Baxter Springs news., 1918-05-10
SMITH SUGGESTS DEVILS
PROMENADE SUITABLE
TO SOLDIER CAMP
COULD GET PLENTY HELP
Thinks Government Might Be
Interested In Putting Can
tOnment Near Here for
Protection of Industry

The idea may be q little far fetch
ed or it may not be to make a try at
getting one of the new cantonments
for the Baxter Springs or the immed-
late neighborhood. L. A. Smith, of
Baxter Springs, a Spanish-American
war veteran, has been looking over
the ground south of here on Spring
River and he thinks the ground is adj
mirably adapted to the placing of
one of the national cantonments 20
take care of the 100000 men who are
to be drafted right away.
Mr.. Smith thinks the high ground
above Springs River just east of the
Devils promenade, just south of Bax-
ter Springs in Oklahoma is an ideal
place. The land is rolling, which
would afford excellent drainage, the
first requirement in establishing n
cantonment; the country is timbered
and nearly all of the camps in the
country have been placed in timbercd
sites; the country is beautiful and
along one of the prettiest rivers in
the United States; the land. is cheap
and abundant; and is situated almost
on the corner of four states and al
most within q stones throw of three
states; it would be great protection
for one Of the greatest industrial dis
tricts in the United States; and the
most important item in starting 4
move for or investigation of the pos
sibilities. of q 'cantonment here is the
fact that it ought to be possible to
secure the undivided national repre-
sentation from at least Kansas, Mis-
souri, and Oklahoma, in pulling for
the site. OF course, the help of our
congressman and representatives
could not be enlisted if the site isn't
feasible and practical. Mr.. Smith be-
lieves everything is just right. Camp
Funston is really the nearest can
tonment to this place and the distance
would not be crowding the camps. We
are on the main east and west lines
and the north and south lines of the
Frisco, which company would no
doubt be glad to run their spurs out
to the Davil's promenade. Baxter
Springs is historical in the state and
nation and is well advertised. 1t is
said the land can be procured without
loss to any one and is plentiful in
amount. 1t is thought five thousand
acres could be procured at the start
and added to as more is needed.
What a cantonment here would
mean to Baxter Springs needs little
mention. If $4,000 soldiers were
quartered a couple or three miles
from town the merchants would have
the greatest difficulty in keeping
stocked up with most anything in
dozens of lines of business. If the
cantOnment were placed at the De-
vils Promenade three states would
get the benefit of it; while Oklahoma
and possibly a few acres of Kansas
would actually have the camp, Mis-
souri, would have no complaint to
make. The still at Peoria and the one
at the state line would have to go out
of business or pull up stakes and go |
elsewhere as the 10 mile dry line
would encircle them. 1t is thought |
the Rogers line would be glad to run
a spur down there from a point where |
the line turns west. to Hockerville.
Geographically the site could not |
be improved upon and the lay of the
land answers all specifications. The
idea is big one and worth some con-
sideratiOn. The other towns in this
neighborhood would be apt to be
glad to render any assistance they
could. 1t now seems to be the opin-
ion of most of our statesmen that un-
ess Germany or Austria breaks down
On the inside America will have to
furnish an army of 100000 men to
win the war.