Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-30
TO HOUSE THE ARMY
Recommendations for New
Buildings Approved.
MIXED GARRIsoNs
EXPENDITURE OF 5000, 600 CON-
GREss1oNAL APPROPRIATION.
Improvements at Forts Myer and
Washington Included in
the Allotments,

Before leaving for the west Secretary
Root approved the recommendation of the
War College board for the construction O1
various buildings at army posts through
out the United States. The last session OF
Congress appropriated $6,O00OOO for build
ings and improvements, S1,O00O0O of which
was to be expended at Manila P. 1. The
allotment of money for the construction OF
quarters and buildings is not made public
at this time, the reason given being that
the announcement of the portion previous
to the letting of contracts would cause bit
ter contention in the different localities.
When the insurrection in the Philippines
enabled the Secretary of War to determine
upon the strength of the garrisons to be
retained in those islands. it was decided to
provide quarters in the United States for
twenty regiments of infantry ten of cav
airy and nearly all of the coast and field
artillery. The first step in that scheme
was to reduce the size of the OrganiZa atoms
from the war strength which had obtained
during their service in Cuba Porto Rico
and the Philippine Islands and then to de-
termine at what points permanent quarters
should be provided for them. Many of the
old frontier posts were of such fiimsy char
acter that they were abandoned several
years before the outbreak of the war with
Spain; others which were left with only a
small guard have become So dilapidated as
to be not worth the expense necessary to
make them habitable for auartering troops.
Coast Artillery Quarters.
For some years past the fortification of
the seacoast has been going ON under a
general scheme authorized by Congress. 1t
was not practicable to erect the necessS ry
quarters at these points until after all tho
Notifications and armament had been in
stalled. That plan seemed to be the only
practicable one, but 1t resulted in sending
many of the new companies of artillery
which were organized under authority of
Congress two years ago to stations at
which no quarters were available. In fact,
the large increase of artillery was made at
time when there were not sufficient quar-
ters at the new batteries for the artillery
men already in service. =
At the last session of Congress these mat
ters were laid before that body, and the
result was a liberal appropriation for the
proper housing of the army. 1t Is said,
however that the excessive cost of material
and high price Of labor will prevent the
construction of all the barracks needed.
The Secretary of War directed that the
whole matter be turned over to the war
College board for a determination as to
how and where the appropriation could be
best expended treating the question as a
whole In the past the expenditure of the
appropria ton for construction work has
been greatly determined by emergencies or
expediency of the moment, Notwithstanding
fixed policy was adopted some years ago
of completing permanent posts for large
garrisons where the instruction of the
troops could be carried on with greater
facility than was possible in many small
stations.
The War College board has just submit
ted a report to the Secretary of War rec
ommending the allotment of funds for con-
struction work at a large number of widely
separated posts The board has invited
special attention to the need of preserving
intact such large reservations as Fort Sill,
Oklahoma, and Assinniboine and Keogh, in
Montana, at which points the government
owns large tracts of land.
Proposed Mixed Garrisons.
The board expresses the opinion that the
time has arrived when it is very desirable
to establish garrisons at several important
points which shall consist of representa-
tions from all arms of the service. To
carry out that idea which is recommended
not only for the military, but also for the
commercial advantage which it possesses,
the board has recommended that a garri-
Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Sheridan, I'LL
one squadron of cavalry and two batteries
Of field artillery be provided for at Fort
Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Sheridan I'LL
nos; Fort Smelling Minnesota. and the
new post near Buffalo, N. Y A garrison
of that size already exists at the General
Service and Staff College at Fort Leaven-
of the army are instructed in the duties of
all arms. A similar garrison already ex-
lists at the temporary cantonment at Mon
terey, Cal These mixed garrisons are re-
hi Ia leo P0y h
opportunity they afford commanding Of
ficers to familiarize themselves with the
administration and command OF all arms
Prior to the war with Spain a number
Of posts were constructed accommodating
regiment of infantry each; at that time
a regiment consisted of two battanons OF
four companies each. The present 1nten-
ton is to add barracks at several of these
stations for another battalion completing
them for the present regiments of twelve
companies each. At the present time Platts-
burg, barracks. New York, is the only
post in the United States accommodating
an entire regiment of infantry.
Changes In Station.
When the plans of the board are carried
out number Of changes will be made In
the stations Of troops, about the most Inn
portant of these being the removal of the
cavalry from Jefferson barracks. which has
been a cavalry post since 1896, and the
turning over or that station 1Or regiment
of infantry. The Presidio of San Fran
cisco will also be vacated by the artillery
as soon as their quarters are complete in
the vicinity of the new fortifcations erect
ed to protect the harbor
Congress at it's last session passed several
acts authorizing the sale Of odd military
stations which had grown to be valuable
property within the hmits of indianapolis,
Ind; Buffalo. N. Y. and Columbus, Ohio.
Inc secretary of War was authorized to
dispose OF these properties and invest the
proceeds IN land without the city limits at
each point for the construction of new
posts. '~ ~ "
Although there have been no Indian out.
pleahs Ior many years.sa large number of
gafrlsons viii necessarily be retained at
various points ON the ffontaer.
| The cavalry and infantry bo,,a ..on com.
1898. and regiments now En- route to the
Phi1ppine Islands were only allowed to re-
main In the United States about eighteen
months, When the construetion work rec.
commended by the war collara hoard Is
carried out the cavalry and infantrv reci-
ments will have four Years Of .onmnara.
lively comfortable Quarters at home. alter.
| mating with two years service in the Phil
ippineS. This is ba sed slDnn the