Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18
POSTS FOR BRIGADES
SECRETARY TAFT'S oBsERvA.
TIoNs ON HIS RECENT TRIP.
Some Forts With Sufficient Land
at Others Purchases Will
Be Necessary.

Secretary Taft was cordially welcomed
back to this city from his western trip. and
held regular levee in his office at the War
department yesterday afternoon, during
which he talked freely of conditions at the
various military posts. The real business of
MS trip began after the election, when he
began an inspection of some of the large
army posts In the western country with
special reference to ascertaining their fit
ness Tor brigade posts. He found Fort D. A.
russell, Wyoming, amply provided with all
the land necessary for the accommodate
OF full brigade. and with ample room for
exercises and maneuvers. There are 6.OOO
acres or land at the post, and another res
erVation OF $1,000 acres distant thirty miles
where maneuvers were held this fall.
cutting across the country, the party
struck the railroad 100 miles to the north
and came to Fort Robinson, Neb. That most
has 10000 acres, with another resar,,. p tton
OF lZ.Ooo acres distant twelve miles. Secre-
tary Ia1t concluded that it would be nee
essary to purchase the Intervening ground
TO make that a brigade post
Only Regimental Post.
fort sheridan, near Chicago ILL.,, was
next Inspected. annd incidentally the Score
tary looked into a complaint that the targe.
range there was an injury to adjoining pri.
vate property. The Secretary concluded that
OFT Sheridan could not properly be made
brigade post owing to the limited size of
the reservation, the high price of the adj
JoIiIing Iand that would have to be ec
CURED and other considerations Thera is
no intention, however. of abandoninG ~
post, which will be maintained on q reai
mental basis op d feSl-
Az fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the secre-
tary saw 2.2O0 men under arms Tbe 80
ervation of 5000 acres is too sn,oIi res
oiig aoe post but Secretary Taft believes a.
VIII De possible to purchase some additionai
5 eost 1ara at reasonable price. making the
troonS go, enough Tor a brigade. while the
1UPs couio nave their maneuvers ar Fort
riley, not very far distant W
secretary was particularly pleased
WIN Fort Riley with it's 10000 acres At The
g gost anu me plant already accommo-
ua.iiIs regiment of field artillery. a reei
ment OF cavalry and a battalion Of GO
neers SO that the place is already on a hri-
gaze basis. Congress having allotted n,onay
10 pulld headquarters for an engineer reei,
ment eei fesi-
Large Tract at Fort Sill.
AT Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the Secretary
lound the largest army reservation save
one, namely, Fort Assinniboine. Mont Fort
Sill mas $4,000 acres at the post and the
troops nave the use of the 10000 acres COM
prlsed IN the adjoining Wichita mountain
forest reserve. There are accommodate lions
for only squadron at the post now. hut #
VIII be enlarged in view of the splendid
location, the good water and other advan.
tages. at this post are the 23S Geronimo
Apaches, technically prisoners of war A;
majority of the older Indians are anxious to.
return to their old homes in Arizona and.
New Mexico but the younger men are will
Ing to remain where they are Secretary
Taft listened to their representations. but
has SO far reached no conclusion as to
granting their desires They are, he found.
the most prosperous Indians in the countryS
owning 5000 head of the finest cattle in the
west and farming small indivduaf tracts
which they are required to work under the
direction Of an army lieutenant
Fort Sam Houston, Texas, was the last
post inspected, and with that Secretary Taft
was also greatly pleased Money has been
allotted for the purchase of additional land,
and there is already a full infantry post
there and cavalry regiment so that it is
well along toward brigade post. The Leon
Springs tract, distant eleven miles from the
post. includes 1900 acres available for
maneuvers
Secretary Taft has concluded that II would
not be necessary nor expedient to make all
the changes indicated at the various posts
Immediately, believing that they must be
worked out gradually, according to the
needs OF the service.