The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-09
FORT DOUGLAS
PARK PROBABLE.
Proposition to Beautify 200
Acres on the East Bench
Being Pushed.
CAPTAIN n. +. DALTON
TALKS OF THE PLANS
Virtually No Question Now That
improvements Will Be
Made.

Progress is being made IN the efforts
to create a national park of the 200 acres
OF government land In the Fort Douglas
reservation. Some time ago the move
mcnt had its beginning With the salt
Lake Real Estate association. with q
view OF establishing n public park on the
east bench. The movement at that time
was considered OF Importance on account
OF the rapid growth Of the city In That
direction.
After some discussions were hello re-
garding the proposition letters were sent
10 the Utah representatives in congress
asking them to give their aid to the
matter. Senator Smoot has written TO
George M Cannon. president OF The as
sociation. telling of the interest being
taken at the national capital and suggest
ing a plan whereby the park may be
established His letter TO Mr. Cannon
follows:
81 had up for consideration with the
quartermaster general the other day the
question OF improving certain parks OF
the Fort Douglas military reservation
where II adjoins the residence district OF
Salt Lake City
general to include in the book of esti-
mates for the war department an Item
for this improvement | have nothing on
hand by way OF data as TO the probable
cost of the improvement and therefore )t
would be Impractical BILE 10 submit the
matter in proper form until some irfor-
nation OF this character IS submitted 10
the quartermaster general.
II wish that you would kindly inform
me as To the nature and extent of the
Improvement in question and approx
matcly the amount that would be re-
quired therefor. U,,n receipt of this
information ] will submit the matter to
the chief of staff. and he in turn to the
secretary Of war for his consideration
and approval.
IAN early answer will greatly oblige."
Cannon Writes Letters.
Following the suggestion from Senator
Smoot, Mr.. Cannon has asked the park
commissioners TO aid III arriving at def
mite figures and plans that may be sub
mitted to the quariermaster general In
asking the commissioners for this as
sistance Mr.. Cannon sent the following
letter:
''At recent meeting OF the association
1t was decided to ask the CO cooperation of
your honorable body. as. OF course, all
such improvements within Salt Lake City
itself are under your jurisdiction.
will you kindly take the matter up
the approximate amount that would be
required to make an improvement OF the
kind suggested2 or course. the earlier
this is furnished to Senator Smoot, the
more likely Il is that he will he able to
get the amount included in the appropria-
tion about to be made. Anything that we
can do as the Real Estate association TO
assist in this matter we shall be glad 10
do"
An effort was made Saturday after
noon to get the park commissioners to-
gether to take them over the ground
It was impossible to do this and a meet
Ing OF the commissioners probably Will
be held early In the week 1t Is the in
tention OF the members Of the real es-
tate association To keep busy until they
succeed in securing this Improvement.
Government Favorable.
That the government has taken ia
l,la
provement and means to back it up with
effective efforts is evidenced in the ar
rival yesterday Of Captain Fl F. Dalton
of the quartermaster's department OF the
United States army, who has been COM
missloncd as constructing quarterrnaster
In connection with any Improvements
THAT may be made at Fort Douglas. Cap
tain Dalton Had in charge the construc-
tion OF barracks. grades and general Inn
work at Fort Mckinley and
Camp Wallace in the Philippine islands
during 1906, and 1907, and played con
spicuous role in the great work done by
the quartermaster's department during
the Spanish american war. Since 1907
he has been commandant al Fort ST.
Michael in Alaska, where the Sixteenth
regiment Of infantry was stationed,
Shortly after the Fort Douglas PROPOSE
tion WAS put up TO the officials al Wash
ington Captain Dalton received orders to
come to the Utah post as constructing
with his wife and two sons. They are
living at the Hotel Utah and Will make
salt Lake their home until the captain
is shifted to another locality by the war
department. Speaking OF the matter yes
tcrday. Captain Dalton said
Captain Dalton S Views.
Although 7 am aware that the govern
ment is considering vast improvements
toward Identification OF Fort Douglas,
just what steps will be taken and just
what the improvements win be l am un
able to say. My instructions comprehend
ed practically nothing except TO come
here at once and take charge OF any fu-
turc construction work or Improvement
that might be ordered. In the army OF
ders are received and obeyed. with little
said in the way OF details. Therefore at
present I know little more than may
have been read in the newspapers. How
ever. the government knows I am on
the ground. and I expect TO receive de-
tailed Information shortly. Then, per-
haps, | can better state just what the
is"