Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-29
GEN. oHAPPEH opposed
DISCUSSES THE BILL PROVIDING
FOR PURCHASE oFnAMp SITES.
His Letter Sent to Senate Military
Committee by Secretary Taft
With Latter's Approval.

Secretary Taft has forwarded to the SEN
ate military committee with his approval a
letter written by General <Chaffee chief of
staff, in opposition to certain features of
the bill providing for the purchase of camp
sites for military maneusefs at Conewago
Valley, Pa, at Fort Douglas Wis, at the
Henry ranch In California, and at Fort Sam
Houston, Texas. General .Chaffee favors
the general scheme of large maneuvring
camps, but does not consider it wise to
select them arbitrarily at, this time He
suggests that an appropriation of 81, 600 600
be made for such camps and that their
selection be left to the decision of the
War Department after further investigation
of the subject.
Gen. Chaffee's Views.
In his letter General Chaffee says:
On January Is, 1904 submitted menu
orandum to the Secretary of War copy
herewith), in which 1 asked for an appro-
priation Of s2,OOO,0OO for purchase of four
camp sites, and it was especially urged that
the department be not legislated into any
particular site, and the suggestion in this
regard made at that time is respectfully re-
newed now, AS will be seen, an upset price
has already been stated in the bill for the
various grounds referred to; $4,000 for the
sround at Conewago, practically $50 per
ground little more than a year ago re-
ported 1t as not worth more than $35 per
acre at that time. With this proposition
S Se.ore IT, the government will have great
uiAaculty In securing the ground desired
ior the money, as everybody will consider
MS property worth $50 per acre. The same
may be said with reference to each of the
o.nsr localities mentioned, whereas it is
Pfoodpiy TACT that the government If
unrestricted as to price and locality. could
OBTAIN suitable ground for very much less
money per acre than herein Indicated. and
n ~ .nis %. pe SO. greater area could be Sc
csro,, .nan would be possible under the
circumstanees proposed.
The Sites Criticised.
Inc location proposed in Texas does not
strike me as favorable, or in the interests
OF the government; it is too far removed
from the location of large portions of the
national Guard; and the expense of trans
portion IN order to utilize 1t for any con-
SIDERABLE body of men would be very great
Ihe same can be said with reference to
the site proposed In Wisconsin. AS regards
the henry ranch, specified in the bill. it
mas mas peel reported favorably only by
only sanitary and hygienic questions: not
with particular ,eference to its availa-
plnty as a maneuvering ground The
BOARD OF officers who examined that sec
ton with a view to maneuyerine sites re-
ported In favor of the ,Naeimiento ranch.
winch is not great distance from the
Henry ranch.
This is matter of such importance to
the military interests of the government
tnat 1t seems to me 1t; should be viewed
from no other standpoint than from strict
ly military considerations, which involves
greatest means of communication, sani-
tatlon, water. etc, etc. a1l, being of the
highest Importance for the mobilization and
concentration of a considerable number of
troops 1t seems to me necessary, too. that
every consideration should be given the
future use of these grounds IN event of war
for the concentration and equipment of
volunteer troops, and am, fully satisfied
that sufficiently adequate examination has
not yet been made of the several pieces
of ground specified to Justify their pur-
chase from our present. knowledge.
Gen. ChaRee's Recommendations.
With the exception II, the proposed Ipiur-
chase Of ground for the enlargement of
Chickamauga Park; recommend that you
endeavor to dissuade the Congress from
designating any particular ground, but re-
new your efforts for a general appropri-
alton, leaving the final determination of the
locality to be decided by you upon ade-
quate investigation by a board appointed
by you for the purpose; the amount to be
expended and the area to be secured not
to exceed the amount and numbers speci-
fed in my memorandum of January %, to
which reference has already been made"