Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-13
FORT CROOK TO Be DOUBLED
Generals Rscsmmsnd that Post at This
Rsint Be Considerably Enlarged.
TO ACCOMMODATE ENTIRE REGIMENT
Probability hat Militia
VIII Go to Fort Riley, Kansas,
for It's Annual Encamp-
ments In the Futur

When congress puts into effect the REQ
concentrations Of the board Of general
officers as to the Improvements required in
the posts Of the United States army the ca
pactty Of Fort Crook will be doubled and
there will be considerable change in the
arrangement Of the buildings. One Of the
most important changes will be in the
mess quarters. When the present building
was under construction the War depart
ment introduced the feature Of having
general instead Of company messes.
The large building at Fort Crook con-
tains quarters for eight companies Of a
maximum strength of sixty-two men, four
companies being quartered on either side Of
a large mess room in which the entire
force 10 fed. Fort Riley was another post
where the same feature was introduced.
The experiment has proven anything but
satisfactory and the board recommended
q return to the company mess.
At the present time the company bar
racks provide for 496 men. The maximum
strength Of a company at the present time
IS 1Ol enlisted men, with twelve companies
20 a regiment. or 1.24S men. When Fort
Crook is raised to the strength of a regi-
mental post the present quarters will have
TO be enlarged to contain room for two
battalions, or s32 men, while quarters for
an additional brigade of 416 men will have
TO be constructed.
Quarters for Omcers.
There are at present quarters at the post
for thirty-three officers, but to accommodate
a regiment under the present formation
quarters for forty-eight officers must be
provided. besides quarters for n~on-commis
stoned staff officers.
These improvements were recommended
by Brigadier General Bates commander Of
the department. and an estimate of the cost
was made by the quartermaster's depart
ment The exact figures made by this off,
Ger cannot be given, but It is understood
that the cost will be equal at least to the
cost Of the present buildings on the site.
The new building will probably contain,
IN addition to the quarters for four COM
panies, kitchens and dining rooms for each
company, while the general mess room in
the present building Will probably be d.
vided up into company mess rooms.
II the recommendations Of the board are
carried out. the Nebraska state militia Will
probably go to Kansas for its annual en-
c~ampment, as the board that
Fort Riley. Kan, SHOULD be selected as a
camp OF general instruction under the
terms Of a law passed by congress appro-
p~riating $40, 900 for the purpose of survey
ing four general camps of instruction, to
be used Jointly by the regular army Of the
United States and the militia Of the several
etates.
Location of Instruction Camps.
These camps we're located by the board.
one In Pennsylvania. one at Chickamauga
park, Ca, one in California and one at
Fort Riley. The site at Riley was selected
because the government owns sufficient
a for the purpose and the camp can be
established at small cost. II is expected
that as soon as congress establishes these
camps OF instruction the country will be
divided into districts and the points where
the state troops are to be mobilized will be
designated. Fort Riley will be the most i'm
portant camp in the country, for while the
Pennsylvania camp will contain the greater
number Of men on occasions of mobiliza-
ton, the troops at Riley will come from a
broader scope Of country and will approxi-
mate in strength those at the Pennsylvania
camp.
II Is expected that the present session of
congress will pass on the recommendation
Of the board and that work will be started
within q year.