The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-06
FOR FORT SCREVEN
SIX NEW BUILDINGS WILL BE
ERECTED WITHIN SHORT TINE.
FOR DIRECTION OF WORK
QUARTERMASTER DEPARTMENT
WILL SEND OFFICER HERE.

| Work Will BE in Charge of officer
With Rank of Captain-Sub-Head-
quarters in POstOfice Building or
Custom HOuse-Means Expenditure
of at Least $5O,OOO-Regarded as
Favorable to Carrying Out of the
Greater improvements Originally
Contemplated Quartermaster-
Captain Will Remain in City for n
Year and Possibly LOnger-WiII
Arrive Shortly.
Steps are to be taken in the near
future toward work on the improve
ments ordered at Fort ScreVen. The
improvement consist of the erection of
six new building. and it is extremely
probable that the work will be carried
on to an even greater extent before
many months. A member of the quar-
termaster's department of the United
States army, ranking as castain, will
be in Savannah in a short time to SUI
perintend the work. He will establish
headquarters in one of the government
buildings in Savannah, either the post
Office or the Custom House. He is eX-
pected to arrive here within a very
short time, and it is regarded as prob
able that work will start soon after
his arrival. -
Col. James B. Quinn, division chief
of United States Engir GERS. will act
only in regard to the placing of the
| buildings, seeing that none are placed
in such locations as to interfere with
the defense of the fort i'll case of war.
$4,000 Cost of improvements.
Everything is ready for the work.
The plans and specifications were
| drawn up early in the summer, and
during the early fall bids were asked
for and the contract awarded. The
Fort Screven quartermaster has made
| a full report upon the subject to the
| quartermaster general concerning the
details of the work and the officer
who comes here to take charge of the
work will be able to proceed without
delay.
Six buildings in all are to be erect
| ed The plans called for the erec-
| ton of quarters for one field officer,
one captain, one lieutenant, and one
| on-commissioned officer. In addition
| the new guard house is included and
new coal shed. All of the buildings
will be put in in the most approved
style and only the best material will
be used throughout. The improve
ments will mean an expenditure of
from $4,000 to 100000, by far the
greater part of which will be spent
| in Savannah.
Favorable to Further Improvement.
Those who stand close to the working
of Congress and the army department
are confident that the establishment
of headquarters of the quartermaster's
department in this city means the car
rying out of the greater improvements
which have been asked for by the COM
mandant of the fort. These plans are
very extensive in their nature. and
mean an expenditure of more than
| $500, 900, in, addition to the amount
necessary for the erection of the build
ings already provided Tor.
The matter of securing these inn
provements was taken up by the Cham
Der of Commerce Committee on Har-
Dor Defenses, and, in conjunction with
Col. Quinn, carefully gone over. The
| reasons for the erection of the build
| ings were then stated in a letter to
the quartermaster general and the ne
cessity of making the fort a four-post
fort was clearly shown.
Though there has been no direct re-
port made as yet on this matter, it
is probable that it is being favorably
considered by the War Department
and the Military Committee of Con-
gress. Had the petition of the Fort
Screven authorities and the Chamber
of Commerce committee been indefi-
nitely tabled it is not likely that a
special officer from the quartermaster's
department would have been sent to
establish hea, quarters here so soon.
The work wl.lch is already assured
makes it certain that the new office
will exist in Savannah for at least a
year, and it is probable that delays
and other unforeseen events will re-
uuire that the officer remain here even
longer. No announcement has been
made officially to Col. Quinn concern
ing the coming of the officer, though it
is probable that he will receive some
word and instructions some time dur
ing this week.
-O-aar-