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ENLARGEMENT OF MILITARY RESERVATION OF 
 FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEX. 
 
 HEARINGS 
 
 . ^ /) BEFORE THE 
 
 L( , '^ '.Oil 'Z-^.^::. .,' . .:., 
 
 ^COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS 
 UNITED STATES SENATE 
 
 ON THE BILL 
 
 S. 5049 
 
 TO PROVIDE FOR ENLARGING THE MILITARY RESERVATION 
 OF FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEX. 
 
 FEBRUARY 2, 1917 
 
 Printed for the use of the Committee on Military Affaire 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 
 1817 
 
COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS. 
 United States Senate. 
 
 GEORGE E. CHAMBERLAIN, Oregon, Chairman. 
 
 GILBERT M. HITCHCOCK, Nebraska. 
 LUKE LEA, Tennessee. 
 DUNCAN U. FLETCHER, Florida. 
 HENRY L. MYERS, Montana. 
 CHARLES S. THOMAS, Colorado. 
 MORRIS SHEPPARD, Texas. 
 J. C. W. BECKHAM, Kentucky. 
 ROBERT F. BROUSSARD, Louisiana. 
 WILLIAM F. KIRBY, Arkansas. 
 
 Caralyn B. Shelton, Clerk. 
 
 Hubert Grant, Assistant Clerk 
 2 
 
 HENRY A. DU PONT, Delaware. 
 FRANCIS E. WARREN, Wyoming. 
 THOMAS B. CATRON, New Mexico. 
 JAMES H. BRADY, Idaho. 
 NATHAN GOFF, West Virginia. 
 LeBARON B. COLT, Rhode Island. 
 JOHN W. WEEKS, Massachusetts. 
 
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 ENLARGEMENT OF MILITARY RESERVATION OF FORT SAM 
 
 HOUSTON, TEX. 
 
 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1917. 
 
 United States Senate, 
 Committee on Military Affairs, 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m, in the room of the com- 
 mittee, Capitol, Senator Geo. E. Chamberlain (chairman) presiding. 
 Present: Senators Chamberlain, Thomas, Sheppard, Beckham, 
 du Pont, Warren, and Brady. 
 
 The committee proceeded to consider the following bill (S. 5049) : 
 
 A BILL To provide for enlarging the military reservation of Fort Sam Houston, Texas. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America 
 in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized and directed to 
 purchase such parcels of land, not exceeding one thousand five hundred acres, adjoin- 
 ing the military reservation of Port Sam Houston, Texas, as may be needed for the 
 uses of said post, considering present and future needs, and such as may be suitable 
 for encampments, maneuvers, and field instruction of the mobile army of the United 
 States or parts thereof; and for the purposes of this act there is hereby authorized to be 
 expended, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of 
 ),000, or so much thereof as may be necessary. 
 
 The Chairman. Senator Sheppard, the committee understands 
 that you desire to have several persons called with reference to 
 Senate bill 5049, providing for enlarging the military reservation at 
 Fort Sam Houston, Tex. You may suggest the order in which you 
 desire these gentlemen to appear. 
 
 Senator Sheppard. Mr. Chairman, I desire to say by way of 
 introduction that the bill now before the committee was a part of a 
 program for necessary improvements at Fort Sam Houston, which 
 was included in two bills that I introduced during the last session 
 of Congress — S. 5048 and 5049. The Secretary of War wrote to the 
 chairman of this committee on April 22, 1916, urging the adoption 
 of these bills. At the time, however, the committee found it desirable 
 to allow us only one of the measures submitted. 
 
 I am now asking that the committee consider the other one, and 
 I will ask Mr. Groos, the president of the San Ajitonio Chamber of 
 Commerce, to say a few words in behalf of the bill. 
 
 Senator Warren. Before Mr. Groos commences, I would like to 
 ask the Senator if he has arranged to have his witnesses appear 
 before the Committee on Appropriations, because that committee 
 will undoubtedly take this matter up. The matter of several other 
 posts has come up in this way. Of course I do not object to its 
 coming up in this committee now, but as I say, it will undoubtedly 
 come up in the Committee on Appropriations. 
 
 3 
 
4 ENLAEGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 
 
 Senator. Sheppard. I will say to the Senator that I will attend to 
 that part of the matter later. I wish to have this committee have 
 the data before it, should it consider the matter. 
 
 STATEMEISTT OF MR. FRANZ C. GROOS, CHAIRMAN, SAN AN- 
 TONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SAN ANTONIO, TEX. 
 
 Mr. Groos. Mr. Chaimian and gentlemen of the committee, I 
 have the honor to come before you representing the Chamber of 
 Commerce of San Antonio, and while we primarily come as repre- 
 sentatives of the city of San Antonio to urge the improvement of 
 Fort Sam Houston, I hope you will give us credit for patriotic motives 
 in that we shall not urge anything except for the benefit of the United 
 States Army and the country at large. 
 
 We have worked faithfully and hard in our negotiations for the 
 purchase of the land, and in the negotiations for the leasing of the 
 property, and in any other manner in which we could be of service 
 to the local authorities and Gen. Funston and Col. Rogers and the 
 rest of them, as well as your committee here, and we therefore hope 
 we have earned your confidence and the privilege of counsel with you. 
 We have in every instance, we think, seen to it that the United vStates 
 Government gets a fair deal, and that the price for the land pur- 
 chased, that we leased, and the different matters of business that 
 might come up between the Army and citizens and the community, 
 have in all cases been fairly dealt with as far as the Government is 
 concerned. 
 
 I shall not go into the matter in detail myself except to testify to 
 the fact that this piece of property which is now up for purchase is 
 being used for, and is already a part of, the drill grounds and a part 
 of Fort Sam Houston itself. It is now under lease with the option 
 to purchase. Mr. L. B. Clegg, who represented the chamber of com- 
 merce in most of the negotiations with the property owners, will 
 testify as to the values and reasonableness of the purchase, and Judge 
 James R. Davis, county judge of San Antonio, will testify as to the 
 value of this property from a military standpoint and as an economic 
 measure at the present day. 
 
 I beg leave to introduce Mr. Clegg. 
 
 STATEMENT OF MR. L. B. CLEGG, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 
 SAN ANTONIO, TEX. 
 
 Mr. CleCxG. 'Mr. Chairman, this map shows the propert}' in question. 
 It lies between the present Fort Sam Houston and the military 
 aviation grounds. As Mi'. Groos has stated, it is now under lease by 
 the War Department for drill grounds and is the only piece of ground 
 they have on which to drill the troops that we have down there, aU 
 the other ground being occupied for camping purposes. 
 
 The Chairman. What rent do they pay for it now? 
 
 Mr. Clegg. It is about 1,078 acres, and the War Department is 
 paying $681 and something rent per month — about 67 cents an acre. 
 We negotiated the lease at Gen. Funston's request, and the lease was 
 based practically on what these people were able to lease to farm 
 tenants for. Options have been obtained on all except a piece 
 belonging to the M. K. & T. Railway Co., which can be purchased 
 
ENLARGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 5 
 
 at what we consider and what everyone else considers to be a very 
 fair commercial price. As a matter of fact the options will expire on 
 June 30 of this year, and in our opinion they can not be renewed for 
 this price. Last year we estimated that this land would cost prob- 
 ably $250 per acre, and the options averaged about $214.50, which 
 was better than we considered at that time we could do. There are 
 artesian wells on two tracts of this land. The Herff and Eifler tract 
 has a 12-inch well and a pumping plant, etc., which they state cost 
 them practically $15,000 or $16,000, and they are willing to turn it 
 over at that price for use at the present time for irrigating part of the 
 tract. On Col. Breckenridge's tract of 60 acres there arc two flowing 
 artesian wells, one of 20 inches which flows 16,000,000 gallons per day, 
 and one 24-inch artesian well which is claimed by Col. Breckenridge 
 to be the largest flowing artesian well in the world. It flows 
 25,000,000 gallons per day, and I am told by waterworks experts 
 that the value of this well was much more than Col. Breckenridge 
 asked for the entire tract. As a matter of fact, that is one tract on 
 which I do not think we could get another option at the present 
 price, which is $50,000, $200 per acre, and $38,000 for improve- 
 ments, which he stated would not cover the money which he had 
 spent on it. Col. Breckenridge has retired and has spent a good 
 deal of money for his own pleasure on it. 
 
 That, I think, Mr. Chairman, covers the ground as far as I can 
 cover it. As I stated, the options expire on June 30 of this year 
 and I do not think we can renew them at as reasonable rates as we 
 have at the present time. 
 
 The Chairman. We can not get you to do like the Tacoma people 
 did, bond your county for about $2,000,000 and make us a present 
 of it ? 
 
 Mr. Clegg. At the present time, Mr. Chairman, we are bonding 
 the county for all we can for good roads. 
 
 The Chairman. Tacoma the other day offered to present the Gov- 
 ernment with a very large tract of land known as American Lake for 
 maneuver purposes and the mobilization of a large body of troopis. 
 The}^ feel they will be compensated for the expenditures by tne 
 presence of a large body of men. 
 
 Mr. Clegg. We have felt that Fort Sam Houston was one of the 
 greatest assets that San Antonio had, and for that reason the chamber 
 of commerce has always taken the position that anything Fort Sam 
 Houston wanted we would very gladly help them to get, and see that 
 the Government was treated fairly in all respects, especially as to the 
 price it should pay. Some of those people ask $300 an acre for 
 the land, and we have options on it for from $200 to $275. 
 
 The Chairman. The average price that you have options for is at 
 the rate of $200 an acre ? 
 
 Mr. Clegg. It averages about $214.50, with an allowance of $53,000 
 for the artesian wells and pumping plant, which is probably lesb 
 than they cost. 
 
 The Chairman. That, of course, from an army standpoint, would 
 not add any value to the land if the Government bought it. It 
 would be for a drill ground. 
 
 Mr. Clegg. Yes, sir; but the wells are right close to the post, and 
 you have your own water tanks there, and the wells can be used m 
 connection with the whole of Fort Sam Houston. This 24-inch well 
 
6 ENLARGEMENT OF EESEEVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 
 
 furnishes enough power, running with a turbine wheel, to pump 
 water to Col. Breckenridge's residence, pumping water up 150 feet. 
 The well is probably about a mile and a half from the residence, and 
 it pumps 750 gallons a minute into the tank at the residence with its 
 own power. 
 
 The Chairman. You were heard on this proposition before, were 
 you not ? 
 
 Mr. Clegg. Yes, sir. 
 
 The Chairman. Who is your next witness? 
 
 Senator Sheppard. Judge Davis. I take pleasure in introducing 
 Judge Davis. 
 
 STATEMENT OF JUDGE J. R. DAVIS, SAN ANTONIO, TEX. 
 
 The Chairman. Judge, you were heard at the last hearing, were 
 you not ? 
 
 Judge Davis. Yes, sir; when the two bills were up for considera- 
 tion. 
 
 The only matter I desire to present to you now is the economic 
 value of this land and the desirability of its immediate purchase. 
 The United States Government there now has invested $6,000,000, 
 in what is considered the third largest post in the United States, and 
 it now finds itself with tremendous evolutions in progress and without 
 even a drill ground upon which to adequately drill the soldiers and 
 maneuver them when they come there. It is not due to the short- 
 sightedness of the Government, because the post has gradually 
 been enlarged from time to time and has been gradually increasing 
 in strategic value to the Government. Our former drill ground is 
 now occupied with cantonments of the Regular Army. The Seventh 
 Field Artillery, the Thirty-second Artillery, Signal and Medical 
 Corps are now occupying the grounds that were formerly used for 
 drill purposes, and those grounds are now covered with tentage. 
 Magnificent roads have been built to accommodate the troops, field 
 kitchens, and other necessities costing several hundred thousand 
 dollars to take care of. This is not an emergency proposition, but a 
 need of the Regular Establishment of the Army at that point. 
 
 When we were here before 1 stated that this post was originally 
 planned by the Government as a cavalry post, and that carrying out 
 that proposition they had established a remount station at San 
 Antonio, Tex., and one at El Paso. Just before the mobilization 
 of the Army— if I am correct about it — I think there were 11 regi- 
 ments of Cavalry in that district. Since that time the San Antonio 
 depot and the El Paso depot, I understand from military authori- 
 ties, have handled in the neighborhood of 75,000 horses. It becomes 
 necessary in the handling of those horses, after they are received in 
 San Antonio and El Paso, that they have private stables and other 
 necessities, such as medical treatment, and I believe it is a rule to have 
 them acclimated for at least three weeks before the}^ are allowed to 
 go into service. You gentlemen, of course, being on the Military 
 Affairs Committee, are perfectly familiar with all the criticisms and 
 experiences that the Army has bad, and I believe the main criticism 
 and tlie main defect has been pointed out by the expei'ts as being the 
 utter lack — I woiikl not say of intelUgence — but the utter lack of 
 military training of the men who come there, and the lack of experi- 
 
ENLARGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 7 
 
 ence on the part of the commanders in teaching in a school for tlie 
 soldiers. The men come down there half equiy)ped and utterly ig- 
 norant, as far as they are concerned, practicall}' of the rules relating 
 to the care of sokliers — the care of themselves in the matter of sani- 
 tation — and of health as well as their duties as soldiers. If Fort 
 Sam Houston is to be considered as a cavaJry post, how much more 
 necessary will it be in the school of the soldier to have adequate 
 facilities whereby the sc^klier may not onl}" learn what is necessary 
 to know about himself, but about the care of animals, equipment, 
 etc., and without suitable ground for drill purposes where he may 
 be taught daily there is no chance for him to learn. 
 
 The pomt may be raised that 18 miles above San Antonio there is 
 a military reservation, but that is used for the soldier body in the 
 movement of troops and for maneuvermg purposes. It is some dis- 
 tance away and involves a march of from two to three days to reach 
 that station. 
 
 Senator Thomas. Is that north or south of the city ? 
 
 Judge Davis. It is north of the city 18 miles. I want to bring a 
 subject up now in case the committee should decide to discuss the 
 measure 
 
 Senator Thomas. What is the acreage ? 
 
 Judge Davis. Eighteen thousand acres. That has been used in 
 the soldier maneuver divisions from over the United States, but it is 
 for practical purposes, for the daily school of the soldiers, for the 
 men who are in camp that the land covered by the bill before us is 
 needed. For instance, under Gen. Greene, who has a division of 
 11,000 men — the remnants of which are there now — this entire tract 
 was covered daily with thousands of soldiers employed in various 
 military occupations and in the work of the school of soldiers. Any 
 morning a person riding out there could witness a most magnificent 
 spectacle, and yet that land that these men had to use daily for the 
 most useful purpose in the world is only land leased by the United 
 States Government, subject to the yearly option to buy. 
 
 The Chairman. Do they use this reservation at all durmg these 
 maneuvers ? 
 
 Judge Davis. The land we now wish to buy? 
 
 The Chairman. No; the one 18 miles from San Antonio ? 
 
 Judge Davis. Yes, sir; they usually use that in conjunction. That 
 was occupied aU the time, but that is not adapted for this purpose 
 here. It is timbered country, and it is for the maneuvers of artillery 
 practically and an artillery range. 
 
 Senator Brady. Are there any improvements on that large reser- 
 vation that you speak of ? 
 
 Jud^e Davis. There are a great many minor improvements in the 
 way of weUs, etc. 
 
 Senator Brady. No; I mean a great amount of permanent im- 
 provements. 
 
 Judge Davis. No, sir; in fact, it was intended and bought for 
 artillery practice and for pasturage purposes and is now being used 
 to pasture a large number of horses that were left when the mUitia 
 was being sent home. The purchase of the land now in question 
 has been suggested by almost every commander who has been sta- 
 tioned at Fort Sam Houston, for necessary drill grounds; and Gen. 
 Funston — particularly at the time we came here before, when the 
 
8 ENLARGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 
 
 necessity for quartermaster's facilities was being urged — insisted then 
 that Senator Sheppard present to the senatorial committee the impera- 
 tive necessity of ground for drill purposes for the improvement of 
 the soldiers in order that the school of soldiers might be adequately 
 carried out, and for that reason we think now is the proper time to 
 buy this land, as it will never again be obtainable at the same figure. 
 In fact, I notice in one letter where one man said his option after 
 June 1 would be raised $5,000. 
 
 Almost all of this land is in a high state of cultivation and subject 
 to irrigation. Upon it are wells so magnificent in their flow that the 
 pressure turns its own turbine. Breckenridge uses these wells for 
 irrigation purposes under power developed by the flow of the water. 
 It is, as was stated by Mr. Clegg, one of the most magnificent in the 
 world, and to think that the Government can buy that land at this 
 price. 
 
 Senator Thomas. What is the amount required to purchase? 
 
 Judge Davis. Three hundred and thirty thousand dollars. 
 
 Senator Thomas. I suppose you know that there are a great many 
 little towns in Texas, and a great many other little towns in Colorado 
 and other parts of the country, that demand in the aggregate 
 $38,000,000 for the construction of public buildings. Do you think it 
 would be wiser to use tlie little money we still have in the Treasury for 
 a purpose like this, or in the construction of these numerous buildings 
 all over the country ? 
 
 Judge Davis. Buildings of what sort ? 
 
 Senator Thomas. Post offices. 
 
 Judge Davis. If you want my judgment — of course T am not a 
 military authority — I think that in the condition in which we are now 
 situated, and in view of our environment with reference to other 
 nations, when soldiers of the character and ability of Gen. Funston 
 urge the immediate necessity for land upon which to educate soldiers, 
 it is far preferable to post offices or other internal improvements. 
 
 Senator Thomas. I fully agree with you; and I think, too, that the 
 posts that we should improve and enlarge are those which are near 
 the border where the massing of troops is primarily necessary, and 
 where their constant presence is desirable. Your suggestion appeals 
 very favorably to me. 
 
 Judge Davis. Take it from the strategic standpoint, since you 
 raised that question. Here we are 150 miles from the border, 600 
 miles from El Paso, 150 miles from Brownsville, and if you have out- 
 side trouble, 240 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, with four direct lines 
 connecting San Antonio with Galveston, and capable of the movement 
 of any amount of troops in eight hours. 
 
 Senator Thomas. Yes; I think the enlargement of a place for a 
 military post like San Antonio is one of the things that justifies the 
 expenditure of money now. 
 
 Judge Davis. And it calls for an urgent expenditure, because, as I 
 stated hi the beginTiing, here you have S6, 000, 000 hivested, and 
 experience has shown you that the War Department, every time it 
 has called for mobilization, has seiit these troops to San Antonio, 
 the logiciil place. In 1898, Gen. Carter with his division was sent 
 there, and the moment this trouble arose every soldier was sent into 
 that district. 
 
ENLARGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 9 
 
 Now, there have been, as you know, as high as 150,000 soldiers, 
 contiguous to our territory, and supplied from San Antonio and El 
 Paso, and I want to say further, as these gentlemen have said, that 
 we challenge you or any real estate man, or any set of individuals to 
 go to any one of the men. who own this land and buy it at any cheaper 
 price than the United States Government can buy it to-day. 
 
 wSenator Thomas, Of course, we all assume that the public spirited 
 citizens of San Antonio will protect the Government. If we accept 
 your proposition, you will protect the Government against extortion, 
 and the exaction of undue prices for this very necessary piece of 
 ground. That we must assume. 
 
 Judge Davis. Senator Chamberlain has raised the question 
 whether we could not, by a bond issue in the county, present this 
 land to the Government. I believe our community is as public 
 spirited as any community in the United States, and to show you 
 how much we have valued the presence of the military in our district, 
 while other counties and other commmiities have complained about 
 the destruction and injury of roads by reason of this vast military 
 movement — Bexar County has yet to say a word. We have cheer- 
 fully taken care of our maintenance, and if you knew the figures 
 into which it rmis you would be surprised. Three or four or five 
 hundred trucks in daily use do vast destruction to our roads, and we 
 have yet to ask the Government a dollar on this account. 
 
 Senator Sheppard. Mr. Chairman, Gen. Bliss has very kindly 
 consented, by permission of the Secretary of War, to come here at 
 my request to tell us something of the need for this land, as he has 
 been at Fort Sam Houston and knows the situation. I shall ask the 
 committee to hear him. 
 
 STATEMENT OF GEN. T. H. BLISS, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Gen. Bliss. Mi-. Chairman and gentlemen, it may be of some 
 interest in passing to call attention to the fact that the situation that 
 the gentlemen who have been speaking to you referred to at San 
 Antonio, is one that has confronted us at few other places. 
 
 The situation is due to the evolutions of this establishment from 
 very small beginnings, and in the course of each evolution every step 
 seemed to be the fuial one, and no particular thought was given as 
 to what might possibly be required later on. 
 
 This station, or this establishment at San Antonio, first originated 
 for the reason that before the days of railroads, just as now, San 
 Antonio was and is the logical distribution point of supplies for 
 everything along that part of the frontier of the United States. At 
 a time, quite a number of years ago, when the railroad, I believe, 
 reached San Antonio but no farther, all of the posts that we had 
 along the frontier from Brownsville along the Rio Grande River well 
 on toward El Paso, together with places like Fort Clark and old Fort 
 Davis, and a number of others, were located there because this country 
 was aU supplied from San Antonio by wagon trains, and for that 
 purpose the Government established a large depot and first took this 
 piece of land which is represented on this corner of the map [indicat- 
 ing], for an Infantry post. They then acquired land which is not 
 sho^^'^l on the map,'^but very close to this, on which was located a 
 large, heavy stone structure, locally called the " quadrangle building, " 
 after the order of a Spanish or Mexican corral on a square, and made 
 
10 ENLARGEMENT OF EESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 
 
 up of storehouses and shelter — a place from which they had to ship 
 from time to time to these outlying stations, and the upper stories 
 were used as office rooms or headquarters. Then a little farther on 
 was a little tract of land which was occupied as the department head- 
 quarters of the establishment. The Infantry troops were used as 
 guards for these wagon trains from and to Brownsville, Ringgold, 
 Mcintosh, Old Fort Duncan at Eagle Pass, and other posts such as 
 Clark, Concho, Davis, and a number of others. These posts were all 
 supplied by regular trips of these wagon trains from this place. Then 
 in the early eighties, due to revolutionary conditions in Mexico that 
 had lasted so long prior to the establishment of the Diaz regime in 
 Mexico and were still brewing, an additional force was considered 
 necessary down there and a battery of Field Artillery was sent to this 
 post, which was not then named Fort Sam Houston. That caused 
 the acquisition of additional land not shown on the map, in this 
 direction [indicating on the map]. 
 
 This post was increased still more by the addition of a Cavalry 
 regiment, and with that the post extended from this old Infantry 
 post around in a shape more or less like that [indicating], and was 
 occupied by liarracks, quarters and storehouses, stables, corrals, 
 and gunsheds for these various establishments. Then, in order to 
 acquire a very insufficient drill ground, there was finally consum- 
 mated in the beginning of 1913 the acquisition of what is known as 
 the new driU ground, which on this map would be shown in part 
 across this area here [indicating], running down to what is known as 
 Austin road. This direction is north and this is east. That was 
 insufficient. It was a tract of land of a little over 200 acres and was 
 insufficient, even with the size of the garrison that then existed. 
 The maneuver division, so-called, was concentrated at this place 
 [indicating] and occupied all that ground at the beginning of the 
 revolution, which is more or less stiU continuous in Mexico. 
 
 At that time the citizens of San Antonio contributed money to 
 erect a very handsome large chapel, located somewhere about here 
 [indicating]. Additional barracks, noncommissioned officers' quar- 
 ters, bakeries, etc., were established here. I think I am pointing a 
 little too far down. It was in here [indicating]. That resulted in 
 leaving tliis tract of land for which you appropriated money a year 
 ago, injected into the military situation. Here [indicating] was the 
 old military post and liere were the Government drill grounds, etc., 
 occupied by barracks and various other buildings, and this was 
 occupied by a very undesirable part of the community. You gave 
 the money to acquire that, and it is now being acquired, and also 
 money to erect warehouses and storehouses which are very neces- 
 sary by reason of the relation of that post to the railroads. There 
 is one railroad, I think it is the M., K. & T., that owns a right of way 
 and has a tract just east of the military reservation. 
 
 Senator Sheppard. Yes. 
 
 Gen. Bliss. The Southern Pacific had a terminal right in front 
 of this quadrangle that I spoke of. Now the spurs are to be run 
 from this railroad into this area where the storehouses will have to 
 be erected which are necessary in connection witli tlie existing 
 border situation, wliich will doubtless continue for some time to come. 
 
 The Chairman. Do you contemplate that that will always be used 
 as a military post for such a large body of troops ? 
 
ENLARGEMENT OF EESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 1 1 
 
 Gen. Bliss. Not so large as there have been during this past 
 year when we were cnlhng out the National Guard, but in the relo- 
 cation of troops which will become necessary on the withdrawal of 
 the National Guard, which I personally think will be accomplished 
 in the not very distant future unless something should happen on 
 the border that is not now anticipated, the Regular Army will have 
 to take care of that border situation for an indefinite time to come. 
 
 The Chairman. Will you always require as much land as that 
 for the troops that you would maintain there in ordinary times of 
 peace ? 
 
 Gen. Bliss. In speaking of the situation that it is anticipated will 
 last for some time yet. Gen. Funston, as I was going to say, in the 
 relocation of these troops would have four mounted regiments here 
 in addition to what they have had before, and they will occupy for 
 an indefinite time the cantonments that were put up for the National 
 Guard and for the small part of the Regulars that were also camped 
 in that division. 
 
 vSenator Thomas. What is the department's recommendation re- 
 garding this, if you know ? 
 
 Gen. Bliss. The Secretary of War told me I could say to the 
 committee that he cordially approved the proposition as a very 
 desirable thing in connection with the extension of that post. 
 
 Senator Sheppard. I have a letter here from the Secretary which 
 I will, with the permission of the committee, put in the record. 
 
 The Chairman. We would like to have it. I thought probably 
 the General would be able to answer the question. 
 
 (The letter referred to is here printed in full as follows:) 
 
 War Department, 
 
 Washington. April 22. 1916. 
 Hon. George E. Chamberlain. 
 
 Chairman Committee on Military A/fairs, 
 
 United States Senate, Washington, D. C. 
 My Dear Senator: Senate bills. Sixty fourth Congress, first session, No. 5048, to 
 provide adequate supply depots and terminal facilities at Fort Sam Houston, Tex., 
 and No. 5049, to provide for enlarging the military reservation of Fort Sam Houston, 
 Tex., would accomplish what is greatly needed at Fort Sam Houston. 
 
 This department advocates the passage of these bills. I request your favorable 
 action on them as soon as practicable. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Newton D. Baker. 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
 Gen. Bliss. Now to complete the stoiy of the origin of the post as 
 it is, there was bought here, I do not know how long ago, a tract of 
 land for a ttirget range for this command, but verv shortly after the 
 range was established there was an injunction obtained against it 
 on account of the danger to people who were working land in that 
 vicinity. That is what led to the acquisition of this tract at Leon 
 Springs of some 17,000 acres, which was obtained for a very small 
 sum as compared with the area that was purchased, and v/hich is 
 used as a target range ])y the infantry for machine guns and for the 
 lie'd artiUery. It is a very wild, broken, uncultivated tract of land 
 mostly covered with timber, except where it has been c'eared for 
 this range purpose. It is very rocky and can not be cultivated at 
 all for agricultural purposes, nor couM it be used for building or 
 drilHng purposes. I thought it was about 25 miles by road from the 
 post, but these gentlemen say IS. It is used solely for large maneuver- 
 
12 ENLARGEMENT OF EESEEVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 
 
 ing and target range purposes, and will provide for the training of 
 that kind of a large hody of men. 
 
 Senator Brady. It is not adapted for any other purpose? 
 
 Gen. Bliss. No, sir; it is not adapted for any other purpose. When 
 I was in the command we had troops march in turn all the way from 
 Brownsvi'Je to all the stations along the river. When their practice 
 season hegan, if there was nothing to require their presence on the 
 river, the organizations would march from Browmsville, taking about 
 18 days to march for the artillery. They wou'd go and camp at 
 Leon Springs and go into practice. It is so large that by no possi- 
 bility cou^d you fire a shot off the reservation, and therefore it is 
 perfectly safe. 
 
 Now as to the acquisition of this land, which these gentlemen have 
 described to you in detail, it will just extend to the old target range. 
 The old target range, by the way, is used in part for aviation train- 
 ing. The War Department is engaged now in securing, as rapidly as 
 the material can be provided, three aero squadrons, at least one of 
 which wiU be permanently kept there and the others distributed 
 throughout the country where they are needed. It is an excellent 
 location by reason of its climatic conditions. 
 
 Senator Thomas. Have you any large body of water near San 
 Antonio ? 
 
 Gen. Bliss. The largest body of water that I know of is a river — 
 the San Antonio River which rises in one of these springs that are 
 common in that country, I think within the city limits of San Antonio, 
 
 Senator Thomas. I had reference to a lake or a large body of water 
 rather than a smaU river. 
 
 Gen. Bliss. Mitchell Lake is about 12 miles, but that is really a 
 cesspool. The sewage, I think, of part of the city goes into that. 
 There is also Lake Medina, which is an artificial lake. 
 
 Senator Thomas. Admiral Peary told me some time ago that a 
 coinparatively small body of water in the vicinity of an aviation 
 military school would be amply sufficient to permit of hydroelectric 
 training as well as military training, which is the basis of ni}^ inquiry. 
 
 Gen. Bliss. I think there are two there for that purpose, but as to 
 flowing streams, I think probably Salado Creek, with the addition it 
 gets from this artesian well, is as large a body of water as there is in 
 the immediate vicinity of San Antonio, with the exception of the 
 San Antonio River. 
 
 This land is cultivated. It is more or less rolling, and some part 
 of it is pretty rough and covered — or was until Gen. Funston got 
 authority to lease it a few months ago — with mesquite — and I think 
 he has cleared an amount of that off. 
 
 Now, that wiU give any garrison that would be liable to be kept 
 there under ])eace conditions, ample ground for the kind of in- 
 struction we now do, and give instruction in trench digging, and of 
 course with mounted troops. They have to have their horses and 
 hurdles and ditches and obstructions of all kinds, and the land is also 
 favorably adapted for drilling of Infantry. 
 
 The Chairman. You think it is essential that the Government 
 should own it? 
 
 Gen. Bliss. I think it is most desirable. 
 
 Senator Sheppard. That is aU, Mr, Chairman. I have here a 
 letter from the Secretary of War and a statement from Gen. Funston 
 that I would like to put in the record. 
 
ENLARGEMENT OF RESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 13 
 
 The Chairman. They will be inserted. 
 
 (The letter and statement referred to are here printed in full, as 
 
 follows:) 
 
 January 25, 1917. 
 From: Commanding General. 
 To: The Adjutant General of the Army. 
 Subject: Additional land for Fort Sam Houston Reservation. 
 
 1. Referring to my telegram, No. 2768, of September 6, 1916 (copy herewith), and 
 to your reply, No. 3796, September 14, 1916 (copy herewith), the following is sub- 
 mitted. 
 
 2. Leases have been made, as shown below, for the land in question. Options for 
 the purchase of tliis land have been granted by the lessors, the term of such option 
 purchase expiring with the term of the lease, including the renewal provisions. An 
 accurate survey of all of this land has been made and the areas are shown in letter 
 of the Department Enginee? herewith, also in the following statement. Copy of 
 each lease is also inclosed. 
 
 Name of lessor. 
 
 P.A.Ward 
 
 Harry Landa 
 
 H. Eisenhauer 
 
 Geo. W. Brackenridge. 
 
 Herflf & Eiffler 
 
 P. A. Vance 
 
 Acreage as 
 leased. 
 
 116 
 239 
 135 
 60 
 280 
 172. 16 
 
 Total. 
 
 1,002.16 
 
 Monthly, 
 rental! 
 
 SlOO. 00 
 100. 00 
 100.00 
 60.00 
 218.00 
 103. 20 
 
 681. 20 
 
 Actual 
 acreage as 
 surveyed. 
 
 103. 59 
 240. 49 
 225. 79 
 60.68 
 277. 61 
 170. 32 
 
 1,078.48 
 
 Option 
 
 price per 
 
 acre. 
 
 (') 
 
 $225. 00 
 225.00 
 
 Total pur- 
 chase price. 
 
 S21, 018. 00 
 54,110.25 
 50, 802. 75 
 
 2 50, 000. 00 
 
 3 70, 000. 00 
 38, 322. 00 
 
 284, 253. 00 
 
 1 S200 for 91.59; S225 for 12. 
 
 2 $50,000 for entire tract. 
 
 3 $70,000 if purchased before June 30, 1917; if pin-chased between July 1, 1917, and June 30, 1918, $75,000. 
 
 3. The following information relative to wells on this land is furnished by the 
 owners: 
 
 On the Brackenridge tract there are two large artesian wells and on the Herff and 
 Eiffler tract one large artesian well, all of which are capable of furnishing large quan- 
 tities 01 pure, potable water. The well on the Herff and Eiflier tract is approximately 
 730 feet in depth, of 12 inch diameter, with a flow of approximately 2,500.000 gallons 
 per dav. Of the two wells on the Brackenridge tract, one is 24 inches in diameter, 
 depth about G33 feet, daily flow approximately"25.000,000 gallons; the other, 20 inches 
 diameter, daily flow approximately 16,000.000 gallons. These two w-ells have devel- 
 oped a force equivalent to 52 horsepower. They are connected with two Goulds 
 tri])lex plunger pumps, installed in a two-story reinforced concrete pump house. 
 The pumps are mani])ulated by water turbine in connection with the two wells; they 
 deliver water to an elevation of 150 feet above the plant. The output at this point, 
 150 feet above the location of the plant, is estimated at 750 gallons per minute. 
 
 4. In addition to the foregoing, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Co. owns a 
 tract of land consisting of 102.36 acres, adjoining the land already leased and herein 
 before described. In order to proi^erly complete and round out the reservation, it 
 is considered desirable to acquire this railroad land. Copy of letter from I\Ir. W. A. 
 Webb, chief operating officer of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, regarding this 
 tract is inclosed herewith. It is self-explanatory. This tract would probably cost 
 from $35,000 to 340.000. 
 
 5. As already stated in previous correspondence, the purchase of all of this land is 
 considered to be imperatively necessary in order to provide .sufficient drill and maneu- 
 ver grounds for troops stationed at this post, and in order to cover the purchase of the 
 leased land on wliich options have been granted, as above stated, and also the land 
 of the Missouri. Kansas & Texas Railway Co., for the required purposes. I request 
 and urgently recommend that the matter be presented to Congress at its present 
 session, with recommendation by the War Department that necessary legislation be 
 enacted authorizing the purchase of said land at a cost of •?330,000, or so much thereof 
 as may be necessary. It is recommended that this matter be presented before Congress 
 at the earliest possible moment in order that the necessary legislative authority for 
 the purchase may be obtained during the present session. 
 
 6. Three copies of plat showing the several parcels of land comprised in this propo- 
 sition are mailed under separate cover this date. 
 
 Frederick Funston, 
 
 Major General Covimanding . 
 
14 ENLARGEMENT OF EESERVATION, FORT SAM HOUSTON. 
 
 United States Senate, June 16, 1916. 
 My Dear Senator Chamberlain: Please file the inclosed letter from the Secretary 
 of War to Hon. James Hay in reference to the bills (S. 5048 and S. 5049) for additional 
 facilities and additional land at Fort Sam Houston, with the papers relating to these 
 bills, and oblige. 
 
 Yours, very truly, 
 
 Morris Sheppard. 
 Senator George E. Chamberlain, 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 War Department, 
 Washington, June 9, 1916. 
 Hon. James Hay, 
 
 Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, 
 
 House of Representatives , Washington, D. C. 
 My Dear Mr. Hay: 1. With reference to your letter of May 29, 1916, regarding 
 the extent to which it is absolutely necessary to increase the supply depots and ter- 
 minal facilities at Fort Sam Houston, Tex., and what reason there is for enlarging the 
 military reservation at that post, you are informed as follows: 
 
 2. The needs for additional storage facilities and additional facilities for handling 
 property are now urgently felt at Fort Sam Houston, Tex. The present depot there 
 was built when the Army consisted of only 25,000 men, and only a very small part 
 of it was supplied from that point. As the Army has grown and as the number of 
 troops in the Southern Department has increased, the demands made upon the depot 
 have also increased, whereas the facilities at that point have remained almost sta- 
 tionary. The result is there is now much duplication of labor, loss of time in handling 
 supplies, and scattering supplies in Government storehouses and in storehouses rented 
 in various parts of the city of San Antonio. 
 
 Due to present inadequate storage accommodation, under the emergency which 
 recently arose along the Mexican border, it has been necessary to have large quantities 
 of supplies sent by special trains from northern and eastern depots, resulting in loss 
 of time and increased cost to the Government. The existing arrangemenis for receiv- 
 ing and distributing supplies at Fort Sam Houston are inadequate and expensive. 
 Additional land should be purchased in suitable places for modern storehouses, depot 
 buildings, offices, shops, corrals, etc., and double-switch track connections with the 
 main line of the G. H. & S. A. R. R. and double switch connection with the main line 
 of the M. K. & T. Ry. should be provided in order that the Government may have 
 the valuable benefit of access to these two lines of railroad, both for ordinary business 
 and for emergency purposes, when prompt movement of large bodies of troops and 
 the quick shipment of trainloads of supplies become necessary. The general supply 
 depot at San Antonio should include proper depot facilities for the Quartermaster 
 Corps, Medical Department, Corps of Engineers, and Signal Corps. The Ordnance 
 Department will have sufficient facilities in San Antonio Arsenal and in the storehouses 
 that now exist at Fort Sam Houston. Increase in the supply depots and terminal 
 facilities above indicated is, therefore, absolutely necessary for economy and military 
 efficiency. 
 
 3. The post of Fort Sam Houston is peculiarly well located not only as a supply 
 point, but also as a station for the Regular Army and as a training place for citizen 
 soldiers. The reservation as it exists to-day is too small for the present garrison to 
 have reasonable facilities for drilling. The land which it is proposed to add to the 
 reservation can be secured now at a reasonable figure, as it has not yet been incorpo- 
 rated within the limits of the city of San Antonio. It is contiguous to the present 
 reservation, and well located and well adapted for the purposes for which it is con- 
 templated to use it. 
 
 4. It has been learned from the commanding general. Southern Department, that 
 the amounts provided for in Senate bills Nos. 5048 and 5049, Sixty-fourth Congress, 
 first session, are considered reasonable. 
 
 Very truly, yours, 
 
 Newton D. Baker, 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 
 The Chairman. Tlie committoo will now adjourn. 
 
 (Accordingly, at 11.45 o'clock a. ni., the committee adjourned, 
 subject to the call of the chairman.) 
 
 TTR B 
 
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