The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-21
WILL SEEK ]! POST
As CAMPUS SITE
5, PROPER TIME
Fort MissOula Eventually
Will Be Abandoned,
Is Belief.
AGITATION COMING
FROM TWO BODIES

Assurances from Washington that
Fort MissOula has not been perman-
emily abandoned by the war depart
ment did not prevent agitation of a
plan to have the post given to the
State University from gaining fresh
headway in the city yesterday.
News dispatches from washington
indicate that whatever present use the
war department.. has for Fort Missoula
Is slight and only temporary. With
in a short time, II is believed here the
post will be given up by the govern
ment as of no further military value,
and many Interested persons feel that
preparations should be made now for
pressing matters in the university's
behalf when the proper moment shall
arrive.
Action Contemplated.
A. L. Stone, president of the cham
her of commerce, said last night that
the project would be presented to the
executive committee of that body
within a few days. Action by the
committee probably will come before
Charles H. Hall. Missoula member of
tuC StuIV OOdEu Vi cNuNdNlOIIs pAACVs tAC
proposition before his associates at
their December meeting.
Evans Promises Support.
Conditional Endorsement of the plan
was given in telegram yesterday
from Congressman John NJ. Evans to
The Missoulian.
MY first effort" said Mr.. Evans,
MA NNr sn-
earrisoned, and If at some future time
the fort is abandoned l shall do my
best to see that the property is turned
over to the university. This, 10 doubt
would require congressional action"
The procedure in such cases is SIM
pie. The war department turns the
abandoned military posts over to the
department Of the interior, pending
the enactment Of legislation directing
their final disposition.
Abandonment Inevitable.
While it is not probable that any
effort to secure Fort Missoula for the
state University will be made as long
as the war department has any use fol
the post, abandonment of the property
is regarded as inevitable.
"The experience of the country since
the outbreak Of the war has been such
as to make return to the old military
order unlikely" said d. D. Richards
secretary of the chamber of commerce
yesterday. "The existing system OF
military posts was flatly thrown to one
side when war was declared. 1t haC
been devised to meet the exigencies OF
Indian warfare and was useless wher
It became necessary for the war de.
partment to train large numbers ol
men.
1T now appears certain that wher
the war is over the nations militar,
system will be based upon an enor'
nous reserve army, which presumabl!
will be trained regularly at the new
cantonments, adapted especially t.
that end. In that event the old mill
tary posts will be of no value.
Must Prepare for Future.
considering these things it seems
useless for Missoula to hope that tn
most here will ever be used again TO
any large purposes. During the wa
II NAV be maintained as headquar
ters for police work, but afterward n
such work will be necessary. Appar
entity, then, the wisest course is 10
Missoula to prepare to see the pos
abandoned. The best preparation 10
that surely lies in building up senti
ment in favor Of a transfer of tn
reservation to the State University.
Would Ds Splendid Campus.
That the post would be of tremendou
value to the university was admitte
on all sides yesterday. The reserva
ton comprises 1,760 acres two an
three e-quarters square miles) of goo
land The beautiful Bitter Root riv
er winds through the reservation
mart of which extends into the wood
ed foothills of the Bitter Root range.
On the reservation are moder
buildings, including two ready mad
dormitories, worth more than $4,000
The post is within easy reach OF tt
city, and undoubtedly will eventual
he surrounded by residence sectio
Given this reserve. it is pointed ou
the State University would no long,
he confronted by the pressing pro'
lems OF housing and campus room.