Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-05-02
ROMANTIC
Fl. STANTON
Its History Briefly Reviewed by
Dr., Paul N. Darlington,
Surgeon in Charge.
A WONDERFUL CAVE
1t Has Never Been Fully Explored Ex'
cept by Indians...A Good
Water Supply.

Dr. Paul M. Darlington, surgeon in
charge Of Fort Stanton Sanitarium for
Consumptives, in paper on Further
Observations on the Treatment of Tu-
berculosis at Fort Stanton, New Mex
ico," from which the New Mexican
published extracts last week, gives an
interest ting historical sketch and de-
scription of the fort. He says:
"Fort Stanton was at one time a
military post and is situated on the
right bank of the Rio Bonito, noun
tain stream, having it's source in the
White Mountains, about eighteen miles
distant; it is ten miles from Lincoln,
eight miles from Captain, the nearest
railroad point, and terminus Of the Ell
Paso 4 Northeastern Railway. Mail is
received every day except Sunday.
Fort Statnon was established in 1855
to control the Mescalero and White
Mountain Apaches. The post was
burned and abandoned in 1861 by the
United States troops upon the approach
of the Texas troops under General
Sibley. IN the spring of 1868, after the
defeat and withdrawal of the Confeder-
ates, a garrison of volunteers occupied
the post, and by covering the old walls
with rafters and earth roofs made the
quarters, tenantable. In this condition,
the post was occupied until 1868, when
repairs and reconstruction were COM
menced. Substantial barracks, Offices
and store houses for the accOmmoda-
tion of four companies were erected
from 1868 to 1871, or adapted from
the old buildings, whose walls had
been left standing.
''The land is very fertile and all
crops raised in temperate climate can
be produced in abundance, when suffi-
cient water for irrigating purposes can
be obtained. The gardens at this place
supply all necessary vegetables except
potatoes We have an alfalfa field of
63 acres which supplies the demands of
the station. Owing to the large amount
of snow which fell in the mountains
last winter, we are planting all avail
able lands and hope to raise enough
foroge to- supply our needs for the
coming year.
'The original reservation embraced
144 square miles or was twelve miles
square, but under authority of the act
of Congress of May 81, 1872, 128 square
miles were transferred to the interior
department and thrown open to settle
ment under the general land laws. A
tract embracing sixteen square miles,
eight miles in length and two miles in
width along the Rio Bonito, was re-
tanned for military purposes. In Aug
ust 1896, the post was abandoned, all
troops withdrawn and the reservation
was turned over to the interior depart
ment. The reservation was then trans
ferred TO the Marine Hospital service
and was formally accepted from the in
terror department on August 27, 1899,
by Past Assistant Surgeon J. o. Cobb,
who had been detailed for that purpose.
On November 1, 1899, the reservation
was extended one mile on the north
and one mile and three-quarter miles
on the south, and now contains 38
square miles, nearly all under fence.
Since the transfer of this reserva-
tion from the interior department, the
Marine Hospital service has been con-
stantly at work repairing and altering
the buildings, beautifying the grounds
and making the place one of the finest
sanatoria in the United States.
During the army regime, the water
was supplied from deep we'll by steam
pump to a tank and then distributed by
pine to the post. The well and tank
were constructed in 1886 at cost of
$1,000. The capacity of the tank is
10000 gallons This was found to be
insufficient for the needs of the sana-
tarium and soon after the occupancy
of the station, the service constructed
a larger reservoir, capacity 1000, 900
gallons. which is supplied by ditch
three miles long leading from the Rio
Ronito. The old army we'll and tank
are used as a reserve for the dry sum-
mer season.
"To the south of the post is the old
army cemetery In this cemetery was
buried young son of the late Major
General Henry W. Lawton, who was at
the time of his service here captain.
The body of this child has been re-
moved evidently. but the partially
Grated grave stone is still to be seen in
the cemetery.
"About two miles below Fort Stan
ton, near the Rio Bonito, is what is
known as the Lincoln County Cave.
This cave has never been entirely ex'
plored The soldiers stationed at Fort
Stanton attempted at one time to ex'
More it and after spending seven days
in the cave, reported that there were
]. streams. which could not be crossed
without the means of boat hence
their explorations were confined to on
Continued on Page Eight.