The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-12-27
THE AUGUSTA ARSENAL.
Congressman Burleigh's Popularity Won
This Property for the State Says Speak
Cauunn

congressman DuIlC1SA AVPoAoAASy VOA
This Property for the State Says Speak
er Cannon.
Especial Dispatch to the Sunday Herald.
AUGUSTA, Me-, Dec. Is, 1906. 'Let
me see, Charles; Gov. Burleigh is the
man who stole the arsenal for the
State of Maine, isn't hep remarked
Uncle Joe Cannon to Congressman
Littlefield one Sunday last summer at
the Dewitt House in Lewiston, while
the two were in Maine taking part in
the State campaign.
"Mf. Burleigh is an able man, al
though he doesn't make much noise on
the floor of the House." said Speaker
Cannon to The Herald correspondent,
"and if it had not been for the fact that
Mr.. Burleigh is so popular with all
members Of the House he probably
could not have got a vote to secure that
property, which understand is a very
valuable one, for his State. We were all
glad to take hold and help him, and | am
glad the State has got this arsenal"
, The property to which reference was
made was lately given to the State for
use in connection with the insane hos
pital at Augusta. The old arsenal has a
history which is most interesting. The
bill to establish it was reported In the
United States Senate Jan. 16, 1927, and
the cornerstone was laid June IA, 1928,
An appropriation of $50, 900 was made,
but it was soon found that this sum
was inadequate to build such post as
was necessary, for the next nearest post
was at WatertOWn, 200 miles away. so
in 1929 further appropriation of $45, 900
was made and IS buildings were erect
ed, 10 of them being OF stones.
In 1855 the land and buildings at the
arsenal were valued at $155, 154. The
lot on which it is built contains 40 acres
and about it is a heavy iron fence eight
feet high. The foundations are built
upon deeply imbedded granite. There
is a heavy granite river wall and a
wharf of the same solid stone, at which
there is 10 feet of water, even at low
tide in time of drought. The arsenal
itself is a building 40 feet long by 80
feet wide. three stories high and has a
spacious basement. 1t is situated 211
feet from the river and 45 feet above
low water mark. The magazines in the
arsenal number two, one of which holds
600 barrels of gunpowder and the other
POI barrels. Besides the arsenal proper
there are officers quarters, barracks,
stables and other needful buildings.
When the civil war broke out, the
military stores at this place were valu-
ed at 1894, 1850 Among other things
there were 21,313 uskets and 1886, 300
pounds of musket poWder-nearly 1000
tons. These stores We're all taken South.
During the war this place was depot
of valuable military supplies, at one
time the value of them being 81, 500, 900.
During the war there were frequent
rumors that the rebels We're to invade
the northern cities by way OF Canada.
and there was a great deal OF anxiety
for this post. The only real scare which
was ever experienced, however, was
when one dark night a sentinel discern
ed coming up the river boat filled with
armed men. He challenged the party,
but no reply was made; a few shots
were fired, and the men were never
heard from afterWard.
Among the early commanders at this
post was Gen. (then Lieut.) Roger An
derson of Fort Sumter fame. He was
here in 1S34-35. In 1855 the commander
was the then Lieut.. Oliver 0. Howard,
who was promoted for bravery at Get
tysburg and who led one wing of Sher-
mans army in his famous march to the
sea. Gen. Howard, a Maine man by
birth, by education and residence, is
one of the men of whom the State is
most proud The commander at the
opening of the Civil war was Briscoe
G. Baldwin of Virginia, who, when his
State seeded from the Union, resigned
and went South.
1t has been a comparatively short
time since the arsenal was abandoned
by the United States government, and
closed to active use. The property is
on the river bank, and the insane hos
pital, which will use it in conjunction
with its place, is directly behind 1t, on
the bluff above. The work OF GOV:
Burleigh in obtaining for the city and
State this property will be gratefully
remembered and will be productive OF
much benefit to the State and its I'M
fortunates for many years to come.