The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-27
BIGGEST OF ALL.
nc. Learenworth 60 Be a Gigan-
tie Military School.
Congress VIII Be Asked to APP
prOpriate 81 600, 900.
SPEND 100000 NOW.
New Barns and a Hospital Will
BE Built.
= Now the Military Center Of
United States.
Gossip From Washington Of tn
terest to Kansans.
SPEND 100000 NOW.

Washington. D c.. July 27.-Prepa-
rations are being made to make Fort
Leavenworth the greatest practical
military school in the United States.
During the coming winter congress viii
be asked to appropriate 81, 100000 to en-
large this fort for the accommodation
OF a large portion Of our standing
army Under authority from congress
100000 IS being expended this year Tor
new buildings and for the Improvement
OF the parade grounds
The work now under construction
consists Of 81 hospital, which Will cost
about $4,000: two cavalry barns. cost
ing about $50 GOO; a set Of quarters for
bachelor officers, which viii cost $780,
GOO. an artillery barracks, costing over
$50, 900, and eight double sets Of quar-
tiers for married officers costing nearly
S150.000.
The war department officials feel
that the time viii soon be here when
the annual appropriation for FORT
I4eaveDWorth Will average a n11Al1cn
dollars, and within five years there
will be accommodations at this post for
several regiments OF soldiers and at
least 900 officers
Today Leavenworth is practically the
military center OF the United States,
and affords all the facilities desired for
the mobilization OF the army. With It's
large reservations Of land suitable for
training, and its clOSeneSS for supplies,
1t is considered the most ideal lOca-
ton for military operations in the
country 1t is especially desirably To-
Gated for railroad facilities, and is a
most healthful place for such an in
stitution-
For many years Fort Leavenworth
has been the postgraduate school OF
the officers Of the regular army, and no
man with any length OF service to his
credit but has served his time at
LeavenWorth and become enamOred OF
the station as one of the most accept
f1r of
detail The cavalry and infantry
schools have been conducted with the
single purpose of perfecting the gradu-
ate@ or West Point In the practical
school Of the soldier Theory guides
the routine OF duty at Leavenworth,
but it IS theory put into action To
the training which the American army
officers have received at Fort Leaven-
worth is due the prestige Of the Amer
lean army in recent military opera
tions.
It is not improbable that the secre-
tary of war VIII. either In his forthcom-
ing report to the president, or at some
time not far of. make some recOmmen-
dations for the establishments of a sec
ond West Point school at Fort Leayen-
worth.
Fort Riley viii very likely come in
for its share of Improvement as re-
suit of the secretary's visit there at this
time. Riley, with it's reservation Of
seven miles square has been looked
upon in the past as the foremost prac-
carries with it a great amount of mil
itary prestige.
TO this interior point the United
States sends Its heavy siege guns and
the light mountain batteries, and, il
fact nearly every kind of gun of nova
bic character which is used in military
operations Between Fort Riley and
LeavenWOrth is an ideal country for
military operations. and the two posts. 4
raEEen together, may be said to consu- |
lutte the greatest field for military Op-
ahe world
There are some great plans being |
made in the war department for the re-
urRaniZa ton Of the militia force of the |
United States OF course the carrying |
cut of these. plans depends entirely |
upon the VIII Of congress, and politics !
plays such an important part in milf |
fla affairs that the war department OH |
ciels do not care to enter into any pub /
lie discussion in regard to them. The |
Spanish Var has brought about we'll ]
menbers3 Of congress that there must l
be some radical change made in the 1
presents system Of keeping UP the re- /
serve army of the United States. The l
substitution gives congress the power 4
20 organize, arm, equip and discipline 4
the militia Of the several states at ma /
tlcnyl expense. and there is little doubt 4
but. that a proposition viii be made this /
winter for congress to relieve the states /
OF the necessity of making any military Il
appropriation on the condition that the Il
drllled under the direction Of the gov 1
rrnment at Washington.
Should this idea be carried out Fort |
Iseavenworth is to be used as a great /
mobilization point for the militia forces 1
Of the middle western states; and it is /
not impossible in the near future that 4
any American citizen who will take the Il
trouble to visit this reservation at the 1
time Of these gatherings viii be able to Il
see an army CORDS OF $4,000 men or 4
more on the march. in camp. fighting /
"a n
Of war under the direction Of the field /
officers Of the American army
To those studying the various politi- 1
cal situations over the cOuntry-and all /
political combinations are thoroughly /
discussed here at the national cross Il
Hon. W. A. Reeder's place in congress
are becoming very numerous in the
Sixth district of Kansas This condi-
ton or AFFAIRS comes as great sur
prise to those at this end OF the line,
who are cOnversant with the faithful i
and effective work accomplished by Il
Mr. Reeder during his initial term. for
the E'lfty-sixth congress has been so
crowded with legislation OF national Il
Importance that new members found a
very trying situation to contend with.
Notwithstanding this condition of az
fairs Mr. Reeders with his characters
tic energy and push, has rounded out a Il
good terms work, which in the opinion
OF the politicians here. win result in
-A--1AtA - -l AAAa AArlA4tA- AL - ll0L
comprehended by the people Of Wash
ington why the people OF most Of the
western states retire their congress-
ment Just at the point where they can
begin to be useful to their constituents.
Iowa is an exception to the rule of not
retaining congressman fer more than
two or three terms, ana the result IS
that that state has one Of the strongest
and most effective working delegations
g. the national capital