Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 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 H. Barry, who came there from
West Point last September, succeeding the late
Gen. Frederick Dent Grant.
Several years ago congress appropriated ST.
100000 for the reconstruction of Governors Island
and 1913 acres have finally been reclaimed from
the bay. Further Improvements were suggested
and in 1908 ex-President Taft approved plans for
a regmentaI 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 RACED,
Fort Jay. South Battery and Castle William alone
to remain. The first to be the center of a
park with a 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
aud 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 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.
Governors Island would be bettered by coat of
paint But complaints rarely heard, notwith-
standing the dlctum that an 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
pry incumbent away SO when the authori-
ties at Washington spell economy" out loud the
officers at the post obediently silent
General Barry's house an oId-time dwelling. is
three-minute walk from the landing, and direc-
uons TO reach it are given by trio of guards
summing themselves under large plaCard bear
Ing the inscription DO Not Loiter" With this
example of military obedience in mind you cross
the sward Respondent with another sign saying
Keep OF the Grass" step up some cracked
steps through which tender blades of grass are
Sprtnging and turning corner face the parade
ground on which many OF the houses. including
General Barry's front Like the majority his is
4 twostory -and-a-half structure and has an add
tonal wing or two to distinguish it.
The architecture Of these old houses is that OF
the late colonial period, The color is a saffron
duIled to a brownsh tint the trimmings white
aud 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 Coiopers Row, OF the residential
streets IS called, the printed in black
letters on the rise of the yeTanda steps. Prize
sabies and young puppies reckle the parade
ground There is no profuson 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
aud park. and the general effect is that of clean
illness, order and discipline
The Dutch name for the island was Nutting.
Noting. Nutten OF Nut. 1t was so called OBJ
yjously. for the splendid orchards OF nut trees.
but with the exception OF the chestnuts-horse,
not edible-there is no trace at present of them.