Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1909-03-17
NEW SITE FOR FORT MCINTOSH.
City of Laredo Offers 1000 Acres to
Induce Enlargement of the Post.

Acceptance of a new site of over
I 1000 acres, To supplant 2OS acres now
/ making up Fort Mcintosh at Laredo.
is being considered by the war de-
4 partment. The city council of Laredo
has offered to donate 416 city blocks.
containing two and one-half acres
each, provided the government will
: abandon the present site and rebuild
entirely on the new property. The
/ land is situated on Laredo heights.
all within the city limits, its altitude
/ is much higher and the site is classed
as much more desirable than the
present post which borders on the
4 Rio Grande river. The river is not
encroaching on the property, however,
as it is mainly some forty feet above
| the river level, but the higher alti-
tude and being more removed from
the river has its alluring features in
comparison.
The city Of Laredo owns the 1000
acres offered. 1t possesses clear tile to
over two-thirds of the property, and
is now endeavoring to perfect title
to the remaining blocks. The owner
ship of the land itself has a long
history. being involved in the old
Spanish grants.
The principal idea of the people of
Laredo for the change in site obvi-
ously is the hope OF great enlarge
ment Of the post. At present only
four companies of the Nineteenth in
fantry are stationed there. and La
redo evidently believes that if the
new site is accepted the government
will erect costly barracks and quar-
far M apIa
cal strength of the fort.
From the standpoint of the gov
eminent. provided no enlargement is
ordinarily contemplated. the chief
cause for considering the change in
site lies in the necessity to rehabili-
tate the old fort. Many of the pres
ent buildings in use are dilapidated,
especially the officers quarters and
quarters of the commissioned
men. Administration buildings are
in the main new or in good repair.
however. but heavy expenditures are
imperative, it is said, if the property
is to be kept up, and many of the
buildings are said to have become
dilapidated beyond advisable repair
In this emergency. the possibilities
Of ABANDONING the present property
and accepting the five times larger
tract loom up as attractive.
There are some problems. however,
that remain to be solved before the
new site may be considered fulfilling
requirements. One of the most seri-
Gus questions is that of water. one
demonstrative well on the property.
down a depth of 1872 feet, furnishes
water 4 little salty. it is said. At
present water is secured from the
Rio Grande river. but the proposed
site is further down the stream and
below the point where the city sew
age dumps into the river. so river
water is not considered. Further in
vestigation OF the possibilities OF well
water is being made.
In fact, every phase of the situa-
ton will be the subject of a report
from an engineer from the construct
ing quartermaster's department. Fort
Sam Houston, to the war department.
and upon it's revelations will depend
the acceptance or rejection of the
new site offered. It is claimed the
abandoned property could be sold for
a considerable sum.-San Antonio
Express.