The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-20
MilliOn.DOllar Plant Empty
When Army Orders Tiny
Garrison Away.
DESERTION FINAL.
OFFICER BELIEVES
Of No Military Use, Place
Would Make Excellent
Campus Site.

10y Tue Waf utp'TlHPnt may become
the property Of Montana state tni-
|versity. TO be used as campus site.
II the million dollar army post Is no
longer To he used for military purposes
the government probably will bc asked
To turn over to tho university the
three square miles of land included in
the reservation and the modern con-
crete buildings recently erected there.
Hall to Start Action.
Charles II. Hail. member of the state
| board of education, said last night
| that he intends to press tho matter at
| the December meeting Of the hoard.
and the project was indorscd as prac-
ticable and desirable by other proml-
n.nt Mlssoula citizens.
The idea OF securing Fort Mlssoula
for the use of tho State University is
not u new one. 1t was seriously con-
sitiercd at tho time OF the consolidation
campaign in 1914. but was dropped
during the troubled year which fol-
llowcd. Nor is the plan without prccc-
dent Several years ago the govern
ment gave Fort Assiniboine, In north :
ern Montana. to the state for nsc ae
a school site. and land and buildings
are now the property OF the state.
Plan Mas Advantages.
Mr.. Hall, who believes the plar
feasible. was Interested In the previ.
ous movement. Last night he sale
that the project probably would have
succeeded before II pressed. and thai
it should succeed now Ii tho war dc.
partment Is through with the post.
The post could be used to advan.
iagc immediately" he said. "'rhe stu
dents could be housed in the barracks
which are modern and comfortable
'snd the present campus used by on
or more Of the schools. The origina
plan was 10 turn the present building
over 10 the law school eventually. de
} s.loping the university at the nev
! lsitc.
Abandonment OF the post was no
unexpected. For months the reserva
ton has been Earrsoned by only
n !scorc OF men. under Captain II. II
Moore. Z. s. A.. retired. Ycsterda
IGaptain Moore received orders to pac
up and ship away all equipment at tn
!post and send tho men forward !.
their regiments. This work, Capital
Moore thinks. will require about 81
! weeks. at the end of which time III
q property Will be left In the custody {
! Il single carctaker.
The order from the war dcpart,ncI
: said that the post probably woGl
e never be needed again for troops
That the abandonment Is permauoI
It is the general belief. In view of II
e fact that the war department plans |
Is train all troops at big cantonlrcnt
= where the work can be dCna wit
l. large units.
y II Is barely possible that the po!
ic may be used as Il headquarters T.
IS forces engaged In guarding pun
l. utilities and controlling alien cnenl!.
!. 10 Desirable Campus Site.
;" The dcsirability of Fort Missoula ;
~ a university site Is marked. Ihr rcscl
walton lies on the beautiful Itiitcr I;o
~ river. at tho base of the Bitter Ro
range and is surrounded by magnifico
scenery. II Is connected with Nilsson
~. by a street car line capable ot siNis
" fast service. and its north boundary
= within a stones throw of tie ci
- limits.
~ Practically all OF the mo l"rn huii
inGs on tho reservation could be us
Nv by the university. II Is believed. +.
~ big barracks, erected ut a cost o. s I,
Nv 900. would serve with ycry iii
'H change as dormitorles. and the 9th
~ buildings could as easily be used.
i, Many Valuable Buildings.
" A water system, Installed nj a Ct
d. of s25, 900, serves all Of the buildings
is the post.
The post hospital was constructed
a n cost OF $5l. 900. The commanding {
C. ficers' quarters cost 81, 900 to bujii q
ice four captains quarters cost sl2.o
he Quarters for lieutenants cost the rr
Of crnmcnt $4,000. and another sct y
10 built at a cost of $4,000. The T.
res r"Tlnasiu IL worth we'll over $40. G
There are numerous other buildin
scd some Of them relies of the fort bef
,ns 1t was remodeled.
.rs, 4 Tho military reservation on VII
na> H.