A bill passed Congress appropriating $100,000 to build barracks at Fort Snelling. The expending of this amout [amount] of money on Ft. Snelling assures its permanency, and the post may at some future time be turned into a military school. (New Ulm Weekly Review, Wednesday, March 12, 1879, Page 2)
Nine new buildings are to be constructed at Fort Snelling, to be partially occupied by officers and partially by troops. The west walls of the fort are now being leveled with that object in view. (The Minneapolis Tribune, Tuesday, June 25, 1878, Page 4)
The Seventh cavalry is to arrive at Fort Snelling some time during the month, and fifty carpenters and ten stone masons are wanted to push the work on the buildings in course of erection. (The Minneapolis Tribune, Thursday, September 12, 1878, Page 4)
A part of the building force at Fort Snelling has been relived (relieved) from further duty and thrown on the town, where they will be readily gobbled up by “boss” carpenters, who have been eagerly looking for men for weeks. (The Minneapolis Tribune, Monday, September 23, 1878, Page 4)
Yesterday, Gen. Tompkins, department quartermaster, forwarded to Washington the plans and estimates for the new buildings to be erected at Fort Snelling. The new buildings are to be occupied by department headquarters and the officers attached to the departmental staff. The site for the new post, virtually, has been selected, and is the plateau above the fort, nearer Minnehaha, and overlooking the Mississippi river. The plans for the new post are forwarded to Washington for the approval of the secretary of war, and then work will be commenced. (St. Paul Daily Globe, Wednesday Morning, May 28, 1879, Page 4)
Work has been commenced on the new buildings at Fort Snelling to be used for military headquarters. They are to be eight in number. (The Minneapolis Tribune, Wednesday, August 6, 1879, Page 4)
At the last regular session of Congress an appropriation was made for the erection of suitable buildings at Fort Snelling, for the accommodation of the officers connected with department headquarters. Thus far nothing has been done and as the season is so far advanced little can be accomplished before next spring, when it is supposed that a large force will be employed and the work pushed rapidly forward. (St. Paul Daily Globe, Friday Morning, September 19, 1879, Page 4)
Buildings at Fort Snelling. Award of the Contract Yesterday – Fifteen Bidders. As is known, Congress has appropriated $100,000 for the erection of buildings at Fort Snelling, suitable for the purposes and uses of headquarters of the department of Dakota. The appropriation obtained, a site selected and plans and specifications for the new buildings having been approved by the secretary of war, the next thing in order was to request bids for the erection of the new quarters, etc. Yesterday, Gen. Tompkins, chief quartermaster, opened the bids submitted for this work. There were fifteen in all ranging from $150,000, the highest, to $94,000 the lowest amount submitted. The contract calls for the erection of thirteen dwellings, to be used as quarters for officers, clerks and other attaches of the department staff, and one office building to be used as department headquarters. The ceremony of opening the bids was conducted in the presence of Gen. Gibbons, inspector general, and Maj. Barr, judge advocate of the department, in Gen. Tompkins’ office, and after all had been duly compared, it was found that Henry S. Dale, of Chicago, was the lowest bidder, he offering to do the work for $94,000. Mr. Dale has the further advantage of knowing how to put in his work, he having built Fort Totten some nine years ago. The buildings are to be erected under supervision of an architect appointed by the government, and are to be located on the plateau just above the Fort, overlooking the Mississippi river. As matters stand Mr. Dale is the fortunate man out of fifteen bidders, but however, the bid has to be submitted to the war department for approval before the award of contract is made. (St. Paul Daily Globe, Friday Morning, October 17, 1879, Page 4)
Bids were opened in St. Paul yesterday for the construction of government buildings at Fort Snelling. The buildings are to consist of one for headquarters officers, one for the commanding general, and twelve for other officers. The lowest bid for the entire work was that of Henry S. Dale, of Chicago, the sum named being $94,135. The bids ranged from this amount to $150,000. The labor is to be completed by September 1st, 1880. (The Minneapolis Tribune, Friday, October 17, 1879, Page 4)
Fort Snelling Improvements. The Contract for the New Buildings and What They Are to Be. The contract for building department headquarter offices, etc., at Fort Snelling will be awarded to Hervey S. Dale, of Chicago. He was the lowest bidder, offering to do the work for $94,000. This will embrace the erection of a two store building for offices for the headquarters, the building to be 100 feet front by 65 deep, arranged for hot air furnaces, gas and other modern conveniences. One set of quarters two stories high, ornamental front – in elevation and plan, though larger, an exact counterpart of Judge E. C. Palmer’s residence on Exchange street opposite the capitol, will be set apart for the commanding general. Seven sets of quarters, two stories high with attic, basement for furnaces, etc., are to be erected, with a full allowance of rooms allotted to field officers. Five sets of captain’s quarters, neat cottages with gas, water, furnaces, etc., are to be erected. All these buildings are to be constructed of brick according to the plan and estimates draughted by Architect Radcliffe, of this city, from suggestions furnished by Gen. C. H. Tompkins, chief quartermaster. The work is to be done under the supervision of a competent architect appointed by the government. Besides the above buildings, barracks or quarters will be erected for headquarters employes [employees] and clerks, which it is contemplated will require a new appropriation. The building designed will be complete and convenient in all its accomodations, furnishing sleeping apartments, reading rooms, etc. All the buildings as planned will be convenient in all their apartments. The ornamentation outside will be neat and attractive, while the mouldings and wood ornamentations of the interior are designed to be rich and appropriate to the style of architecture employed on the several buildings respectively. In all, under the contract, thirteen buildings are to be erected, and will, when finished, add greatly to the appearance of Fort Snelling. (St. Paul Daily Globe, Monday, October 20, 1879, Page 3)
Mr. H. S. Dale, Chicago, is at the Metropolitan. Mr. Dale is the contractor to build the headquarters offices and quarters at Fort Snelling. He is here in connection with his contract, to learn how soon he must begin work and other particulars. (St. Paul Daily Globe, Saturday, November 1, 1879, Page 4)
His (James M. Kerr) next venture was that of government contracting as a member of the firm of H. S. Dale & Co. The first twenty-two hundred and fifty feet of the harbor of refuge at Sand Beach, Mich., was constructed by this firm. They also built the headquarters for the War Department at Ft. Snelling, Minn., in 1880, 1881 and 1882, making in all six years that he followed government contracting. (Portrait and Biographical Record of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, Volume 2, Excelsior Publishing Company, Chicago, 1894, Page 670)
The telegraph tells elsewhere in to-day’s Globe that Secretary of War Ramsey has addressed a communication to the United States Senate asking for an additional appropriation of $100,000 to finish military headquarters buildings at Fort Snelling. The matter was referred to the military committee, and with proper representations of the necessity of such an expenditure, the committee will doubtless report in favor of the allowance. (St. Paul Daily Globe, Tuesday Morning, January 27, 1880, Page 4)
During the past week the Globe alluded to Secretary of War Ramsey as having asked the senate military committee for an additional appropriation of $100,000 to complete the offices, etc., for department headquarters at Fort Snelling. This action on the part of the secretary of war was taken at the suggestion of Gen. C. H. Tompkins, chief quartermaster of the department of Dakota, who addressed a letter to the General of the Army regarding the matter some time ago, in which he clearly set forth the necessity and advisability of the appropriation as follows: By the act of Congress, approved March 3, 1879, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) was appropriated “for the purpose of constructing the necessary buildings,” etc., for department headquarters at Fort Snelling, etc. In compliance with the wishes of the general of the army, and following the designs of the war department in this regard, so far as known and understood by me, plans and estimates of good, substantial and commodious buildings were prepared by me, as follows: One building for headquarters’ offices. One building for quarters for commanding general. Twelve buildings for quarters for officers on the staff of the department commander. These plans and estimates were approved by the department commander. The cost of erecting the fourteen buildings, exclusive of heating apparatus, will about consume the sum appropriated. To complete the work thus inaugurated, there will be required the following additional buildings and other work, at the following estimated cost: Buildings (probably fifteen) for quarters, mess-halls, kitchens, etc., for general service clerks, enlisted men, and civilian employes (employees) employed at department headquarters…$50,000.00. Stables for public and private animals, forage-house, wagon and harness rooms; also privies, wood-sheds and other necessary buildings for all the quarters…15,000.00. For purchase and putting in proper heating apparatus in all the buildings, including offices…15,000.00. For introducing and perfecting a complete system for supplying all the buildings with water…10,000.00. For the construction of fences about all the quarters, and other buildings; sidewalks throughout the place; for grading roads, walks, and for sewerage…10,000.00. Total requirements to complete the work…$100,000.00. When it is considered that, under the most favorable circumstances, the sum already appropriated will be consumed in putting up fourteen buildings for offices and quarters, the additional sum now asked for, for the purpose stated, is regarded a very close approximation to the actual cost of the work contemplated. The site selected for the headquarters’ buildings, the associations and surroundings of the neighborhood, combine to invest Fort Snelling with a peculiar charm. This old post, the pride and strength of a generation of pioneers in this country, is midway between the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and is a central point of interest to residents of both, as well as to all tourists in this country. Thousands of people visit the post and the falls of Minnehaha, Bridal Veil, and others in this immediate vicinity every year. I take the liberty of enlarging upon these facts, because I believe it will enhance the value of the many attractions of the place and heighten the interest felt by the people of Minnesota if the establishment of department headquarters within sight of the famous post is made permanent, handsome and complete in all details of structure and landscape culture. To do this appropriately more money will be needed, and I earnestly hope that the amount now asked for will be favorably recommended by the honorable secretary of war. I further recommend that in case the money is appropriated by Congress it will be made available at once, and that it shall be expended under the direction of the department commander. Very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, Chas. H. Tompkins, Deputy quartermaster-general, United States army, chief quartermaster. (St. Paul Daily Globe, Monday Morning, February 9, 1880, Page 2)
Captain R. P. Hughes, Third infantry, A. D. C., Captain E. B. Gibbs, assistant quartermaster, and Mr. A. M. Radcliffe, supervising architect, are appointed to inspect the office building for department headquarters at Fort Snelling, with view to its acceptance according to the terms of the contract for its construction. (The Minneapolis Tribune, Sunday, October 17, 1880, Page 2)
Headquarters at Fort Snelling. Although under a recent order the new buildings at fort Snelling designed for officers attached to headquarters of the department, have been assigned to the several officers, yet it is evident that the removal of headquarters from St. Paul to the Fort cannot be made under some months to come. No quarters have yet been provided for the civilian and other employes [employees] attached to the headquarters offices; nor has a water supply yet been provided for the buildings already erected. The water supply is to be forced by a steam pump from the large spring about one mile away, on the old road to Minneapolis, and the water works will include a frost proof tank holding a reserve for fire purposes. The plans of improvement also include a handsome boulevard, a little park with fountains and opening of the river views from the boulevard, all of which will require time for carrying them out. (St. Paul Daily Globe, Tuesday, March 22, 1881, Page 1)
Fourteen buildings, built of cream-colored brick, are nearly complete, and present a fine appearance. They differ in architecture and are large and elaborate. The headquarters building is a handsome structure. (History of Ramsey County and the City of St. Paul, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Rev. Edward D. Neill, North Star Publishing Company, Minneapolis, 1881, Page 162)
June 4, 1881, the headquarters of the department transferred from Saint Paul to reservation for Fort Snelling, Minn., where buildings have been completed for the use of department headquarters. (Annual Report of the Secretary of War for the Year 1881, Volume I, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1881, Page 96)
The buildings were completed, and the headquarters of the department transferred thereto, in May, 1881. (Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, Volume VIII, Published by the Society, St. Paul, 1898, Page 445)