The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-18
THE IMPROVEMENT OF FORT SMELLING.

There is gratifying promise III the views expressed
by the members of the committees of congress as to the
desrabiy of properly utilizing all of the magnificent
domain included in the Fort Smelling reserve Tor
military purposes The assumption that congress Will
be induced the advantages of Fort Smelling tor
great military depot the members OF the committee
it yesterday quite justified, and few years should
the fruition of those plans which have been contem
plated by officers of the army the early days OF the
last century.
The strategic Importance of the site of the fort at
the head of navigation the Mississippi has never
been questioned In the early days of the settlement OF
the Northwest when necessary maintain troops
within easy distance of great Indian reservations, Smell
ing was the base of supplies and operations for the
entire Northwest. Now that there is no longer any
danger of internal disturbances and the policy OF con-
centratng great bodies of troops for purposes of
omy has been made effective, the value of Smelling is
increased rather than impaired
1t is in the center of rich country from which
unlimited supplies could be drawn in defiance of
disturbances that might arise incident to 1t
could never be reached by enemy from without the
boundaries the United States, while its garrison could
be distributed to point the northern borders, or
on either for that matter with great facility
Fort Smelling is peculiarly we'll situated with regard
to the item of greatest Importance in warfare-transpor
tation. Having ready to great trunk lines
of railroad large bodies of may be transported
great distances without stranng the facilities for travel
The other important feature of campagn-the commits
sariat-could be handled with greater in this
try, rich in natural products and manufactures than
where else i'll the interior The post has all the advan
tages of location close the frontier without any of
the disadvantages that must obtain from location
the actual border
There is plenty of for brigade at Smelling
The wide expanse of the reservation would readily
NIT the exercise of troops in large bodies. Field
might be carried by cavalry, artillery and
fatry at the time and there would be difficulty
about range practice if the additional territory which
is proposed acquire brought into the
All of these desirable features of large post must
appeal to the congressional committee and to congress
For the rest the plan of concentrating troops in large
bodies has already been proved Of value.
The welfare of the composing garrison must
necessarily be reckoned with in such matter th{
under consideration and it is not to be doubted that
Fort Smelling the healthest post in the country today
1t will be quite perfect place of residence when the
hygienic improvements under way competed.i
The moral welfare of the is largely matter of
environment and the record of the regiments that have
quaered the post evidence of the fact that the
soldiers have been demoralized by the proximity of
St. Paul
AS to the surroundings of the fort if the congress
sona committeeman have any faults to find the people
of St Paul will be found only willing but quite able
to conform them the requirements of great military
establishment