The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-05-04
CAMP CUSTER WOULD BE BEST
CANTONMENT IN WORLD IF IT
WERE LOCATED NEAR BISMARCK

somewhere in Camp Custer, Michi-
gan May 3.-Were Camp Custer a
cantonment of some $4,000 men, lOcat-
ed southeast OF Bismarck about four
miles in location commonly known
as Fort Lincoln ! might say that
it would be the most ideal camp in
the world. One reason for this asser-
ton is because the camp itself is one
Of the most complete, well organized
and most sanitary Of all camps An.
other reason is because, if situated
near Bismarck, it would then be l0cat-
ed in the faramOdnt state IN the
union. The state OF sunshine and
grain, broad prairies and plains witE
incompatible and invincible native
sons. TO North Dakota belongs the
best, therefore, Camp Custer should
be in the Non-partisan state
However, the exact location of CamD
Custer is not to be sneezed at. 1t
is here among the great grape arbors
and fruit orchards Of the extremely
solvent Michigan farmers. Great syca-
more and birch trees decorate the
topography of the surrounding land
scape and crpstal rivers and hurrying
rivulets explore their endless ways
thru the rich fields of black loan and
level fields OF young barley which are
bordered by rail fences Of the old
type. ,.
The only disagreeable feature re-
garding the entire camp site is the
fact that the cantonment proper sits
in group of sand hills and on windy
days the flying sand makes one think
Of the Missouri flat between Bismarck
and the river. However, it does have
it's redeeming feature, viz: we notice
the absence Of mud after a rain and
the fact that on windy days it is I'M
necessary to wash. You see all one
has to do. is to stand up and the fly
ing sand will scour the dirt from your
face as it goes by. ,@g.s.
The rainfall in this part of Michi-
gan is such that Bismarckian will
Immediately sit up and take notice.
! don't know what the precipitation is
in inches but I am sure that if North
Dakota had half of Michigan's rain.
fall both states would be better OFF,
Now that the Bismarck public has
Vt This immediate sector and it's natur-
al surroundings, we will say few
words about the inhabitants of this
khaki klad kamp. Camp Custer is one
of the thirteen National Army Can.
comments Of the United States built
10 house and train the greatest and
most powerful army the world has
ever seem We have here representa-.
tives of every state in the nation from
the sunny southern climes OF 'Califor-
MIA to the forest primeval' Of Maine
and from the flat cypress swamps
OF Florida to the apple orchards Of
Oregon. In our own particular COM
pany, 2G6 men out of C0.000 we have
accountants from New jersey, store
keepers from Kansas City, railway bill
clerks from Cleveland farmers from
truck drivers from New
Orleans, not to mention the advertis-
ing man from Bismarck. Like the
of old these lads are each and
oil anxious to 60 "Over There" after
Kaiser Bills helmsted mob of baby
killers and women slayers. Not that
they intend to take, over" a certain
sector of the front at all but they do
intend to build railroads to enhance
the transportation of other regiments.
Without railroads the "dough-boys"
would have hard shedding indeed. It's
our job to build those railroads.
Michigan is the only state in the
union that is completely divided with