The Washington times., 1902-06-16
Plans Proposed fol I'M
proving Old Fort
Monroe.
VlRGINIANS MUCH ELATED
Believed the Wc-k VIII Be Completed
in Time for Opening OF Jamestown
TeTcentennisl in 1eo7-Eope for
Mammoth Display.

NEWPORT NEWS. Va. June 15.-The
improvement Of the military establish
ment at Fort Monroe and its conversion
into the greatest SHOW post in the
world, without danger of being eclipsed
by any other nation. could not happen
at more agreeable time for the people
of Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk,
Portsmouth. Berkley. and vicinity. for
the elaborate and costly scheme of ex-
tension. Identification, and fortifcation
just announced by the War Department
should be completed by the time the
jamestown Tercentennial Exposition on
Hampton Roads in 1907 is ready TO open
its gates to the world.
II is stated that the Govern will
eXpend something like Si0,000,000 before
the last detail of this sDlendidly con-
ceived project is perfected. There is
hardly any question that Congress will
appropriate the $1,000 600 which Vir-
ginia will ask to further the success of
the most elaborate and most appropriate
exposition ever conceived. In addition
TO lending this aid. the Government will
also contribute the great show post
at Fcrt Monroe. costing twice that
amount. which besides being n pcrma
nent institution. will be one of the
greatest drawing cards that the ter
centennial will offer the public for the
remodeled fort VIII be well worth travel
ing miles to see when it is completed.
Class by Itself.
According to statements which ema-
nate from sources that are dependable
If not official. Fort Monroe will stand
in a class by itself when these improve
ments assume material form. OF all
the army posts in America. it has been
selected as the one for military es-
tablishment that the United States can
hold up to the world as being without
e parallel. besides being practicable in
lvestment. a more ideal site could not
have been picked.
Standing on a strip of land which IS
almost entirely surrounded by water, |
overlooking the vast sheet Of water
forming Hampton Roads and command
ing view reaching north of the Chesa
peake's mouth. as far occanward as the
Virginia capeH. as far westward as New
port News. and as far southwark as Nor
folk. Fort Monroe is the. logical site for
any display of military grandeur the
Government IS disposed to offer to its
own people and those of the world.
Schools for Army and Navy.
Rurnor has it that besides a model
fertilization for war purposes, there will
be a number OF new departures in the
way Of military establishments, and
there will be included schools for heavy
and light artillery and other branches
Of the army and even the navy. for it
is stated that the navy will ultimately
figure in the expenditures to be made
at Hampton Reads, and that an ideal
rendezvous viii be the result in time.
II has been known fer some time that
the Government contemplated a nam
moth breakwater at Cape Henry for
harboring and coaling its war vessels.
The immediate projected expenditure in
the way Of improvements at Fort Mon
rec will include. it is stated authori-
tatively. the sum OF $500 600 for an ar
tilery school. SI0O O0O for library and
something like S500.G00 for a sea wall
along the entire water front. raising
the total to 81 100000. When this work
is we'll under way the War Department
viii turn its attention 10 the more ex-
teasive scheme contemplated. This, il
is stated. viii include a light artillery
park. new quarters for the officers and
new barracks for the men. an enlarge
mCnt OF the fnr;ifcations and extension
CT the batteries
People of Virginia Eiated.
With Fort Monroe in the heart OF the
tereertennial territory, it is not to be
wondered at then that the people o.
Tldewator Virginia are elated over the
rows ot the projected improvements.
and lock forward with delight to their
.ccnpleticn in connection with the 1907
exposition which Virginia expects TO
msk ke the greatest and most unique in
the history OF fairs The people OF
Newport News and Hampton are es-
pecially pleased because the greatest
benefits 10 accrue from the consumna-
.ticn Of the Governments gigantic
scheme will be enjoyed right here OIL
the Virginia Peninsula
q. The exposition buildings and features
Will be scattered over an area surround
ing Hampton Roads and taking in Fort
Monroe tOld Point Comf1Tt. Newport I
News. Hampton. PhocJJ5. Scwolls
Point. Capes Henry and Charles. Nor
folk Portsmouth and Berkley. and cx- ;
tending all the way IN the James River /
TO historic jamestown. where the first :
scttlewen. in America was made IN 1901. :
this f"irr 80 event witch the tcrccq-
.ernial Of 1907 VIII commemorate. and ;