The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-14
MAKE SMELLING ACCESSIBLE
Elaborate Plans for Enlarging the Post Mean
Also Enlarged Trade.
Minneapolis Business Men Say Now's the Time
to Secure Trolley Connection.


Assistant Secretary Of War Sanger has
approved the plans and recommendations
of Colonel George e. Pond; quartermaster
of the department Of the Dakotas, where
by Fort Smelling Is to become the larg-
est military post on the northern from
tier, with garrison Of LOO troops. In
volving the expenditure of a million del
100000 Of which is available for immedi-
ate expenditure, the plans call for quar-
tiers for one full regiment Of infantry,
and two batteries Of artillery and bar
racks for two squadrons OF cavalry.
The olans also contemplate a new
bridge across the Mississippi for steam
and electric roads. This Improvement,
however, would not be a governmental
enterprise. Colonel Pond said to-day
that the building Of the bridge would be
promoted by the railroads and the Twin
City Rapid Transit company. He had no
direct assurance that such a bridge would
be constructed, but he had little doubt
that it would be the natural result Of
plans to make Smelling great depot for
army supplies. This will necessitate
convenient transportation facilities which
will permit the unloading OF supplies from
a spur track to be run onto the grounds.
''As it is now said Colonel Pend to-.
day, "the Milwaukee road has monopoly
of the situation. which would not obtain
with new bridge which would allow
other roads access to the fort. The pro-
posed spur track, which have in mind
would connect with the Milwaukee short
line between Minneapolis and St. Paul,
about half way to Minnehaha Park, and
not more than a mile and a half above the
fort"
" Quadrup1ed in Size. As
Under the plants, if adopted in full, the
proportions Of Fort Smelling will be quad
rupled. ,--
"A glance at Colonel Ponds plans at his
office in the army building, st. Paul,
shows that large additions are to be
built to each Of the four barracks which
have done duty for so many years, in ad-
dition to the erection Of two new double
barracks for the accommodation OF a
full regiment Of infantry. ,.~'.'. 'ef
One of the notable architectural feat
ures of the improvements will be the new
building for bachelor offices, which will
contain the finest army quarters OF the
kind in the United States It., will be
large enough to accommodate sixteen
bachelors and will be sumptuously htted
with reading roonasS card rooms and. all
the accessories bf a club. The old infan-
try buildings will! be torn down to make
way for the new artillery quarters,
The 100000 appropriation does not In
clude the cost Of the Bachelors club,
library post exchange and lodge rooms.
The sundry civil service bill will carry an
appropriation Of $4,000, 900 for new ouild-
ings at military posts In the United
States. The military bill will carry am
appropriation OF $4,oO0000 for barracks
and grounds at posts. Fort Smelling will
come in for it's share. On this basis 1t Is
estimated that improvements at Smelling
for the next three years will involve not
less than s., ESQ, 900. If two squadrons of
cavalry are assigned to the fort, as sug-
gested, the post will be among the largest
in the country. : - =.
Colonel Pond says the indications are
that 1900 acres will be AIDED to the pres
ent reservation. Congre ssman Stevens
hopes to be able to add the item of ex-
pense thus called for to the military bill.
''This addition" said Colonel Pond,
| would give US a 31amile artillery range
and two target ranges for the infantry,
facilities for gun practice OF which the
post Is now very much In need
The Electric Road Connection.
Colonel Pond says he has received as
| surances that strong influence will be
! brought to bear upon the railroad and
street railway companies for the>construc-
tion of the new bridge.
] ne iaa 4f, lie hvf1 rA ma he
means OF Fastening the completion OF a
third interurban line, which will give Min
neapolis communication with the fort
Colonel Pond contemplates double deck
structure, the lower deck of which would
be for the use of the electric line and the
upper for the steam roads.
| 1.-THE street railway company" said
Colonel Pond, 'fcan readily secure the
privilege Of entering the grounds. I an
glad to see that The Journal is agi.
tating the subject Of a third interurbar
which will give the people OF Smelling
| which Is to become quite center of popu.
| lation, chance of getting into Minneapo.
lis without walking l know personally
| that most of the people at1the fort would
prefer trading in Minneapolis to doing
business in St. Paul. With only three
miles between the fort and the Minnehahs
park line, 1t seems pity that the exten.
sion cannot readily be built, even If con
nesctions with the; st. Paul system are no.
Immediately forthcoming"
A dispatch from Washington to T
Journal says that Representative
Stevens TO-DAY called on Quartermaste
General Luddington and after talk tn.
latter dictated a letter to Colonel Pons
at the fort, requesting an immediate re
pert on the buildings which should be con
structed this summer, with estimates O
cost and other detailed information MI
Stevens says that he believes that TIL
new artillery barracks, gun shed and sta
bles can be constructed and the infantr
| quarters remodeled this season.
! The disbursements Of the enlarged post
to say nothing of extra living expense
of officers and men, will aggregate. at
conservative estimate, anywhere fror
SAC, 900 to $50, 900 month. Realizing tina
the only way they can 60 after the result
ing trade at the fort is through stree
railway connections, Minneapolis busines
men are after the extension OF the Min
nehaha line to Smelling. This line run
within two or three miles of the fort now
and it would require a comparativel
small outlay to complete It.
Business men believe that 1t would b
good investment for the street railwa
company, as we'll as stimulus to trad
generally, II the extension should b
made. However profitable move 1t Nigh
be for the company, 1t is quite certai
that Minneapolis business interests woul
be appreciably benefited Business me
take the stand that 1t is not too much t
ask the company to do something 70
1.-the general good of the community Thi
feeling is accumulated by the recent repor
that the street railway company woul
issue $1,50O, 900 more in common stock fo
the general Improvement and extension {
4 It's system.