The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-07-13
KENT ISLANDERS BEG
THAT HOMES BE SPARED
Petition President Wilson 20 save
island i'riom Being Selected Eoi
Proving Grounds.


island t'riom Being Selected F"r
Proving Grounds.
Washington, July kepresen
tative Price ansmitted this after
noon 10 President Wilson the appeal
of 900 residents of Kent Island
imploring him to step in and save
them from being cast cut from Their
homes. where they have spent their
lives and where their families have
lived for generations The petition
is more imam 30 feet long. 1t was
drawn up Yesterday morning and in
people on the island who are threat
! peopl con the IsIanU VINO are threat
| ened with eviction.
in their appeal to President VIII
! son the petitioners set forth that ;he
! island is valuable in producing grain
! and other foods; is the home OF s.
/ 600 people. those families have lily
, ed there Tor generation after genera
I ton. and are deeply attached 10 the
| place.
1t would be hardship for them
to be driven from their dearly loved
/ homes, added the appeal, and. al
/ though We should receive 4 monetary
value for our lands, ii would be
! poor compensation for us in giving
IN homes and going forth 10 seek an
! existence elsewhere.
We know that in umt Of war,
/ concludes the appeal, all loyal clll-
! ZenS must OF necessity be jailed upon
! 10 make sacrifices; still. = deem
! his burden greater than We houId
I De called on 10 bear. Cannot anolh-
ii site be found less valuable and
! less dear 10 the hearts of so many
| citizens and just as advantageous 20
the uses OF the Department of War!
We therefore petition YOU. Mr.. Presl-
dent. to use your influence in our
behalf"
The petition was brought TO Wash
ington today and delivered 10 Repre-
sentative Price by committee OF
Kent Islanders headed by Dr.. Ben
ton and Senator kirwan. the Two
! leaders in the movement TO save
! Kent Island. Mr.. Price had arranged
with Secretary Baker for a visit at
which the committee would turn oN-
! Ell 10 the Secretary of War their pc
| tition, but at the last moment Secre-
tary Baker was compelled 10 cancel
| the engagement to respond to an I'M
! expected call from the Military At
! fairs Committee, which is consider
! ing the bill TO appropriate S600,000.-
| 900 for additional aviation facilities.
In addition TO the petition which
| the committee presented 20 Repre-
/ sentative Price. they left with him
| statements from men who have given
| options on their property and who
! state that they We're miSled in Civ
| ing options by the intimation that as
| the government had the right TO con-
| denim, it could take their property at
/ a lower figure. and they might be
/ compelled to wait for years before
| final payment was made them, but
| that they would be elected lmmedi-
ately.
The statement of General Seth.
pointing out that a proving grouud
on Kent Island would make life al
most intolerable in Talbot county,
and would destroy all land values,
was heartily Endorsed by every men,
| Der of the delegation. Senator
Smiths statement that the concus-
sion resulting from the testing OF
| shells and of high-powered guns
/ would shake the homes and shatter
| the windows in Queen Annes county
! was also urged today by the commit
tee as further reasons why the de
struction of Kent Island would be
not only an economic calamity TO
| them, but would work an irreparabie
! injury to the whole State. In destroy
/ ing land values and in depopulating
those counties.
! At the very time when the people
OF Kent Island, aided by Sen. Smith,
! Governor Harrington Senator France
and Representative Price. are MAX
ing a desperate fight to save their
counties from the hardShipS of a
proving ground, Crisfield displays
| disposition to invite the very evils
against which the Kent Islanders are
| protesting. Mr.. Price received a
! telegram this afternoon, signed by
Gordon T. Atkins, R. R. Norris, Lie.
/ Quinn, II. L. Loarman, 4. Z. Wyatt,
and c. P. Langford, business men of
| Crisfield, suggesting that the gov
eminent acquire two islands in Tan
| gier Sound. The names of the is
! but it is believed that Smith and
! South Marsh Islands are meant. The
| signers of the telegram asked Mr..
! Price to arrange an interview for
! them with Secretary Baker, whom
| they will seek to interest in the is
! land as d proving ground and, fail
! ing in that, they wish to suggest the
use of the island to Secretary Daniels
! as d possible naval aviation station.
! Mr.. Price will arrange an interview,
as requested.