Gilpin observer., 1913-08-07
ELEVATION ToHAx05 FfRRI

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 '''chi-
gan.
One battalion of the 29th infantry is now sta
toned at Governors Island under the command of
Gen. Thomas H. Barry, who came there from
West Point last September, succeeding the late
Gen. Frederick Dent Grant.
Several years ago congress appropriated ST.
100 600 for the reconstruction of Governors Island
and 103 acres have finally been reclaimed from
the bay. Further improvements suggested,
and in 1908 ex-President Taft approved plans for
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 way to be the center of a
park with castellated tower its moat, draw
bridge, fine old gateway and sallyport to be unin-
terfered with. The barracks to be of the
latest model, with every appliance for comfort
and use and to house full regiment of 200
men. Magnificent parade and athletic grounds.
libraries piers for passengers and freight and
rows of commodious dwellings for the officers
were included in the plans.
Following this firm of architects presented an
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 a coat of
paint. But complaints rarely heard notwith-
standing the dictum that army officer who
doesn't complain has something the matter with
him. This military station is of the postes
de luxe; it is hard to 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 Barry's house. oldtime dwelling, Is
three-minute walk from the landing and direc-
tions TO reach 1t given by trio of guards
summing themselves under a large placard bear
ing the inscription do Not loiter" With this
example OF military obedience in mind you cross
the sward resplendent with another sign saying
keep ON the Grass" step up some cracked
steps through which tender blades of grass are
springng and turning corner face the parade
ground on which many of the houses, including
General Barry's, front. Like the majority his is
a two-story-anda-haf structure and has an add.
tional wing two to distinguish It.
The architecture Of these old houses is that of
the late colonial period. The color is a saffron
dulled to a brownish tint the trimmings white
and the blinds green. The latticed porch and bal.
ustrades recall the gingerbread work of the
Dutch housewives preparing some special form of
ornamented cakes.
Along Coonels Row. as one of the residential
streets is called the names printed in black
letters on the rise of the veranda steps. Prize
babies and young puppies frecke the parade
ground. There is no profusion Of flowers but
here and there are pansy beds kept trinity within
wooden frames. great SNOWFALL bush blooms
riotously in front of General Barrys door and the
perfume of honeysuckle is in the air. Most of
the gardening attention is devoted to the lawns
and park. and the general effect is that of clean
liness, order and discipline.
The Dutch name for the island was Nutting
Noting, Nutten Nut 1t was so called OBJ.
viously. for the splendid orchards of nut trees
but with the exception of the chestnuts--horse
no. edible-there is no trace at present of them.