Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-28
FOR INFANTRY POST
Potomac Park Just the Place,
Say Experts.
INSPECTION OF LOCATION
Gen. Matile and Col. Arthur Look
It Over and Find It Suits.
AT NO COST TO GOVERNMENT
Suitable as Regards Sanitation and
in Respect to Possibility Of
Maneuvers.
INSPECTION OF LOCATION
AT NO COST TO GOVERNMENT

Potomac Park has been declared an
infantry post, in case the powers that be
yield to the demand of infantry officers
for a garrison of that arm of the service
at the National Capital.
One of the main objections to the To-
cation in this city of an infantry regl-
ment or brigade has been always that
there was no available ground In tnls
vicinity suitable for the purpose ano
that It would cost too much to buy tne
necessary acreage.
Those favoring the scheme are now
prepared to answer that objection py
pointing out that Potomac Park meets
all the requirements Of the case ana
could be put In condition with COM
paratively small outlay. AS the grouno
belongs already to the government there
would be no expense attaching 10 ts e.
uuirement by the war Department A0A
military purposes.
Look It Over.
Az the instance of the United States
Infantry Association, Brig Gen. Leon A.
Matile, a retired infantry officer, and
Lieut.. Col. William H. Arthur OF the
medical department recently made
thorough personal inspection Of 1.-The Is
land" as they call the peninsula running
into the Potomac river. The two officers
walked from one end of the park. begin
ming at 26th and B streets. to the other
end, nearly opposite GiesbOro point.
Gen. Matile studied the land from the
viewpoint of infantry maneuvers. Col
Arthur examined the terrain with respect
y Al yO&t, ofH a
enthusiastic over the manifold advantages
of the park for infantry maneuvers
There was no part OF the island we
did not explore" said Gen. Matile, "and
the more we saw of it the more pleased
we were with it. There is room enough
for the troops of a brigade. and the
ground could not be better for the move
ment Of foot soldiers. should like to
see what objections can be raised to 1t
from the standpoint of an infantryman.
The infantry should consider itself very
fortunate that there is in the neighbor-
hood of the National Capital so eminent
ly satisfactory a piece of land. 1t Is
stroke Of good fortune 1t was brought to
our attention before 1t became permanent
ly and irrevocably dedicated to park
uses.
Admirably Suited.
THE site is all that has been claimed
for it, said Col. Arthur. 1T Is ad-
mirably suited for infantry from the
standpoint of the medical officer. Although
this has been one of the wettest Junes
for some years. Gen. Matile and 1 walk
ed practically dry shod all over the
island, which Is about two miles in
length and nearly three quarters of a
mile in width. The land has not been
leveled up to grade yet, and still we
found no swampy conditions. When the
grading Is completed there will be moth
ing to be desired.
THE conditions of the land are prac-
the site of the War College. which is
practically made land. Around the island
is a fine sea wall to prevent the encroach-
ment of the river. A splendid string of
buildings could be erected along the river
side. Nothing could be better. Then,
again, with the railroad at the upper end
of the island, 1t would be easy to run a
spur down to the post for the handling
of supplies, while there is plenty of ac-
commodation for docks along the island
for shipments to be made by water.
There may, be some difficulty in find
ing very solid ground for buildings, but
piling can always be relied upon to solve
that difficulty, as has been done at the
War College and a larger scale in
Chicago. For my own part, and strictly
from the point of view of the medical
officer, / can think of no site in the vi
cinity of Washington which would make
better infantry post"
Report May Be Made.
1t is not unlikely that a committee of
the Infantry Association will make an
official inspection of Potomac Park and
submit full report on the subject, with
a view to securing the favorable action of
the military authorities for the use of the
park as a site for an infantry post.
1t would require the authority of Con-
gress, however to establish an infantry
post on Potomac Park. The status of
that particular territory is clearly defined
by the act of Congress approved March
3, 1897, which provides that the entire
area formerly known as the Potomac
flats, and now being reclaimed, together
with the tidal reservoirs. Is hereby made
and declared a public park. under the
name of Potomac Park. and to be forever
held and used as park for the recrea-
ton and pleasure of the people"