The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1917-11-01
ARMY CAMP FOR OREGON
LOCATED AT HERMISTON

Oregon at last seems to have al
opportunity to secure an encampment
of at least $4,000 soldiers. Major
Richard Parks on the staff of the
Commander of the Western Division
has been ordered to make an examin-
alton of site of some thirty odd
thousand acres of ground near Her.
miston in Umatilla County. This
examination is reported to have re-
vealed very satisfactory condition
OF soil and climate as we'll as topogra-
ply of country desired for a large
training camp for United States for
ces.
A joint committee of business men
from Eastern Oregon and the Port
land Chamber of Commerce has pre-
pared exhaustive data on the econ
omic advantage of locating an army
camp at Hermiston. This survey in
cludes railway transportation, the
cost of foods required by the troops,
material used in the construction of
the camps and handling Of troops
generally.
1t Is also pointed out that climatic
conditions are generally exceptionally
favorable at the site examined.
There Is very light rainfall to inter-
fere in any way with troop maneu-
vers. Snow never falls to such
depth as to interfere seriously with
marching and training and when it
does fall remains on for a period Of
only one to three weeks during the
year. Wind velocities have been
found very favorable also because of
the fact that the average monthly
winds are but little more than breezes
and there are no high wind velocities
which would retard the operations of
military forces at any time of the
year.
Oregon is fortunate in approaching |
this problem by having as Chairman
of the Military Affairs Comittee of
the United States Senate the Honor
able George E. Chamberlain. Sena-
tor Chamberlain could be more influ-
entail in securing the location of a
camp in this state than any other
man in Congress if economic condi-
tions were right. The committee
the problem believes tina,
the economic study reveals positive
advantages and that there is no reas-
on why the senior Senator from Ore
gon should not exercise his full in
fiuence to have great encampment
placed at Hermiston.
The. requirements in decided
ground range from one to two thous
and acres only, which amount the
handling the mater have
agreed shall be donated to the gov
arnment without charge. In addition
an acreage of from thirty to thirty
live thousand acres is required for
lrills and maneuvers. This addition
Il land is available in the public do
main adjoining the site proposed to
be decided and under the ownership
If the Northern Pacific Railway and
he Oregon Land and Water Co. No
difficulty whatever will be experien-
led in getting permission from the
private owners for the maneuvering
Ind drilling privilege and in this re-
'pect the case seems to be in satisfac-
ory form.
In placing camps where troops
night be quartered and trained Ore
ION has been overlooked. A small de-
'elopinent took place at Vancouver,
he time-honored department head
Iuarters of the Northwest. The main
development for the Northwest has
'een concentrated at American Lake
lear Tacoma. Most of the other en-
ampments have been placed in the
outh. 1t is declared by military men
hat the southern locations in the
eat of summer and perhaps at GER
ain other periods when the rain Is
bundant will not nearly be so desir-
bic as the high, dry lands of Una
lila County, where such an admir-
BILE climatic condition is found and
there the temperatures are favorable
9th winter and summer
An appeal has been made by the
ommittee handling the problem for
he entire state to rise as a unit in the
equest osSenator Chamberlain and
ne War Department to give consider
tion to this location as a training
amp. Senator Chamberlain arrived
/ Portland October twenty-fourth.
he committee feels that If the state
Expresses its desire for great army
amp of the character under consid-
ration and pours in requests upon
le Senator for his utmost support,
lat it is likely favorable action will
ssult.