The Florida star., 1901-01-25

REPRESENTATIVE HULL
iChairmAn OF the house committee on military
anairAl
both branches OF congress. but there
are other things OF vital interest con-
nected with our military and naval es-
adjustments TO receive consideration.
Among these is the proposition to im-
prove and enlarge the military station
at Governors island, In New York bay,
which also contemplates the deepening
OF the Buttermilk channel between the
dsland and the Brooklyn water front
Though 1t is essentially an army meas
nre. the proposed improvement would
greatly facilitate the operations or the
navy In New York harbor and the
Brooklyn navy yard
Some months ago Secretary Root ap-
pointed q special board to consider the
subject OF the expansion OF Governors
island and the concentration there OF
much or the work carried on at various
points In the vicinity. In general the
board. which was composed OF General
John n. Brooke. Colonel George l.
Gillespie OF the engineer corps and
Colonel Amos 8. Rlmball OF the quar-
kermaster's department, was instructed
90 lay out it's work on the following
lines: To provide barracks and quar-
ters for at least one battalion OF
troops. 10 provide storage and ship
ping accommodations for every branch
OF the army service In New York har-
Dor. to concentrate the ordnance build.
Ings. TO rearrange the buildings on the
island and to enlarge the island.
The board gave special attention TO
the question or providing additional
area to Governors island by building
n sea wall exterior TO the present wall
and fllllng In the water area IL was
considered that for the present pur-
poses or the post the existing accommo-
dations are sufficient. but In view OF
the great national importance OF New
York harbor IL was deemed advisable
that there should be at that point a
spacious government reservation. con-
Venient TO the city and adapted to
every military requirement The con-
templated improvements and enlarge
ment would make Governors island
the most important military post on
the Atlantic coast and would transfer
TO the island practically all or the
transport shipping now done at Erie
basin, which would effect a great saw
ing or time and expense.
The board found that Governors Is
land is well suited TO the project OF
adding TO Its area by flling in the ad-
Joining shoal areas. "The low shoal,
the report says. forming that part OF
Governors island and projecting from
it's southern border and lying between
the two naYigable channels or the up
per harbor, can be easily raised to
any desired height and utilized for
government purposes The desired en-
largement may be effected by inclos-
ing a portion OF the shoal by means
of solid timber dlkes and nlllng IL In
with excavations taken from the ad-
tacent channels undergoing improve
ments by the United States. Should
more permanent improvements be de-
sired at q later period. the suDaqueous
part OF the dikes may constitute
Foundation for stone sea walls. IL Is
estimated that the filling In VIII cost
the government only a nominal sum-
as II Is believed that the contractors
win be glad TO avail themselves OF
dumping ground which would oDViate
the necessity for a long towage to sea
or dredged material A dixie running
east and west across the shoal at
distance OF 800 feet from the sea wall,
together with marginal dikes. VIII
provide an enlargement OF 10 acres
and q dixie 1900 feet out VIII give an