Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-14

| Devils Lake to the government for
use as provisional camp for field
instruction such as is carried on
annually at the several army man
oeuvers of the regular army and the
militia.
To think is to act with the general
and he has already made considerable
Roadway in this matter as the follow
ing correspondence will show:
North Dakota National Guard, Adju.
tant Generals Office, Bismarck, Nov.
10, 1906.
The Hon. Secretary of War, Wash
ington, D. C.
Sir: BY direction of the governor
have the honor to inform you that the
military encampment grounds of this
state coded by the general govern
ment to the state "for purposes of
encampment grounds for the National
Guard, park purposes, and other pub
| lie purposes not inconsistent there
WITH" comprising an area of about
5000 acres located on the north shore
| of Devils Lake and constituting what
| was formerly known as the u. 8.
| Military wood reservation, with some
1000 acres located on the north shore
| ly across the lake and connected with
the permanent camp grounds by 3
solid bridge filed with sand and rip
raped with stone, which tract OF
| land is admirably adapted not only
for movements of infantry and
cavalry but also for field artillery,
with a scope of country Immediately
| to the right eight miles in extent con-
sisting of partially wooded hills and
valleys and traversed by wagon roads,
Astounding in springs Of pure, ice-co.d
water, with ample fuel, In which Is
located Sully's Hills Park, and the re-
mainder Of the land occupied by a
1 few scattering Indian houses with
practically no land under cultivation,
would furnish a most admirable loca-
tion for provisional camp for field
instruction with sufficient area for a
camp equally as. large as that held
| near Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming,
this summer. - 90 - -
At the infantry rifle range used by
the national guard of this state field
artillery practice could be held in a
zone of absolute safety ten miles in
extent IN - .,
The location of a camp at this point
for the states of North Dakota, South
Dakota. Montana, Minnesota, and
even Wisconsin, would save in trans
portation, subsistence and pay while
enroute, thousands of dollars an
nua1ly. III "a 4
While acting engineer officer at
Fort Totten / made a complete survey
of the territory named, including a
typographical survey Of that territory
situated south of the lake, map OF
which, is no doubt on file at the head
quarters of the Department of Dakota,
also perhaps in the engineers office,
war department. Tic a map is not
obtainable would gladly furnish one.
In view of the foregoing facts I
would respectfully request that a
board Of officers be detailed to
thoroughly inspect these grounds and
report on the Feasibility Of locating
such a camp there.
There would be no expense to be
incurred by the war department for
the use Of these grounds "
Very respectfully, B
II. NJ. Creel,
Adjntant General "
War Department, Washington, Nov.
ia, 1906. n \.
Sir: 4 beg to acknowledge receipt
! OF your letter OF the 10th instant, pre-
1 senting to the department the matter
Of utilizing the North Dakota nation
al guard camp grounds for an army
camp OF instruction and TO advise you
/ that careful consideration will be
given to the proposition.
Very respectfully,
4 (signed) Robert Shaw Oliver,
Assistant Secretary Of War.
General II. M. Creel.
Adjutant General, N. D- N. g CT. ,ss#
Bismarck, n. p. IN
Army War College, Washington,
Sov.]II2s 1906.
/ Adjutant General State Of North
Dakota, Bismarck. m. D.
/ Sir: Referring ID your letter of
the 10th Instant to the Hon Secretary
| |; mi t;' IN i ilSI;s
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