Evening star., 1901-10-12
Need Of a Larger Force to Operate
the Mines.
DEMAND FOR ELECTRICAL EXPERTS
Work at Forts Myer, Hunt and
the Washington Barracks.
GEN. BROOKE'S EPORT

Gen. John R. Brooke, commanding the
department of the east, in his report for
the last fiscal year records the fact that
since his last previous report he has visited
and inspected, with a few exceptions. all
the posts in that department. He was
much gratified at the progress made at all
the artillery posts where modern armament
has been installed. The barracks at the
infantry and cavalry posts he found mad
equate in Size and recommends an enlarge
ment. General Brooke lays great stress
upon the desirability of having the lonely
and remote southern posts made as COM
Portable and attractive as possible for their
garrisons The present quarters at these
posts, he points out, are cramped, Stuffy
and generally uninhabitable and few SOL
diers desire to re-enlist at these points once
they have had a taste of the inconveni-
ences. The general emphasizes and re-
news his former recommendation in regard
to the possibility in case of war of an at
tack of seacoast defenSes from the land
side rear, and urges that the approaches
from the directions named receive the at
tention which their Importance demands.
Electric Line at Fort Myer.
In regard to local posts General Brooke
says:
Fort Myer, va-Within the last year an
electric railway has been built between
buildings and the drill ground. l cannot
see that this road is a necessity 10 the
post There is another electric line in the
hollow to the north of the post and rum
ming apparently in the same direction. 1t
is recommended that this extension OF the
electric road beyond the old terminal near
the gate of Arlington cemetery be taken
up. There Is considerable work necessary
to improve the drainage about the bar
orlrc Thn do or al iruya loa6
Easements of these buildings are not prop
erly covered. and the water collects aud
will injure the foundations of the build
ingS.
New Barracks Needed.
washington barracks-This post should
be reconstructed on modern and impro 7ed
plans. The barracks were formerly store
houses. and to meet an emergency and in
the cause of unwise economy they were
converted into barracks. They should be
torn down and replaced by modern struc-
lures suitable to the changed condition of
the army and to the situation of the post
at the capital of the nation. There IS land
enough to construct post wnicn would
comfortably shelter a much larger garrison
that is now possible under the present con-
dtions.
improvements mt Fort Hunt.
Fort Hunt, Va.-The buildings in pro-
cess of erection last year have been COM
pleted. The barrack building is not large
enough to accommodate the number of
men that 1t will be necessary to have in
the company Of coast artillery stationed
here. The kitchen and mess room are now
occupied by men of the company, and the
old temporary mess room and kitchen are
still In use. Owing to the nature Of the
soil in this part of Virginia it is necessary
to have the roads about the military post
macadamized, otherwise the movement of
vehicles in bad weather must of necessity
be practically abandoned This post needs
a permanent bake oven; that now In use is
a galvanized iron affair intended for field
purposes. The non-commissiOned officers
quarters would be very much improved If
back porches were constructed. Certain
little details about the buildings have not
received the attention necessary. The
hinges furnished are of poor quality, and
the blinds break away and are shattered
in falling. These details have been Called
to the attention of the quartermaster gem
eral verbally. All the guns are not yet
mounted. My recommendation about the
requirement of land. made last year, was
as follows: 1t is understood that the origi-
nal plan was to include in this reservation