The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-22

apolis street railway company's extern
sion to Fort Smelling, another delight
full and beautiful spot will be added to
the many interesting, and picturesque
Smelling has for years been accessl-
BILE to Minneapolis by streetcar only
after long and tedious ride into ST.;
Paul and transfer to the St. Paul
Smelling line. True, line Of buses has
operated for the benefit Of Minneapoll-
tans from the end Of the Minnehaha
line to Fort Smelling, ride OF some
three miles, but this had made it
rather expensive journey, and the, &C
die only a small number Of people.
line completed to the reservation,
Smelling is bound to become one Of
the most popular places for visitation
by Minneapolis people. Officers anti
men at Smelling are ready to welcome
any number Of visitors from this CITY.
uuainted in Minneapolis, and many
have been entertained here at private
homes.
The Smelling reservation is not fully
appreciated in it's own Immediate vi
cinitv. Visitors to the twin cities
from near and far seldom fail to see
the fort, famed as the third largest
post in the United States, where over
q thousand men of the infantry, cav
alrv and artillery are stationed. Min
neapolitans, however, know little OF 1t.
They have had some excuse for not
visiting Smelling more frequently on
account of it's inaccessibility. Thous-
ands Of residents for this very reason,
have remained unaware Of the interest
the point has. Soon they may conven-
iently find out for themselves.
Beautifully Situated.
It is on high, level ground, at a point
where the Minnesota river joins the
Mississippi. From the edge of the res
eryation the waters Of the two rivers
may be seen for miles, finally disappear
ING in the dim distance like silvery
Threads. The reservation is over two
hundred feet above the water level. Ihe
tops of tall trees may be seen ft5o WAVING
ers which ply the river from! Snelllns
to Minnehaha look like rowboats Oh
served from 50 great height. The
wagon and foot bridge which connects
the reservation with the St. Paul shore
is one of the highest bridges about tht
twin cities, and from it may be 90
tained a beautiful view.
On the reservation, not a stone 4
throw from this bridge, is part OF tn!
old original Fort Smelling, round
stone structure, some three stories II
height, and with no apertures in 1t
time-honored walls except narrow riff
Sits thru which the troops within, Il
pioneer days, might fire in safety on at
lacking redskins. The fort was bull
in 1920, when the territory around i
was but small trading post, nestled il
, the northwestern wilderness. About
wear ago, when extensive Improvement
were made at Smelling, the old fort wa
repaired and modernized; its interio
was rebuilt, and a number Of skyl1ght
placed in the roof. The old, roug
stone walls were covered and h1dde
with layer Of smooth cement.
Ancient Tower Unadorned.
Public opinion would have stood fc
the repairing Of the old fort and th
remodeling Of it's interior, but the COZ
ering Of the exterior with a layer {
cement was a step too far. Newspaper
Of the northwest took up the cry ths
the old forts appearance should M
have been disturbed. Congressman 6
Washington felt the pressure of col
stituents, and on their pleas to the WE
department the order went forth for tt
removal of the cement coating and tt
restoration Of the exterior to the a.
pearance 1t had when built. So it
that today visitors to Smelling may fin
the old landmark just as it was-befol
they were born, perhaps. The old 70,
is favorfte first mark for kodak fent