The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-11
BACON PROMISED AID.
whom had never seen any target prac-
tice with big guns at all
Irnnrnn-an lnnts Needed.


ministratiOn building. There, when
the guests were assembled, Col. Estill
made a short address, in which he
called the attention of his hearers to
the object of the visit to the fort. Sa-
vannahians will help, he said, for all
are good American citizens, and all
stand up for the flag and all would be
soldiers if that We're necessary for the
defense of the country. He liked the
remark made by Col Taylor, too, he
said. when that gentleman stated that,
though born in New York and en-
listing in Wisconsin while in command
of a Georgia fort he is a Georgian.
Financially" Col. Estll continued,
1--WE are all interested in making this
fort the best fort that it can be made.
Senator Bacon can do much to help
us, but we must do something, too, and
] want to say that this committee viii
be made a permanent committee of the
Chamber of Commerce, and will here
after do everything possible for Fort
ScreVen. Col. Quinn has said you get
nothing that you don't ask for. This
government is a business organization,
and run on business principles, and in
its case as in other businesses If you
want anything you'll have to go after
it,
There's no reason why we can't
have thirty-hve feet of water in Sa-
vannah river. We all hurrah for the
flag, and whenever there's a hurrah
1T means an appropriations He then
read list of the improvements desired,
which had been prepared at the in
stance of Col. Taylor. This list is as
follows:
Low marshy land to be filled in to
grade of railroad and plant with
grass and sewage system extended.
Encouragement of buildings of post
according to definite plan.
Macadam roads and cement walks to
connect buildings with emplacements.
A wharf to replace one now unserv-
iceable.
larger steamboat one of sufficient
strength, size and speed for towing
targets for the post and artillery dis
trict of Savannah. One now in use
totally inadequate for purposes re-
quired; is old and unseaworthy except
in calmest weather conditions.
An electric lighting plant of sufti-
cient power for exterior and interior
lighting purposes for all buildings,
magazines and galleries at post, in
cludings officers and mems quarters,
offices. etc, and the search light.
Additional quarters for seven off,
GERS, including at least one field Off
Ger. All officers and mems quarters
should be furnished with steam or fur
mace heating apparatus.
Five sets of quarters for post nom
commissioned staff officers and civilian
employees.
One quartermaster's storehouse; one
guardhouse (now too smalD; one bak
cry (too smalD; one barracks quar-
tiers for a company of coast artillery;
kitchen and lavatory; one band bar
racks.
After grading has been done, the
post to be rearranged, laid out to a
definite plan roads and walks to be
built connecting them for convenience
of communication.
Storehouses (commissary and ord
nance to be moved near railroad track
on recently acquired grounds; siding
TO run in front of all for convenience
of handling supplies, etc, and spurs
to run TO emDlacements; storehouses
now in use inadequate for requirements
of post. being too small.
A retaining wall along the water
front TO prevent encroachments or
water in high winds and storms. The
grounds. where low and marshy, are
partially flooded at high water, when
they cannot be used If filled in as
proposed this trouble viii be obViated
and the land can be used for all pur-
poses and at all times and the health
of the post improved. Moreover, the
mosquitoes and sandnies, now source
of great discomfort and annoyance,
will be to a great extent removed
Further, the grounds may be utilized
for camping purposes of state troops
in rear of emplacements in the time of
actual hostilities or for the purpose or
instruction in time of peace.
When Col. Estill had finished reading
the list the guests were invited by
Col Taylor to his quarters, where an ex-
cellent luncheon was served. Col.
Qun and the officers of the fort as
sisted Col Taylor in his duties as host.
senator Bacon AstOnished.
With the entrance of the desert, Sen
ator Bacon was called on by Col.
Estill. He began by telling of mis- rec
objections of the Tybee of other days
and said he was never more surprised
in his life than to see the improvements
that had been made by the erection of
the fort and the arrangement and care
of the grounds.
He spoke of the commercial impor-
lance of Savannah, the most important
port on the South Atlantic and said that
everything considered, he thought the
citizens of Savannah have right to go
to Congress and ask FOR a liberal APP
preparation. Il am not member of
the Committee on Military Affairs,
he said but ! am in close touch with
the members of it and if you don't get
what you want for this fort the MEM
bers of that committee will have oc-
casion to vote me a most persistent
and unmitgated bore
1T would be we'll. however, if others
more directly in charge of such legis-
lation be requested to see what can be
done Savannah should in a diplo-
matte way arrange to have those in
terested in military appropriations visit
the city and the fort. AS to how to
proceed in this plan you gentlemen
know better than l do
Senator Bacon then paid a high trib-
ute to the officers of the United States
army "Of all gentlemen he said,
none make for higher culture, truer
gentility and more thorough hospitality
than do the officers of the United
States army, and one of the principle
reasons for locating a large fort and
garrison near Savannah, that is If
succeed in securing the appropriation
for the enlargement and improvement
of this fort, will be that it will bring
near to Savannah a large number OF
these representative United States
army officers
"Col. Estfll has said something of
the past defense of Savannah. I was
in the army with at least two of the
gentlemen present" he said "Col.
Estill and Judge Barrow, and 1 am
sure that should the need ever arise
for another defense of the country that
no one would go to the front quicker
than the three of us. Our steps might
lag a little, for we are not as young
as some of you, but we would go" He