The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-16
TO DEFEND THE
SEACOASTS
The United States Is Spending About
5000, 100000 for This
Purpose.
interior Army Posts Must Decrease
in Number-Why Fort SMELL
ing Will Remain.


ing, Washington.
Washington, Feb. 16.-The United
States has had under way for several
years, and it Is now nearing completion,
m elaborate system of sea coast defenses
to cost upwards of 5000, 900 900. At this
session of congress about $50. 000, 900
more will be set apart for that purpose.
This work has been rendered necessary
through the results Of the Spanish war;
The United States in every important
sense Is now a great world power, and it
is incumbent upon 1T to interfere, in a
larger or smaller way, with world poll
tics more especially as they relate to this
hemisphere. These defenses begin at
Puget sound, from which point they fol-
low the Pacific coast south to the south
erly portion of California. They include
important defenses In the Gulf Of Mexico,
on both coasts of Florida, and closely
cover the Atlantic coast from Florida
to Maine.
Interior Posts Will Decrease.
AS this new line of expense becomes
necessary, the necessity for further ex-
penses for army posts in the interior de-
creases. In the earlier days, as emigra-
tion went westward into the Interior
army posts were established at many
points for the safety Of the people from
Indian outbreaks. The Indian question is
now about settled, and in the near future
1T is believed that the larger number of
those retained which will serve as re-
cruiting and training stations for the reg
ular army in time of peace.
Speaking Of the difficulties in the way
of this abandonment of interior army
posts. Representative Cannon says, in his
usual breezy way: ... ~,
1T is the hardest possible thing to get
away from an army post. It is like an
office, almost impossible to discontinue,
when once established. Public service
would be improved if fully two-thrds Of
these interior posts could be abandoned
But local pride, and the idea that local
trade Is increased through them, renders
1t very difficult for the government to do
the thing which common sense tells us
should be DONE"
But the times are changing, and public
policy will change with them, and it is
confidently believed that within the next
decade there will be a very considerable
decrease in the number Of interior posts,
and corresponding increase in the size
OF coast defenses on both oceans. It is
not thought that the change in policy will
greatly add to the total expenditures of
the government for war purposes. With
the discontinuance Of the posts, large
sums of money will be saved and this
money will naturally go into the coast de-
Tense fund. 81
True Also OF Arsenals.
What is true here as to army posts is
true also as to arSenals. Mr.. Cannon be
Ieves that there are entirely too many OF
them. and that the public business would
be more economically and more eXpedi-
tiousy transacted if it were possible to re-
duce their number. In the early days, be-
fore great lines Of railway had beer
thrown in every direction across the
country. these small and detached arsen-
ais were necessary. A number of then
were very properly located near the mid
die Of the interior, as to be easily &C.
cessible in time of an Indian outbreak
But with the passing of the Indian ques
ton, and with it the passing of the neet
for SO many small arsenals should alst
disappear. He is against the creation O.
any more of them, and made a valiant at
tack on several amendments offered las
week by interested members who sough
to enlarge existing plants or to establish
new ones. He won the fight. for the hous
sustained him in each instance. -
During the debate which accompanies
this contest a good deal of interesting in
formation was made public regarding ar
senals 1t seems that the cavalry arm o
the service is equipped entirely at tn
arsenals at Benicia, Cal, and at Roc]
Island. Mr.. Cannon has this to say abou
Rock Island:
The Rock Island arsenal cost the gov
eminent $12,000,000 I wish we had tina
money to-day. Owing to the change
condition of the public defense, we coul
that would fully meet all requirements
Rock Island supplies the cavalry, in part
and it would be sufficient for that pur
pose without Benicia, or Benicia withou
It, There is also at Rock Island a small
arms factory, recently equipped at grea
expense. There is another small arms fac
tory connected with the arsenal at Spring
field, Mass. I wish were rid Of Spring
field or of Rock Island. If so, 1 woul
not vote to establish another to take it
place"
In the early development of the countr,
as has been pointed out, these and nume1
Gus other arsenals were needed, but no,
they are Of no public utility, and in the az
gregate constitutes an enormous drain o
the treasury; and yet, as in the case
the army posts, when there is talk
abandoning one of them. local outer
goes up which is heard all over the cour
try. But, like the army posts, their nun
Der must be decreased. and those in til
anterior must give way first. ,-.
The Country's Policy Of Defense.
1t is probable that the general publ
has not yet appreciated the full force
the fact that the Spanish war has change
the American policy of defense In ever
essential particular Year by year fro
this time forward the interior army po
will become less and less important, SAY
that a few will be maintained and furth
strengthened, as notably Fort Snellin
because of the Canadian situation, al
many of them will altogether disappea
In their stead, the seacoast idefenses W
become prominent. Large sums Of rnpn'
already have been. set apart for this pu
pose, and other large sums are to be S
apart in the future. Ultimately the Anne
lean coast, in it's entirety, will be defend
by the most elaborate and expensive sy
TEN of modern guns and forts that c;
be devised. 1t is here that the war mon
Of the future will be expended. The arm
posts Of the interior served their day al
generation to good purpose, but. their us
fulness has passed with the pacificati
OF the Indian tribes. and will never retu1
CL: