Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-07-17
Col. N. P. Hyatt Receives Interest,"
ing Description Of Soldiers
Camp Site.

Col. N. P. Hyatt, commander of
the Second Iowa infantry, has re-
|ceived from tk.7 chamber of commerce
; of Deming, New Mexico, an inter-
esting description of the site of the
training camp located near there
where the Iowa, Nebraska, North and
South Dakota national guardsmen
will be sent for final instructions in
warfare before joining the American
forces in France. Perhaps the most
lpointed commentary that can be
the southwestern city is the fact that
the letter of welcome and descriptive
literature was mailed to the colonel
July 8, two days before the militia
bureau announced the assignment of
these troops to Deming, in contra
diction to reports that Waco, Fort
Worth, and other southern cities,
had been chosen for the Iowa divi-
sion.
Deming. near where S,s77 Iowa
|militiamen will go to complete their
training in the art of war, is the
county seat OF Luna, border coun-
ty. 1t is a thriving, progressive city
of 5000 inhabitants. 1t is situated
35 miles north of the Mexican line
and little less than>3O miles from
Columbus, famed as the key OF the
Mexican question, and the only port
of entry from Mexico between Texas
and Arizona. Three railroads, the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, the
Southern Pacific. and the Ell Paso
& Southwestern, pass through Dem
ling, which makes it logical point
ifor the easily assembling of many
troops.
! The El Paso Morning Times says
!oi Qemipg as = camp site: The h=s.s. -
lection Of Deming as one of division
al camp sites for the training of the
new army is peculiarly Fortunate
one. Were the country searched
from end to end it is almost certain
that no better nor more healthy
spot for an army camp could be
found than at Deming. The temper
ature is warm enough. but not too
climate for outdoor life, with plenty
of the purest water on the American
continent.
"In addition to its natural advan-
tages, Deming is town of hospita-
BILE people who may be depended
upon to do their utmost in every
thing that viii make for the COM
fort and happiness of the officers
and soldiers who will be regarded
as the guests of the city. Deming
will cooperate with the war depart
ment in protecting the morals and
health of the soldiers. The COM
munity for years has been one of the
cleanest and most law-abiding in all
New Mexico. Deming is clean, has
always been clean. and may be, de-
pended upon to remain clean.
"Deming is to be congratulated
upon securing the army camp, which
will within a few weeks, add more
than 10000 men to its population.
but the army is likewise to be con-
graduated on The judgment of its
Officers in selecting camp site
where conditions are so little short
of ideal for the purpose"
Deming has $50 clear, sunshiny
days a year. A day on which the
sun does not shine is rarity. The
pleasant for refreshing sleep. The
average yearly temperature is 5S.S,
and the total rainfall 11.SS inches.
The highest temperature is in July
and averages 77.3; the lowest is in
January, 4O.4.
| Col. Hyatt, when questioned "a
question often asked at this time)
as to the necessity of transporting
the troops the long distance, to the
southern camps. instead of giving
them their training nearer home,
said the weather conditions are more
favorable there than in this vicin-
ity. Nearly every day of the south
ern climate permits the drilling,
marching, hikiRg and maueuvering
| of troops, not SO in Iowa or any Of
the northern or eastern states Pos
sibly the necessity of breaking the
soldiers home ties and the making
him realize that he is a soldier, as
distance from his former environ
ment only can, has also an added
weight with those who are respon-
Isible for the finished product of an
American fighting man.