New-York tribune., 1901-01-21
GOVERNORS ISLAND TO BELARGER
PLAN OF ARMY OFFICERS APPROVED BY
SECRETARY ROoT-TTs DETAILS

Washington Jan. 90 CSpeciaD.-The plan pre-
pared by the Board Of Army officers composed
OF Major-Generel Brooke, Colonel Gillespie, Of
the Engineer Corps, and Colonel Kimball for
the enlargement and Improvement Of Governors
Island has been approved by Secretary Root,
and Congress is expected to furnish the needed
funds in the Army Appropriation bill, in
course Of preparation in the House Committee
on Military Affairs In general the Board was
instructed to lay out its project on the follow
ing lines: To provide barracks and quarters for
at least battalion of troops; to provide stor-
age and shipping accommodations for every
branch Of the Amy service in New-York Har-
bor; to concentrate the ordnance buildings; to
rearrange the buildings the island; to en-
large the island.
Special attention vas given to the question of
providing additional area to the island by build
ing wall exterior to the present wall and
filling in the water from the dredging that
is to be done in that vicinity. 1t considered
that FOR the present purposes of the post the
existing accommodations are sufficient but in
view of the great National Importance Of New
York Harbor it was deemed advisable that there
should be a spacious Government reservation.
convenient TO the city and adapted 10 every mill
tary requirement. The Board found that Gov
ernor's Island is well suited to the project of
adding TO its area by filling in the adjoining
shoal areas
In speaking of the general arrangement of the
buildings on Governors Island the report says
that with few exceptions they are old frame
structures only slightly raised from the SOIL
inconvenient, unsanitary and inflammable All
of them are so old and in such bad repair that
renewals will be required in few years. The
administration building Of the commanding gen
eral of the Department of the East is i'll adapted
TO its use, cramped in its accommodations and
badly located. II is proposed to transfer it to
the site of ordnance storehouse No. l. and to
erect there a three story brick building, which
shall accommodate the general commanding and
his aids and all Of the administration officers
Of the department. Additional quarters are
needed also for the officers of the garrison.
sites for which have been chosen on the south
side of the island alongside those last built
The hospital should he transferred to the south
side of Castle Williams. remote from the ac-
tivities and hustle of the shipping dock.
The cost of the proposed improvements. di-
vided into the different items, is as follows:
Two brick storehouses for the Quartermasters
Department. $4,000: one brick storehouse Com
missary Department S4OOoO. one brick store
house Medical Department. $4,000; one brick
storehouse, Ordnance Department $4,000; one
pierhouse. $4,000; one administration building
$50 600; SIX double sets Of quarters for oftlcers'
S9o0O: moving and repairing hospital, S2ooo;
buildings for Quartermaster's Department, east
side. SD OO0; constructing repairing and moving
other minor buildings S33,o00; raising barracks
one story. $4,000 repairs to engineer dock at
Castle Williams. $1,000: wharf along sea wall,
100000: dredging in front of sea wall Slo0oO;
enlargement of the island $SS50po; total,
8. $50 900