Fort Dearborn : letter from the Secretary of War, relative, to the sale of Fort Dearborn, or for the conversion of the same into a marine hospital : in compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 12th of February last.

  • Marcy, W. L.
Date:
[1846?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Fort Dearborn : letter from the Secretary of War, relative, to the sale of Fort Dearborn, or for the conversion of the same into a marine hospital : in compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 12th of February last. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Answer. As this inquiry refers itself more particularly to the Surgeon General's office, the answer is left for that office to make. But before it could be made; it would probably be necessary for some surgeon of the army to visit the post, and examine the present buildings. 4. Whether the lands reserved for military purposes near said fort could not be sold without public inconvenience or detriment, to raise the amount necessary to meet such expense. Answer. The only lands reserved were a few lots for the convenience of the light-house, and the few lots occupied by the public buildings for the con- venience of the harbor works, as before stated. These lots are valuable, but they could not be sold without serious detriment to the service for which they are now appropriated. Whether the sale would meet the expense of establishing a marine hospital or not. is more than I can say, and would depend upon the estimate from the Surgeon General's office in reference to the cost of such an establishment. 5. As to the expediency of establishing a marine hospital at that place. Answer. This question refers itself particularly to the office of the Sur- geon General. 6. As to the expediency of selling the site of said fort, entirely, for the purpose of applying the proceeds to the purchase of grounds further with- out the business portion of said city. Answer. The expediency of selling, as proposed, will depend entirely upon the object for which any other position shall be wanted. The only object s'ated in the resolution, is that of a marine hospital. I do not pretend to possess the information necessary to decide upon the best position for such an establishment, but I deem it a duty to say that great public inconvenience would result in depriving the War Department of the possession of these lots, as they are essential to the duties of the War Department at that place. The lots are valuable, but, being government lots, 1 doubt if. they would sell for near their value; and as they are essential to the War Department duties, it is respectfully recommended that no disposition of them, by either sale or transfer, should be made. Respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, J. J. ABERT, Col. Corps Top. Eng. Hon. W. L. Marcy, Secretary of War. Extract from the report of M. Birchard, esq., agent of the War Depart- ment, for the sale of the Fort Dearborn reservation, dated November 21, 1840. *###*###*♦ By the official plat herewith enclosed, it will be seen that block 1, and lots 8, 9, and 10 in block 2, lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in block 4, and lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in block 5, are colored blue. These were reserved from sale, and embrace all the ground occupied by the light-house keeper's dwelling and fortress of Fort Dearborn within the pickets, including the officers' quarters and barracks. This ground is all very valuable. My object in reserving so much property was to secure and protect the light, which is