The Yale expositor., 1913-08-07

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 now sta
toned at Governors Island under the command OF
Gen Thomas II Barry, who came there from
West Point last September, succeeding the late
Gen. Frederick Dent Grant.
Several years ago congress appropriated ST.,
600 for the reconstruction OF Governors Island
and 1913 acres have finally been reclaimed from
the bay. Further improvements were suggested
and in 1903 exPresident 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 was to be the center of
park with castellated tower, its moat draw
bridge, fine old gateway and sallyport to be unin-
terfered with. The barracks were to be Of the
latest model, with every appliance for comfort
and use and to house a full regiment Of 1,2O0
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 are rarely heard notwith-
standing the dictum that army officer who
doesn't complain has something the matter with
him. This military station is one OF the postes
de luxe; It is hard TO get there and one has to
Dry an incumbent away. So when the authori-
ties at Washington spell economy" out loud the
officers at the post are obediently silent
General Barry's house, old-time dwelling is
n three-minute walk from the landing, and dlrec
tons 90 reach il are 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 of the Grass" step up some cracked
steps through which tender blades of grass are
springing and turning a corner face the parade
ground on which many of the houses including
General Barrys, front Like the majority. his is
a twostoryand-ahalf structure and has an addi-
tional wing or two to distinguish It,
The architecture Of these old houses is that OF
the late colonial period The color is a saffron,
dued 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 Colonels Row as one OF the residential
streets is called. the 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
Tiotously In front OF General Barrys door and the
perfume OF honeysuckle is i'm the air. Most OF
the gardening attention ls devoted to the lawns
and park. and the general effect IS that of clean
Iiness order and discipline.
The Dutch name for the island Nutting
Noting Nutten or Nut IL was so called oh
viousy for he splendid orchards of nut trees
but with the exception of the chestnuts-horse
not edble-tliero Us no trace at present OF them