Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1908-08-26
Major Walcutt Delivers an Interesting
Address at the Yavapai Club Dinner
Describing the Extensive improvements
Nearing Completion at the Post.


| its of its influence and benefits. But
of all this there are many in Arizona,
several in this presence, VINO are far
better able to tell the story.
After considering the matter for
several days | consented to appear here
but enjoined my tormenter that my re-
marks were in no way to be featured,
and in fact that the members of this
club and their guests were not to be
made acquainted with the ordeal they
would he subjected to. You can mag
inc my dsmay when the notice came
I am sorry, but the blame for your
having to listen for two or three hours
is not mine Although in a way an un.
due advantage has been taken Of us all,
be as patient as you can and / will
settle with the offending member later.
Finding myself in this position, I
was forced to take up that part Of the
history of Whipple Barracks which has
20 do with its rehabilitation and trust
tnat you will pardon any apparent ego
tism from my giving in some detail
the story Of that process, for it is only
the mutations of time and the working
of the great governmental machinery
that have given to me the privilege Of
being connected with it.
1t is now a little over six years since
it was decided by those in high au.
thority that the wise course Of locating
permanent military posts should in.
clude in its chain one at Prescott.
TIE orders under which operations
were begun directed that a careful in.
spection of the old buildings at Whip
pie Barracks be made, with a view Of
determining whether they were suita.
BILE to form part Of a permanent post
aud if considered suitable an estimate
Of the cost of putting them in shape
was to be prepared.
If the buildings were not considered
suitable a plan Of a four company in
fantry post was to be submitted.
The buildings and their grouping
were not considered suitable for a per.
manent post and a tentative plan for
a new grouping was submitted. This
plan was subjected to the official scru-
tiny of the department with the result
That instructions were given to submit
a plan contemplating an eight compa-
ny, headquarters and band post. 1t is
to the working out Of this plan that
our efforts in the last six years have
been directed.
IL took nearly year to prepare
these plans, determine whether single
or double buildings should be adopted,
and whether they should be frame or
brick, stone or similar material.
This plan involved the construction
of 81 officers quarters, l bachelor Of.
fiers' quarters and officers club, cna.
pei, MOO. quarters, hospital ser.
geant's quarters, | hospital, compa-
ny or troop barracks, I band barrack,
l post exchange and gymnasium,
guard house, l administration building,
! fire apparatus buildings, l bake
house, storehouses, quartermaster'
shop, ] wagon shed and quartermas-
tors stables--a total of go buildings,
large and small-a sewer system, wa.
ter distributing system and reservoir,
roads, sidewalks, fences and grading
and identifying the grounds.
or these improvements there have
been completed or contracted for-1l
officers quarters, MOO. quarters, i
hospital, 4 barracks, post exchange
and gymnasium, l guard house, ad
minlstration building, 1 fire apparatus
building, l bake house, 4 storehouses- -
ordnance. quartermaster and subsis-
tenee, oil and COAL wagon shed and
| quartermaster's stablc-a total of 30
buildings or nalf of the number plan.
ned, a sewer system, water distribut.
ing system and reservoir, and under
the direction of Major Foster a SPLEEN
did beginning has been made in the
construction of roads.
Since these plans were made the
question of changing the troops of the
garrison from infantry to cavalry is
being considered, and should change
he finally determined upon, it will ne
cessitatc the construction of riding
hall and cavalry stables to the number
of organizations that is to garrison the
post.
While making these plans it was
found that there existed in this com.
munlty a warm and hearty sentiment
for the retention in the new post Of