The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-24

L.
| are four rooms in front of the auditorium,
| which were once used as Offices and
| library This building could be utilized
| as chapel. or could be arranged for
other purposes. The hospital building is
| 46xl50 and in 1881 it was reroofed and re-
| paired.
| There are twenty-five cottages in fair
! condition with six rooms each and fifty
| houses constructed of hewn cedar posts
| These buildings are ceiled ard fioored
| with heavy lumber ard many of them
| can be used without much repair. 1t is
hard to estimate the stable and storage
room, but much Of the material in un-
necessary buildings could be used in max
| ing repairs on other buildings. The floor
| of the buildings are of soft pine and in
| the opera house, the floor is of oak
The water supply is secured from
springs nearly two miles distant from
the fort. The supply is abundant and
the pressure is such that water reaches
the second story of every building The
system is in good condition, being used
buildings new connections would need to
be made. There is a large reservoir
above the fort with pumps to force tne
water to it, The pumps are out of repair,
but with the expenditure OF small sum
there would be ample fire protection. 1ne
reservoir was constructed for that pur-
pose. and if the territory does rot locate
an asylum on the reservation. Custodian
Candy will repair the pumps in order to
protect the buildings should a fire occur.
The sewerage system is in use. but ex-
penditures would need TO he made on it
The system ends at Beaver river some
distance from the buildings The land
included in the reservation is mostly
grass land. However there. are tracts
of land which could be easily irrigated
from either springs or reservoir. lrrisa-
ton would mean that practically any
thing grown in other parts of the terri
tory could be produced
There are yet many things to remind
one at the fort of the former military
customs. The flag staff in the center OF
the parade ground is in place. The band
stand retains its position. and one can
readily imagine the days when Uncle
Sans men strolled back and forth on the
broad walks beneath the shade of splen-
did trees. With proper care. Fort Supply
can be made an ideal place, and were It's
location nearer the central part OF OKLA
homa or more easy of access there would
be no question about its use by the ter
ritory 1t would make an ideal soldiers
home or reformatory. but owing TO the
fact that the offer made by the govern
ment STIMULATES that 1t must be UTILIZED
for an insane asylum shuts off other mat
ters at this time.
The idea prevailed generally among leg
islators who viewed the fort, that the ter
ritory should not lose its hold on it, While
perhaps there are those who favor the
locating of an insane asylum in another
portion of Oklahoma yet the offer stares
them in the face. The condition of the
buildings was better than expected by
many members. Others however, do not
believe that the place can be arranged TO
receive the insane patients by expendins
a reasonable amount of money. Again 1t
is argued that the people OF Oklahoma
having relatives afflicted would dislike
the idea of having them sent so far from
home, necessitating many miles or travel
before visits could be paid them. On the
other hand people in western Oklahoma
state that they have just as much diff
Guilty in reaching Norman as eastern Ok
lahoma people would have in visiting
Fort Supply.
There is hardy any question but what
Alexander's bill will be passed by the
The real test will come in the
lower house. 1t is the concensus OF
opinion, however, that the measure Will
pass this body, but not without much
debate. An effort will be made TO amend
it so that one year or eighteen months
buildings for the reception of the patients.
Another proposed amendment is to make
the locating of the asylum at Supply
contingent on the building of railroad
or electric line to the reservation. Pres
ident Alexander states that If in no other
manner can the fort be easily reached
from the railroad. the citizens of Wood
ward will build an electric line. Mr.. Alex
ander states, however, that Oklahoma
City people are figuring on constructing
an electric line in the event the legisla-
ture locates an asylum on the reserva-
ton. An effort is now being made TO
kill the Alexander bill and certain mem
bers in the house are counted as being
opposed to the measure in any form.
There have been many notable men at
Fort Supply. At one time General Custer
was stationed there and had a number OF
brushes with Indians while in what are
now the confines of Oklahoma. General |
Sheridan was at Supply when it was
first established and in 1873 made a tour |
IF inspection Of western posts visiting |
Supply at that time. Lawton was also at |
Supply and many men of more than pass
ng mention soldiered there.
Supply is the name of n new town just |
starting near the reservation. There are /
fourteen buildings in course of construc- |
ion and should the asylum be located |
IN the reservation. a boom would result. |
A newspaper. one of the essentials of |
good town comes out weekly. The town
IF Fitzgerald has been discontinued and |
he majority Of the former residents are |
aow at Supply. Nothing but the Fitz- !
gerald company buildings remain a. the |
former town and these will probably be |
removed soon.
Government records show that as far az /
7ealth conditions are concerned Fort |
supply stands al the head of the list Of |
western posts. Good climatic conditions |
ire being uregG as a recommendation |
'or the location of an asylum at Supply. |
oklahoma in general has good climate. |
,ilt one can never make a Woodward /
.ountv resident believe that there is eli /
nate anywhere but in Woodward county. /
The legislative contingent has termed /
Henry f. Asp. the Santa Fe solicitor for
Oklahoma. the prince Of good fellows
Mr.. Asp had charge Of the Santa Fe I
-pecial and everything went through !
without a hitch" The newspaper gang
vas especially profuSe IN its praises. ss
hs men were royalty entertained by the
-enial attorney. in a special car during
he junket
The dinner at Fort Supply IS the theme
y conversation among tire members -
10 legislature who eat-and they all 4
at The party was the guests Of Custo-
lIan Candy and - ever there was
sSnrAad-' IN Oklahoma 4 was At the
1aniy hor7e. Nothing was lacking er-
,ert caps city on the part of the legis-
Il IN y Z