Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1913-10-08
HARD
FOR WH|PPLE
RETENTION
RENEWED VIGOR AND EN-
THUSIASM PUT INTO
EFFORTS TO HAVE THE
GOVERNMENT ACT
(From Saturdays Daily

uOH ana REHABILITATION OF WnlpplC
Barracks by government troops has
assumed significant proportions and
present indications are declared 70
be such that in a very short period
of time decisive and final answer
regarding the War Departments
policy will be received
There are but few Prescottonians
who are aware Of the herculean eff
forts being put forth by several
prominent local men in a last deter
mined onslaught to convince the
government of Prescott's just dues
in this matter. At no time since
it was temporarily abandoned have
the activities to rehabilitate the post
assumed such an enthusiastic or de-
termined aspect.
Arizona's representatives in the
United States Senate, Henry As
hurst and Mark Smith, have been
interested and are putting forth their
best efforts and the same is true
of Congressman Hayden from Ari-
iona. At the same time the local
citizens, headed by F. NJ. Murphy.
are leaving no stone unturned to &C
complish this important work.
Whipple Barracks. rebuilt in 1907,
stands today, less than six years
later, an abandoned group Of mod
ern. thoroughly equipped, faultlessly
situated buildings. Every natural
advantage is available The grounds
for maneuvering have been termed
the most splendid in the world and
the target range, one of the best in
the country. And yet, Whipple
Barracks was abandoned shortly aft
er rebuilt The plan of modifying
of the army into larger bodies was
originally responsible for this step
by the War Department. Since
then local citizens have strained
every effort to secure the rehabilita
ton OF the post
That in brief is a resume of the
situation today with the government
still to be heard from regarding its
attitude at the present time.
Those bare facts. however, do not
illustrate exactly why the people OF
Prescott are so 'nsistent that the
post be retained. Old-timers will
tell the reader that about eighteen
years ago the government rejected
the water supply offered by Prescott
to the post. Several other dehcien-
cies were noted. At tremendous
expense Prescott rallied to its de-
termination to retain the post, built
the new Del Rio water system, con
structed a new sewerage line and
accomplished numerous other things,
simply to retain the post. That's
why the men who are struggling to
retain and rehabilitate Fort Whip
pie are conducting their vigorous
campaign with the government.
This strange battle has been go
ing on for several years and finally
point has been reached where /. Is
believed the government will decide
one way or another. Every indica-
ton would point, however, to the
rehabilitation OF the barracks as the
ultimate result of the earnest ef-
forts put forth by men who have
carried the standard TO the front
from the very start.
In line with this work, +. NJ
Murphy. who was largely instru-
mental in the erection of the new
Fort Whipple barracks and who has
been interested in the retention oil
the post for nearly twenty years
has compiled a pamphlet which con
tains a resume of the official CORE
spondence regarding the reconstruc'
ton of Fort Whipple, the demand;
for a better water supply, the
numerous obstacles presenting them
selves in suggestions that the pos
be abandoned. which were overcome
In short the resume is history o
Fort Whipple from its very mcep
ton to a period in last year. The
interesting and all important chap
ter which may read one way or the
other is expected to arrive by the
end OF the year.
1t has been oftimes suggested
/ that a school of musketry be es
tablished at the barracks. This mat
ter like the rehabilitation OF the
post by troops is still in the air
however. A still later development
would imply the instituting of mil
itary academy, but it is conceded
that those who have the work il
hand will stick to their guns t.
bring back to Prescott that which
is Justly due, the permanent re
Mobilization of the Whipple bar