Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-07-06
DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI
Change in Army Administration In
Creases Its Importance.
ONE OF LARGEST IN COUNTRY
Headquarters at Omaha Surpassed
Only by Washington, New York
and Chicago An Matter of
Actual Importance.

with the return to the department sys-
tenn of army administration. the Depart
ment Of the Missouri becomes one OF the
greatest in the country. and possibly the
most important. As now constituted II
embraces the states OF Iowa, Missouri,
Kansas. Nebraska, South Dakota and
wyoming. except that part included in the
Yellowstone National Park. Within the
department are the great military posts OF
Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley, Kansas,
Jefferson Barracks. and the st. Louis Ar
senal, Missouri; Forts Crook, Omaha and
Robinson Nebraska Fort Des Molnes
Iowa; Fort Meade. South Dakota and
Forts D. A. Russell and Mackenzie, and
Camp washable. Wyoming.
Strength of the Posts.
At Fort Leavenworth is the great mill
tary prison, and the infantry and cavalry
school, tho war college, signal and starr
schools and quarters and barracks for 900
oficers and 1850 men. At Fort Riley. quar-
ters and barracks for 100 officers and $500
men, a great riding school building, 800
fleet long and 100 feet wide, and also the
schools Of application and practice for tho
cavalry and artillery. as well ss special
cooking schools, farriers schools and
stables for over 1000 cavalry ard artillery
horses. At Fort Des Moines are quarters
for nifty officers and 1.500 men. and stables
for 1900 horses. At Fort Crook are quar-
ters for fifty officers and 900 men. At Fort
d. A. Russell quarters for seventy-five
officers and 1,6OO men, and stables for 1000
horses. At Fort Meade. quarters for forty
officers and 1000 men, and stables for 800
horses. At Fort Omaha, quarters for
twenty officers and 600 men. Here also is
established the Signal Corps college for the
instruction OF enlisted men In all features
of the signal service. A new balloon house,
2OOx1o0 feet and 100 feet high is TO be con-
structed. with gas generating house, and
wireless telegraph station. At Fort Rob-
inson are quarters for fifty officers and
800 men. with stables for 800 horses At
Fort Mackenzie are quarters for forty Of
fcers and 700 men and stables for 200
horses. Camp Washable is now but tenn
porary camp, at which one company OF the
Eighth cavalry is stationed for the sum
mer.
| Importance of Headquarters.
The headquarters OF the Department OF
the Missouri are at Omaha, and aside from
the military administration of the depart
ment being carried on at these headquar-
]
the entire department are purchased
through the ONCE of the chief quartermas-
ter, including horses, camp and garrison
equIpage, harness. tentage. forage for all
| the horses in the department. fuel for all
the posts. the total expenditure, involving
many hundred thousands OF dollars an
nually. Here also is purchased practically
all of the subsistence supplies for the troops
in the department. but in many instances
( for the United States armies in the Phil
/ ippines, Cuba, Alaska and other points
throughout the United stateA The expend-
: ituTe for these enormous food supplies
reaches into the millions OF dollars an
nually, and all are made through the chief
comnissary and chief purchasing com
missary department located in Omaha.
In brief. through the location of the De
partment of the Missouri headquarters al
Omaha, this city becomes one OF the great.
est military centers in the United States
exceeded only by Washington, New York
and Chicago
stan in Command.
The department stan consists OF Briga-
der General E. s. Godfrey in temporary
command, Lieutenant G. r, AlIin. aide-de-
camp to commanding officer; Major Charles
r. Noyes. RdJutant general; Captain w. O.
Doane, Judge advocate; Major Thomas
Cruise, chief quartermaster; Captain Theo.
/ dore B. Hacker, chief commissary; Major
George II. Holloway. chief paymaster; Lieu.
tenant Colonel John r. Banister. chief sur.
geon; Captain Leonard d. wildman. CHIEF
signal officer; Lieutenant Colonel L s
Mccormack, chief signal oficer; Lieutenant
r. W. Fonda. chief ordnance ofioer; Major
c. r. Noyes inspector small arms prac.
tice; Major Thomas swobe. in charge
Omaha quartermaster depot; Captain ]. NJ
sisworth. Claude B. Sweeney and Bradnei
d. Slaughter, paymasters.
Brigadier General W. H. Carter has beer
assigned TO the permanent command Of
the department, but will not assume tn,
command much before January J. Gen.
ersl acrter is at present In comand OF tn,
Department OF the Lakes at Chicago, and
will remain there until relieved by Majol
General +. d. Grant, now in command Of
the Department OF the East at New York
who is to be succeeded by Major General
Leonard Wood. now enrOute from the Phil
ippines.