester-
day afternoon stood the grim guns OF
Fort williams and behind them was an
aggregation OF buildings just such as
you see at every military post during its
formative perlod-so TO speak.
But how long is Fort Williams to be
kept on its swaddIiDR clothes. 1t occupies
a strategic point. " has been visited by
the ablest officers of the army, Including
General Miles, General Merritt, Col. John
/. Rogers, Major John J.. Story anu
others Of note, all OF whom agree
that 1t 10 a spot of military importance.
Portland has more guns than Boston, out
an insufficient force, numerically we
mean, to man them. One hundred and
sixty will cover our strength and 1t re-
mains with The war department, and such
PRESSURE, local Of course, as can be
brought to bear upon 1t, to bring our
strength up to an equitable response to
our needs.
Rock island, for instance, Helena, Mop
tapa, and other plac - urge upon their
representatives the desirability OF iars e
military posts In their yicinity-for good
reasons perhaps-and they seem to get
them. Why net Portland. where her
atrategic position from the view point CT
the GcisntiHc artilleIist is considered Of
paramount Importance.
The present reservation at Fort Will
iiams covers about forty-fve acres, but 1t
is proposed to enlarge this so as to take
in what is known as tbs G. q. Thompson
property ard the old Goddard mansion.
with Its surruon 1ings bringing the area
Of land mp to say sixty-eight acres-the
land we understand IL assured.
at Fort Williams today are thres tent
poraIy barracks, one temporary mess
hall, ons temporary hospital, one tempe
rAry, guard house, one temporary officers
quarters, ono double set permanent
officers quarters, one quartermaster's
and commissary store house, one bake
house. one administration building with
oil, tankard coal sheds, etc These are
the purposes to which this aggregation OF
buildings is put.
But what a different appearance the
face OF the earth In this vicinity will take
to itEelf Il the plans approved by the bes'
informed and most thoughtful army OIL
GERS are carried into practical effect.
They propose. II the citizens OF Port
land whose interests are most at stake
will only push good thing along. to put
on the ridge extending from tie old God
dard mansion, now owned by Judge Sy-
monds on the shore road towards the sea,
five barrGcks-one of these. however,
would be all sufficient to commodate
the present strength of the garrison. On
ridge running parallel to the southwest
side Of the reservation towards the sea 1t
is proposed to erect permanent officers
quarters.
This ridge will accommodate eleven
sets of officers quarters and any beyond
this number which the future exigenctes
of the case might require will be erected
ON the ridge where the Goddard mansion
| is located, the line extending from the
man sion to the shore road.
The permanent hospital will be erected
near the Ship Cove, on the side opposite
to the Goddard mansion. with hospital
ste ards quarters near by.
The read system has been laid out for
the post, extending from the northwest
entranoe to reservation near MoCullum's
theatre via point near Goddard man
siop, skirting the Ship Cove, thence 20 a
point near flag staff, and then to south
west entrance to reservation. Short con-
nections win be made to different build
| ings from the main read.
The question Of water has been careful
| ly considered. A six inch main from the
Standish Water and Construction Co.
enters main gate at southwest entrance
and extends to Gag STAFF With four inoh
connections to points where most needed.
On high ground with sea In front Of It
Fort Williams sewerage system 10 easily
arranged at most convenient points.
Such will be the Fort Williams Of the
near future If we but urge the necessary
appropriations which all competent Rrtil.
lerists most heartily approve.
Tue civil engineer who Is engaged In
running the lines and drawing the plans
Is Portland boy, Harry Taylor Harmon.
Lieut.. BaIrette is In com nAnd OF tbs
| post and the work of construction ID IN
| the hands of Lieut.. Carmichael who has
been specially assigned to this duty.
| MEETING OF PRIMARY AND JUN.