Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-21
INFORMATION ON
ARMY MATTERS.
Senator Reed Smoot Writes to
Manager Place Of NJ.
4 M. A.
WAR DEPARTMENT IS BUSY.
Has Been Crow cd With Matters Re-
iatng to the SAN Francisco
Calamity

Senator Smoot has sent the following
relative to Fort Douglas to Manager
Gordon II. Place of the Manufacturers
and Merchants association of this city
In letter from Washington dated May
10:
Dear Mr.. Place. desire TO acknowl-
edge the receipt Of your letter of the
18th ultimo. relating to the transfer Of
troops from Fort Douglas.
In reply ] VIII state that upon re-
ceipt of your letter | went to the war
department and requested to know the
reasons for the transfer and whether
new troops would be sent To take the
place Of those leaving.
Tho war department has been 50
crowded with matters relating to the
san Francisco calamity that it has
been impossible To furnish the above re-
qucsted information before, and | am
just Ia receipt of enclosed memoranda
in reply TO my request
" Official Information furnished to
this office by the war department in ,e-
spect to the permanent status of Fort
Douglas Is contained i'm a memorandum
approved by the secretary OF war, May
g. 1903 indicating that Fort Douglas Is
to be 4 permanent post for regimental
headquarters and two battalions (eight
companieF> of infantry.
" II Is understood that the two field
batteries recently stationed at the post
were kept there only temporarily until
permanent accommodations could be
furnished for them elsewhere.
The barrack accommodations now
at the rost are.
Three new double brick barracks
of modern construction built since
April, 1908, having capacity for six
companies.
Two two-story and four one-story
old stone barracks, capacity for abolt
40 men each-built In 1875.
-Four one-story frame barracks, ca
pacity about 40 men each. These have
been condemned and are no longer oc-
cupiel.
" One old stone barrack for band.
There are separate quarters for y
married officers and new brick buili-
ing for eight unmarried ofiicers-the
latter completed about six months aga.
Reconstruction Of this post. by re-
placing the old buildings with new ones
was begun In April. 1908, and has been
carried on since, as funds for the pnr'
pose were allotted from the general
appropriations for that purpose,
Since the date mentioned there
have been built the following new
brick buildings Of the best modern
type:
Three double barracks.
one building for bachelor officers
quarters with general mess.
One new guardhouse.
one new post exchange,
Also a number of minor improve
ments
Contract was recently let for a
new granary
I'm items of the general estimate
for construction work for the fiscal
year 1907 Fort Douglas stands for:
one new double harrack
One new band barrack
Two new sets officers quarters.
The aggregate amount expended
at the post for new buildings and i'm
provements since the work of recon-
struction was begun in April, 1908, Is
$270,000.
$2T0,000. C. f. HUMPHREY
From this memorandum you will
notice that Fort Douglas is intended
to be a permanent infantry post. The
transfer Of the artillery recently made
was occasioned by the fact that Fort
Russell to which the transfer was
made. affords a much better range for
practise than does Fort Douglas; the
batteries transferred had been sta
toned at Fort Douglas but temporarily
and We're awaiting permanent accom-
modations elsewhere,
1.-THE removal of troops to the Phil
ippines has caused reduction of those
stationed IN the United States, and this
reduction has fallen unequally upon
some parts Of the country, but | am
Informed that q readjustment will
take place in the near future, and
that provision wall be made for sup
plying a full quota of troops for Fort
Douglas,
II take pleasure In stating that ] am
also informed that II is intended to
erect a military hospital at Fort Doug
las next year, The general estimates
for CONSTRUCTION Of military buildings
provides for the erection of IL hospit-
ais i'm the United States within the
next few years. Three are to be erected
each year, the one at Fort Douglas
will be commenced IN 1907.
81 desire to assure you that / will
take pleasure at any time In serving
your association, and will be glad TO
have you call my attention to matters
affecting the interests OF the people of
our state. With very best wishes /
remain yours very truly.
REED SHOOT"