Weekly journal-miner., 1909-10-20

BTigadier General E. ID. Thomas, commanding the department of the Colorado, included in which is Ari- zona, arrived last night, accompanied by his staff officer, Captain GoujOt. Both officers were met at Ash Fork on the Santa Fe by Messrs. c. T. Joslin and F. G. Breeht, prominent residents of Prescott, and Captain Cole and Lieutenant Sampson of Fort whipple
 General Thomas and Captain Goujot were taken to the Yavapai club and during their stay in the city will be the guests of this hostelry.
 Geral Thomas is making his an nual trip of inspection to the many military posts under his command and after a weeks stay will go south to Huachuca, returning to his headquar- ters at Denver when his duties are concluded.
 In speaking of matters within his dominion, General Thomas gives an interesting statement and one in which the residents of this section are especially concerned.
 For RegimentaI Post. It was this officer who made the recommendation a few days ago in his annual report to the war depart ment at Washington that Fort Whip pie be enlarged to a regimental post, which will come up before congress at the next session for approval. It is probable that the recommendation of this department chief will be ap- proved and later an appropriation will be available for the carrying out of this program. This will mean heavy outlay of money for the Pur- pose. The post will practically be trebled in accommodations and in ad dition to that feature the future con sideration of the place will be of per manent regard, reviving it to that standard that was in evidence when it was the headquarters of the depart ment.
 Familiar From Experience.
 In making this plea for the old post, General Thomas is actuated from knowledge of conditions he is per feetly familiar with. Climatic attrae- tions are conducive to the health of the service, it is admirably situated for any possibility of trouble that may arise on the border of Mexico, the remote danger of an uprising of the Navajos can be readily handled and in addition to these conditions, the plan of concentrating troops can be best subserved by selecting cen tral point within the territory that is admirably adapted for stragetie op- erations or for the personal care of regiment of men in ideal climatic con ditions at any season of the year.
 The water that reaches this gar rison is pronounced the purest of any | in the union and this has been sub stantiated by the war department | through analysis.
 An Ideal Place.
 Through this commodity an excel | lent record is shown by the light per centage of illness in past years pre- vailing in hospital records, all of which combined make Whipple one of the most inviting zones in the serv- ice of the military of the country.
 Another interesting matter General Thomas spoke of last evening was the incoming troops who have left the Philippines. Upon their arrival in San Francisco about November 6, they will proceed at once to the stations assigned. Four companies will be .i. T. .s- .i- I. !. !. T. .t- ]. + .t- !. valley but the generals face indI- cated that the captain s remarks were making no impression on him.
 As Colonel McClintoek remembers it, the occasion of the soldiers be- ing there was that there had been a conference planned between the president and some of the Pima and Maricopa chiefs, eoncernings matters that were then on the minds of the Indians. Just what the issues were he does not remember but thinks ' the Pimas desired to ask for some ( for the issuing of ra- tions to the tribesmen while the l Marieopas sought to enlist in the army to fight their old time enemies ( the Apaches. Captain Hancock was very timely for such a conference ; also, as he had during and after the l civil war, commanded a body of the river Indians in various excursions against the Apaches.