The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-22

county or city political contest. United
Charles Curtis interests as a senatorial
candidate. it is difficult 10 see how h.
can win without superhuman effort.
on to the northwest from the city. be-
tween the river and the bluffs, the new
buildinsg Of the greatest penitentiary IN
the world are now rising The United
States penitentiary has. since its estab-
nection with the fort. but now it must
have a home OF its own. There are near
/ " 500 inmates and about half OF this
number is now at work on the walls of
the new buildings. An appropriation OF
quarter OF million dollars was re-
Gently made, and work is progressing
rapidly. Such sum lasts a good while.
for the convicts themselves do most Of
the work OF course. there are the SUI
| perintendents. and the experts-a goodly
number of them-5ut the stone is dug.
dressed, transported from the hills 10 the
grounds; millions Of brick are made; the
masonic work done-everything and ev-
erywhere is the labor OF the convicts
used. This minimizes the cost % the
buildings. The completed prison. with its
large number Of buildings. will be an in
credulously large affair, and the most
complete prison in the world. \ mon
ster wall surrounds the enclosure where
the buildings will be- \ very high, i'm
posing front. overlooking Leavenworth.
VIII provide an administration building
Radiating from this, or rather from an
| immense rotunda back of the parallel
ogram-shaped administration building,
viii be the two enormous ceII-houses.
rising over a hundred feet in height
and running away hack toward the rear
Of the grounds. Then off to the sides
viii be the boiler-rooms. electric plants,
| store-roo1ns. solitary houses,
and laundry houses. Connecting the ad-
ministration building. and passing be-
tween the two immense ceI1-houses. run
ming to the power and light plants. viii
be a big tunnel, carrying sewage. light.
power. water and steam ducts. The mag
/ nitude of the whole thing can only be
appreciated by either a study of the
plans or visit TO the penitentiary when
| it shall be completed. Warden McClaugh-
~, one OF the most efficient officials in
the country. was for years warden Of
Illinois state penitentiaries. and was
twelve years ago chief of police OF Chi
cago. His deputy. Mr. Lemon, has had
twenty-five years experience in prison
work, and was formerly at the Saltwater.
Mimi, penitentiary.
Fort Leavenworth is a beautiful old
place. The post was established in 1877.
and a portion Of the old. original wall
with embrasures for canon. and loophoies
for rifles. still remains 10 show what.
the old fort was. Ruthlessly this old
wall was about to be torn away recently.
but the secretary of war, Mr. Root. gave
orders that it was to remain and it will
be carefully guarded-this little old piece
Of crumbling masonry. constructed sew
enty-five years ago-as monument Of
one of the first evidences of civilization
in Kansas. Leavenworth is a great post
1t is high in favor by the war depart
ment and considerable Improvement
is now being made. Leavenworth is i'm
mensely proud of it, and jealous of any
encroachments upon it. At present there
are stationed at the post four troops Of
cavalry-the Fighting Fourth not so
long since from Philippine service: one
regiment of infantry; four companies OF
engineers, one-third the force Of engin-
GERS Of the army; three batteries Of ar
tilery, and one company of signalmen.
Colonel Augur, son OF the famous gen
eral, is in command. hut ne viii shortly
give way TO Brigadier General Bell. who
is returning from the Philippines. Cen
eral Bell left Fort Leavenworth four
years ago for the Philippines a first lieu
tenant-now ne has stars. The comman-
Ger of Troop 6. Fourth cavalry. with
a fine Philippine record, is Captain Keller.
son-in-law of Colonel D. r. Anthony.
Major Mccarthy Of the quartermaster :
department, and with a creditable Cuban
record is in charge Of the immense i'm
provements now being made at the post
Famous generals have commanded or
been stationed at Fort Leavenworth-
Among them were Sherman. Sheridan, /
Merritt. Miles Schofeld. Fort Leaven-
worth has always been regarded as one
Of the most important in military posts
in this country.
To show how little things create big !
results. may be cited the fact. 50 alleged. |
that il was a dog which caused Leaven- |
wortn TO lose the headquarters OF the de- |
partment of the Missouri. now at Omaha /
and which Leavenworth wants back. /
General Alexander McCook-one Of the !
famous family Of that nsme-was com |
handing the department, wit. Offices in 1
the city General Wesley Merritt was
commanding the post. stationed. Of /
course. at the fort There was always I
more or less chatting and restraint and /
red tape. a valuable dog belonging 20 /
one OF the officers was disposed Of be- /
cause General Merritt couldn't stand I
dogs. and had issued stringent orders /
against their presence at the post u /
became a subject Of heated correspond /
ence with the department. McCook got /
in Merritt warmed up; new entangle- |
ments arose; the dog was lost sight Of (
and Leavenworth lost the department /
headquarters.
At the head ~ what Is called Grant /
avenue STANDS an imposing. elegant stat
ute of General Grant. upon q magnia-
cent pedestal and base This was cree
ted by subscription and towers high
above the surroundings.
The most magniacently equipped hospi-
tai probably in any army post S. the
one Just finished az Fort Lesvsuworth
There is nothing in modern surgery or