The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-03

effort he succeeded in having installed
system which was great improve
ment over conditions prevailing three
wears ago. but which is not by any
means adequate TO meet the demands
of the post now. If Fort Douglas is TO
become a brigade post complete new
sewer system will be Il necessity. An
effort is now being made TO connect the
sewer system at Fort Douglas at the
citv limits with the city sewer mains,
but in this connection some difficulty IS
being encountered The city, 1t ap-
pears. does not feel that it should bear
the expense OF making this improve.
ment. The military authorities feel
differently about it. saying that mas
much as the government gave the city
ground for the Mt Olivet cemetery
and the state ground for the state uni
versitv. the government should not be
asked TO bear the expense of building
sewer on city streets. Furthermore,
il seems. the city has long had the use
of a portion OF a government sewer.
However. it is not likely that this point
will present serious obstacle, espe-
ciaiiy' if Fort Douglas becomes an en-
larged post and the city reaps the ben
eft of that enlargement.
That there is no valid objection to
making Fort Douglas brigade post is
clearly TO he understood when atten-
tion as called to the fact that il com
mauds the KEY TO the situation should
trouble ever occur on tho Pacific coast.
IL would then become the only logical
central military location in the west.
Troops and munitions mobilized here
could be swiftly dispatched to the Pa
cific coast by four great transconts-
mental railroad systems-the Salt Lake
II 4 a., L., II
cific and the Southern Pacific 10 San
Francisco. and the Oregon Short Line
10 Portland. From the north, cast and
south regiments, horses. supplies and
other military necessities could be
speedily collected here over the Oregon
Short Line, the Union Pacific and the
Denver & Rio Grande. All of these
roads. particularly the Denver & Rio
Grande and the Union Pacific. have
connections with great railroad systems
reaching the vast territory of the mid
die west and the east There would
be no limit to the quantity Of forage
and supplies that could be centralized
here from all of this immense territory.
Defense Invulnerable.
The post would present au-iuvuI-
nernbie defense before an enemy and
could never be taken. II has natural
1stenSes on the west, inc mountain S.
whose passes could be easily guarded
and the deserts and the Great Salt lake
offering obstacles TO an enemy which
could not he overcome
rs A. evidence Of the value Of For;
Douglas from strategical viewpoint
mention may bc made OF the fact that
when the concentration movement al
| Fort SAM Houston was ordered. the
regiment from Fort Douglas was the
Second one there. tho on other regi
ment reaching the Texas post before
the Fifteenth being the regiment from
/ Atlanta, Ga The Fort Douglas reCi
ment WIS on the spot ten davs before
the soldiers from Fort -. 4 Russell A,
/ Cheyenne arrived. and two days before
/ the soldiers from Fort Leavenwortt t
| came.
II - unnecessary to add that 1itt
the advantages offered by For, Doug
las, there would he no need OF relvinp
on political influcucc 10 bring tho most
into brigade line. Military men every
where have long concened that For-
Douglas has every requirement for a
btg military center. and that. OF right
u does not have 20 bring 10 it's sup
port other influences than those pre-
seutcd by IT'S own supcriori'v
In view OF these facts, aud many
moro that could be cited. there IS evcry
, reason 20 warrant the belief that For
Douglas will soon become n brigad.
post. The time is opportuue II re
mains for the people OF Salt Lake Il
] give mtieriahzatiOn to the project,