Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1917-10-27
HARTFORD SITE
TAKEN OVER
President Wilson Issues Prov.
Ing Ground Proclamation.
MAY CHRISTEN IT ABERDEEN
The Territory includes About 5000
Acres-Farmsrs In the Territory
VIII BE Given Ample Time To
Harvest Their Crops.

Washington President Wilson bJ
proclamation through Secretary Of
state lansing ma. taken 70! AL
ordnance proving ground the territor!
generally known a. Gunpowder Neck
and Halls Crossing in Hartford county
A. matter OF fact the proving
grounds a. defined by mete@ anc
bounds in the proclamation eItendI
INFO Baltimore county
The exact lines are nov being rur
by the engineers on the ground for
Secretary Baker announced last weeh
that this site had been approved bN
the President and the Issuance OF tn,
proclamation is only formally b,
which the President through the SEC
retary ~ War. on next Saturday vii
take possession Of all the grounc
whose owners are unwilling 20 sell z
the Government
Tn. land on Gunpowder neck vii
be tht first 10 be purchased. as Il :,
concentrated In the hands OF few
owners who have been willing TO sel
and who have already given forma
permission 20 the officers OF the Wa
Department 20 enter on their lands ant
10 make the surveys for the railroad
spur which viii run from the Pennsyl
yania tracks into the proving ground
No name has a. Yet been official,
selected for the ground but il vii
probably be known As the Aberdeen
Proving Ground Il is not part o'
the present plan 70 use The proyin.
ground "a training school for arm
lery officers. bur g, mas be done inc
cd AZ present all the energies OF iAs
War Department viii be devoted to
building emplacements for the gum
and preparing testing grounds an,
ranges foi the munitions 10 be tested
The tract includes about 35.noC
acres /, runs irregularly about q
miles from east 70 west and is about
8 miles on the western boundary ant
4 miles on the eastern boundary. Mucl
OF Il Is water
While the proclamation nxed Octo
be- 20 RS the date on which land which
cannot be procured BY purchase vii
be taken over by the Secretary OF War
there is no intention OF dispOs sessins
any residents al that time Every
farmer will be given ample time Il
harvest all his crops and remove all nj.
live stock. farming Implements ant
household goods and all factories car
continue at work on supplies on lands
Indeed. il Is promised BY the War De
partmeni that many need not leave
their present homes before December
The government FULLY appreciates the
sacrifice Il is demanding, and will exer
else the greatest forbearance and pau
ence.
The Presidents proclamation makes
provision tor acquiring the land whose
owners are not able 10 reach satisfac
tory prices with the government A
commission Will be appointed By Sec
rotary Baker before which all per
sons whose interest are affected may
government agents will be instructed
to deal generously with such claim
ants When the House OF Represen
ta'iyes struck the original appropria
ton OF $3.0000oo from the bill. Sen
stor John Walter Smith had il restored
and Increased in the Senate to $1,000.
600 n order that every one who sur
fered loss o, injury OF any kind would
be amply compensated In the event
OF irreconcllable differences between
the claimants and the governments
commissioners. the latter will III
price, Of which three.fourths will be
Immediately paid 20 he claimant. and
the claimant will be permitted to sue
the government in the Court OF
Claims FOR the settlement OF his claim