Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-07-11
OUTLOOK IS BRIGHT
FOR kent islanders
Maryland Governor Protests
Taking Of Land for
Proving Ground
STATE AROUSED
OVER REPORTS

WASHINGTON. July 1.-The out
LOOK for the people Of Kent Island is
daily growing brighter and there IS
every prospect that the War Depart
ment will finally decide not 20 turn
chat fertile farmland into provlng-
ground. Governor Harrington has
written very strong letter. to Sccre-
tary Baker, protesting, as Governor
I or Maryland. against the destruction
OF ono Of the most productive farming
communities I'm the State. He has
pointed ont IN his letter 20 Mr.. Baker
the economic waste involved In the
destruction Of the area that Is con-
trbuting an unusual amount OF food
siulis 20 the country's supply at time
when every admonition OF the Prcsi'
dent and every energy az the country
Is devoted TO the conservation OF food
supplies. He has also made a strong
appeal for the 5000 residents OF the
island. picturing the mental distress
and the actual hardship which will
fall upon them II they are driven from
their homes and turned out into the
world
1 Governor Harrington IS thoroughly
aroused over the wrong that Is con-
temp ated by the War Department
and will exert all the influence OF his
official position TO protect the people
OF his State The letter from Gov
ernor Harrington will place before
Secretary Baker Information regari-
b ing Kent Island. which cannot be brt
convincing 1t will show Mr. Baker
that for an agricultural community
b Kent Island "a one OF the most dense
~ populated areas In Maryland.
There are on the island several small
towns besides about 40 farms. so
; that II is almost incredible that the
. War Department should carry out is
! original plans OF destroying the use
81 fulness of the island,
b Stevenson A. Williams. OF Hartford
county, called on Senator smith yes.
terday as representative or one Of
the many canning factories on the
island, TO learn, II possible the pur-
pose OF the department Mr.. Williams
81 spoke I'm particular OF one establish
2 ment which expected 10 pack TINS
y year no less than $4,000 cases OF TO.
ma-oes and other vegetables raised
T" on Kent Island With the threat oil
% dispossecsion az any moment. the &C
tivity Of this establishment is prac
J. tically paralyzed not only Is then
70 large investment in their establish
70 ment ieopardlzed, but the more i'm
r portant national question OF addinl
g 10 the food supply OF the country b,
> the contemplated pack OF canne
goods OF this summer is In doubt
Mr. Smith assured Mr. william
that he had good reason to believe N
department would abandon its pla
OF taking over the island. Senate
\ / Smith was the more confident b
h cause tho pathetic story of the pc
nile OF Kent Island has aroused u
L. deepest interest I'm the Senate. and
a. number OF Senators have spoken
I'd Senator smith telling him OF inc
ss lively sympathy for his constituen
r. and giving him assurance that NOT
n penny will be appropriated for q
A. purchase OF the island. Tile oppo'
"a ton i'm the Senate IS not confined
or the Democrats; number or u
leading Republican Senators hal
IN lola Mr. Smith that it is folly for n
4 Senate 10 pass food supply and Toe
"a control measures for the purpose
4. saving tho food supplies OF this coul
= try. and at the saline time permit u
e war Department 10 destroy II
- sources OF food merely because
~ new proving ground Is needed igno
- ing hundreds OF thousands OF acres
useless lands all over the country.
AS already pointed out the Mar
= land state authorities ere ready
. supply Secretary Baker with amp
- Information Of other sites in Mar
~ land that can be used for provil
~ grounds without destroying Valuan
farm faufq
Representative Price. OF the Fir
~ district returned 20 Washington ye
80 terday and Immediately called
~ Senator Smith TO assure him thas
~ will cooperate with him In every WI
~ 10 save Kent I/anl. He will call
~. Secretary Baker today to add his pr
~ test 10 that OF Senator Smith In "a
=. ing over the island. Senator Smi
learned that the small group Of ia
a., mers on Kent Island who sever
81 weeks ago gave options on their IAN
A. when they learned that the govel
me- ment could take the land away nc
no them by condemnation over th'
M protest. have so completely chang
m. their attitude in view or the sen
m ment on the islanl that they viii ia
~ the necessary steps to revoke the
nv ton which they have given. ~
r- means that the government now h
I-s mo option on any OF the land
Nv Secretary Daniels omphatically
he MED that the Navy Department b
any part in the plans TO take or
ne Kent Island. The naval PROV
,is ground is at Indian Head, and th'
rlv has never been any intention 70 bu
est new naval laboratory on Kent
he land.