Seattle Offers a Bluff to Win the Army's Guns

In the discussion in the United States Senate of the proposed establishment of a large military post on Puget Sound, which came up on February 27 in the consideration of the sundry civil bill, a letter from Gen. Otis was read by Senator Squire, reiterating and enlarging upon the general's arguments in favor of the measure and of the site on Magnolia bluff, near this city.

Senator Squire said: "Mr. President — In further support of the provisions relative to military posts I have from the secretary of war, upon the general subject of national defenses in the Puget Sound region, the report of Brigadier-General Otis, commanding the department of the Columbia, which report contains recommendations that were approved by the commanding general of the army November 5, 1894, and also by the fortifications board and the chief of engineers December 1, 1894, and December 4, 1894.

"This position — I mean Puget Sound — is important for defense against foreign aggression, also on account of internal disorders, such as have occurred in several instances during the past nine years. It is important as a base of supplies, in event of hostile demonstration along our international boundary line on the north or our extended water front to the northwestward, for either land or naval forces. England never acquires a mile of territory, whether it be a colony, a strategic post, or merely a coaling station for her ships of war, but she immediately proceeds to render it as impregnable as modern science and engineering skill can effect."

Secretary of War Daniel S. Lamont forwarded the reports of Maj. Gen. J. M. Schofield and Gen. Otis. Otis sets out the fortification board's plan: batteries at Deception Pass, at Admiralty Head, Point Wilson and Marrowstone Point at the mouth of Admiralty Inlet, at Double and Foulweather bluffs and the entrance of Hood canal, and at Port Orchard, where the government dry dock, on which one and one-half millions will be expended, approaches completion. But the key, he argues, is the western spur of Magnolia bluff, "which projects into the waters of Puget Sound and which is about three miles from the center of Seattle." Batteries there, he writes, "could be so placed thereon as to command the waters of Admiralty Inlet for a distance of 15 or 20 miles, to defend the entrance of Duwamish bay, on which Seattle proper is located, to protect West Seattle."

With the plans, however, comes an awkward discovery. Nearly every reservation on the Sound has already been taken up by private claimants. "At Admiralty head a reservation of 640 acres was declared on September 22, 1868, but it was almost entirely covered by perfected claims prior to date of declaration, and all that is left to government is a light house reserve containing some fifteen or twenty acres. At Point Wilson the same extent of reservation was declared on the same date, but private claims, then or since perfected, cover the entire area with the exception of the extreme point, on which a lighthouse is maintained. The reservation at Hoods head is also entirely lost — only about 40 acres remain to which the government has perfect or undisputed title, and in that lost portion the most important part is included. These seemingly anomalous conditions as regards title have arisen, in part, it is believed, through errors attending surveys, as well as by the fact that private claims had their inception before government declaration was made."

The citizens of Seattle, Otis reports, have moved to make good the loss: "The result of the recommendation thus far has been a movement among citizens of Seattle to secure and tender to government such portions of Magnolia bluff as would be required for the establishment of a post thereon. If encouraged, I think that Seattle will acquire and offer to government title to the desirable portion of the bluff containing some thirteen or fourteen hundred acres. Should it do this I would earnestly recommend acceptance and immediate application for an appropriation sufficient to erect the needed buildings required to comfortably quarter two companies of infantry."

He also asks that the garrison at Fort Townsend be given up. "Its retention is a detriment to the government, since it destroys the availability of a portion of our small army, and I am also of opinion that it must of necessity be abandoned very soon on account of its inadequate water supply. Its main dependence is a small spring in the foothills, which during the dry weeks of the past summer failed to yield more than four or five thousand gallons daily. If it is considered impracticable to place the garrison at Magnolia bluff, then to what point shall they be sent?"