The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-04-11
.CAPlT'ALSl'TE
y
MAY Be. USED |; !.
FOR BIG CAMP Nj
: gFI--7 q
Believed Flat Surrounding State
o. House Ground Is Better
Than Fort
HAS MANY: ADVANTAGES " NJ

1t is probable mat the first annual
encampment of the North Dakota
home guard, which is expected to
bring $4,000 to- 10000 state militiamen
here for the first, week in July; will be
held on the tract of several hundred
acres immediately adjoining the capt.
tal grounds instead Of at Fort Lincoln,
as originally planned. The z capitol
grounds could be more easily piped
tor water; they immediately adjoin
he city, presenting no such sransppr,
,.atiens diifieulty &c would sKIflEE lincoln,
three miles from the CITY,; and the
wellshaded capitol park offers better
facilities for outdoor meetings than
do the treeless grounds at the fort.
Capt. E.! G.%.Wanner, chairman of
he governing, board of the North Da-
kota home guard, believes it would be
very easy to make provision for fifteen
thousand or more men near the capt.
.ol. The state owns a large quantity
II discarded piping which formerly
was used for national guard encamp-
nents, and telephone electric light
wires and other connections are con-
.,eniently provided at the state house.
The. Capital City athletic park immed-
lately adjoins the capitol grounds; the
state house park is reached by four
streets which are paved directly to
the boulevard, and they are accessible
from every part of the county. The
surrounding hills form a perfect natur:
al ampitheatre, atfording a convenient
as protection for the great tented city
which would house the guardsmen.
II the capital site is selected for
The encampment, it Is the intention OF
Capt. Wanner to erect on the highest
hill back Of the state house, q 100
foot flagstaff, from which Old Glory,
visible to, points within q radius OF
20 to 80 miles would float, giving the
encampment the proper military set"
ting. - "
The capital portico, from which
Roosevelt and other famous men nave
spoken, would be the most suitable
spot in the city from which President
Wilson or Vice President Marshall,
me or both Of whom will be here for
he encampment, could address the
)eople, and the capital park, with Its
abundant shade and beautiful lawns,
would easily accommodate $4,000 listen
ars. T. -s'..$ E'u' ...
Adyices reaching Capt. Wanner indt-
cate that every. home guard unit with.
in a radius xof $50 miles will attend
the encampment in a body. 1t Is an
.icipated that newly organized home
guard units and those which are too
distant to permit Of attendance as
units, will be we'll represented. Gen
eral Fraser probably will have com"
pleted before the end Of the month
, he regulations under which the home
,uard units are to become q state mil:
ttia, and a brigade and regimenta or.
ganization will have been effected
long before the date set for the en-
campment.
y The flrst week in July is q time
when farmers have little to do. It IS
generally . observed throughout the
state as holiday week, and It Is be-
lieyed that with President Wilson or
Vice President Marshall here on in
dependence day Bismarck will have
he hoonrs of entertaining at least 3O,-
900 North Dakotans, who easily can
motor III in day from points not
more than 209 miles distant: