Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1913-08-30
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and larger in winter. is transacted the principal
business for the military territory extending
along the Atlantic coast from Maine to Texas
and west to the Mississippi. exclusive of the mid
western states. Ohio. Indiana, Illinois and Michi
gan.
One battalion OF the 29th infantry is sta
toned at Governors Island under the command OF
Gen. Thomas II. Barry who there from
West Point last September, succeeding the late
Gen. Frederick Dent Grant.
Several years ago congress appropriated ST.
100 900 for the reconstruc of Governors Island
and 1913 acres have finally been reclaimed from
the bay. FuCther Improvements suggested,
and in 1908 ex-President Taft approved plans for
a regimental post but nothing has been done
since then TO carry them out. 1t was intended to
make of the island the finest military post in the
world All the old buildings were to be raZed
Fort Jay, South Battery and Castle William alone
to remain. The first to be the center OF
park with castellHted tower. its moat, draw
bridge, fine old gateway and sallyport to be unn-
terfered with. The barracks to be of the
latest model, with every appliance for comfort
and and to house a full regiment of 1900
men. Magnificent parade and athletic grounds.
libraries piers for passengers and freight and
rows of commodious dwellings for the officers
were included I'm the plans.
Following this firm of architects presented
even more elaborate design. This latest plan has
been approved by several prominent men and
representative societies.
To the casual glance at present every house on
Governors Island would be bettered by coat OF
paint. But complaints rarely heard, notwith-
standing the dictum that army officer who
Decent complain has something the matter with
him. This military sCation is OF the postes
de luxe; ii is hsrS 10 get there and has to
pry an incumbent away. SO when the authori-
ties at Washington spell economy" out loud the
officers at the post obediently silent.
General Barrys house oldtme dwelling, is
a threeminute walk from the lauding, and drec-
tions tc reach IL are given by trio of guards
summing themselves under large pacard bear
ing the inscription DO Not 1oiter." With this
example of military obedience in mind you cross
the sward Respondent with another sign saying
Keep or the Grass" step up some cracked
steps through which tender blades of grass are
springing and turning corner face the parade
ground which many Of the houses. including
General Bsrrys, front. Like the majority. his is
twostory-and-a-half structure and has add
tiona, wing to distinguish Il.
The architecture OF these old houses Is that of
the late colonial psTiod. The color is saffron
dued to a brownish tint the trimmings white
and the blinds grey The latticed porch and bal
ustrades recall the gingerbread work OF the
Dutch housewives preparing some special form of
ornamented cakes.
Along Colonels Row as one OF the residential
streets Is cailcd. the names are printed in black
letters the rise az the veranda steps. Prize
babies anti young puppies freckle the parade
ground. There II profusion OF flowers but
here and there are pansy beds Lept trinity wtfn
wooden frames. A great SNOWFALL bush blooms
riotously in front of General Barrys door and the
perfume of honeysuckle is In the air. Most Of
che gardening attention is devoted to the lawns
and park and the general effect is that Of clean
Illness order and discipline.
The Dutch name for the island was Nutting,
Noting. Nutten Nut. II called OBJ
viously for the spieE5id orchards of nut trees.
but with the exception OF the chestnuts-horse.
not edibe-there Is no trace at present of them.