New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-24

priation may be spent in identifying the place by
planting trees. fashionIng the reservation into
fine park and furnishing driveway connecting
Bay Ridge with Bath Beach. Bensonhurst and
COney Island by the boulevard system
The site Of Fort Hamilton was known in Colonial
times as Denyse's Ferry and afforded a landing for
the boats plying between New-Utrecht and Staten
Island and New-Jersey. 1t in August l776.
when anything resembling a fertilization first APP
peared there, and then battery of I2-pounders
was planted behind earthworks which were hast
ily constructed. Fire was opened the frfgate
Asia, leading the OF Admiral Howe's fleet.
Fort Hamilton was strongly garrisoned during the
Civil War, and is occupied by four companies
Of the 5th Artillery
The bill asking for appropriation OF 100000
was introduced by Congressman Clayton. of Brook
lyn A report sent TO the War Department
garding the buildings and grounds at the post was
10 the effect that the light battery barracks were
originally constructed for sixty men, and were
entirely too small for the present command. There
was not floor space in the two squad for
the hunks necessary for the men, nor was the air
space sufficient The barracks Of the enlisted men
We're exceedingly unsightly. This was made more
apparent by the building Of the hospital of
pressed brick The surroundings of the post in the
way OF parks and driveways and its proximity to
the city make il show post and il is considered
necessary that the barracks should be made at
tractive
1t was urged in the report that the building sup
posed TO be the field officers quarters had ALWAYS
headquarters, and in point Of comfort these quar-
tiers were far inferior the captains quarters A
blacksmiths shop, a carpenters shop and a paint
ana tin shop were needed the shops use
being declared TO be a disgrace the post and the
service. There is no building suitable for an ad-
ministration building, which is greatly needed and
band quarters should be constructed The mem
bers Of the band were quartered in the easements
which were not fit for occupancy The most i'm
portant work required. far the barracks and
he
tons in the barracks, TO provide suitable
provision for the increased size of the batteries
1T was urged, in view Ct the importance of the
post in the scheme of coast defence and its con-
spicuous position in the heart Of district like
NeW-AoTk now undergoing extensive and i'm
poftaht improvements in connection with the city
park systems, that the buildings should be recon-
structed on 2 plan in which the surroundings were
considered as well as accommodation. 1t was estt-
mated that the cost Of improving the grounds re-
modelling the buildings and erecting such new
suuctures as are absolutely necessary, would be
between 100000 and 100000 Congressman CLAYTON
also wanted Congress to provide suitable accom-
modatiOns at Fort Hamilton for regiment Of in
fantry "
SHOULD GRADE Up PARADE GROUND
Colonel John !. Rogers, the commanding officer at
Fort Hamilton, seen by Tribune reporter
LleIe yesterday, and said that the parade ground
should be graded up least four feet out of the
10 acres Of the reservation. about ninety acres in
all should be graded up and the stagnant ponds
sot fd OF The colonel pointed out several feat
ures on the grounds Of special interest There was
the old farmhouse used as a hospital in 1861 near
Dy We're the land defences against infantry or at
tack from the land, and TO the southeast was tho
Tedoubt TO aid in the defence According 10 ira
diton, an underground passageway at one time ran
from the citadel there 10 old Fort Hamilton b,t
that was considered by engineers as wholly i'm
probable. In 1861 temporary barracks were erected
and IN the seventies the first house was built for
General Getty. The old Cortelyou house in which
General Howe passed a night, was still standing
and Colone! Rogers cheerfully remarked that he
would be glad 20 let the Daughters Of the Anerf-
can revolution capture ii and take II away The
vest or river. face Of the old fort is being torn
When came here in December. 1898" said Colo
Hsl rogers, water was everywhere. and our
S g55lf1s sc pipes were hlled with sand There
- 80 si-aIIt loAcs mere, which breed malaria
and while We have drain running through the
We have brick barracks now for about one hun
pIel ana eighty men and number Of temporary
barracks were erected in the last war We have
now about five hundred men. but il requires six
object Of Congressman CIayton's bill is To- ebsn M
Id1e lSsetp4tion SO as 70 utilize the land re-
hcient, but they not in such shane maj the,
bsr 49, opo IA 'iTnseLseS 10 the construction Of
IN the shape of pair Of stair steps The defrnCee
have houses within 800 or 400 yards in The esra s
sitio5 Sbcb % VII ie GeGsslGn think the Propo-
purchase more land give shape to the reser,,s a.
ton or exchange a piece Of land from Marine
ave. TO kinety-second-st., for piece Of land Ivin
between the reservation and seventh-ave. / should
be III favor OF moving all the houses back In q
crescent shape leaving the parade ground in front
The reservation IS susceptible Of being graded and
made into elegant park 0
Foreman William Mitchell, Of the eneinaers,
works at Fort Hamilton. has an interesting fund
Of "reminiscences about the Ole fort Mr. Mitchell
entered the Army in 1855, and served ten wears
continuously in the artillery service Al his cosev
home near the fort. IN Ninety-ninth-st near
FouTth-aye last evening. he said that the early
mites Robert r. Lee was engineer employed on
the construction works Of Fort Hamilton. He was
g. senior lieutenant or a junior captain under
Major Rene z De Russy, who was born in France
but was graduated from the Military Academy al
West Point The engineering work In Mr.. MitcheIl's