The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-05-12
FIRST OF THE FOREST ARMY
MOVES INTO CAMP GEG0kA
Captain Marston of the Regular Army Charge of Camp
Gegoka at McDougal Lake-Two Hundred and Twelve
Men Arrive Early Monday.


Presidents forest army was established
Monday when the site of old camp
nine at McDougal Lake blossomed out
into Camp Gegoka and Is situated
80 miles south of this city on the Ely
Finland road.
A special train of nine Great Northen
cars arrived here Monday morning
early. On board were 212 men from
Fort Smelling. The train also carried
the tents and equipment for the tenn
porary camp as it is understood that q
permanent camp will be constructed
later, work to begin on the permanent
structures at once or as soon as the
mass of detail occasioned by such a vast
program of conservation can be ironed
out.
A fleet Of twenty-three trucks was ON
hand upon the arrival of the train and
the work of transplanting the men,
equipment and supplies was at once
begun. The Duluth, Missabe & Nor
thern had the contract to deliver the
men and equipment at the camp site.
To the credit of the transportation ar
ranged by Agent Moonan of the local
station, there was not a mishap in the
transportation program from the time
the boys embarked at Fort Smelling
until they were set down at Camp
Gegoka
The work of erecting the tents was
at once begun and by night had reached
the stage of being able to house the
force. Regular army camp stoves were
installed as fast as possible although
night came on before the work was
completed. The weather was rather
raw on Monday evening and the stoves
proved Godsend TO the tired boys
who were housed eight in a tent.
Work opened up with a bang on
Tuesday morning and at this writing
the tent city presents a very finished
appearance. Mess halls are in popular
demand as our rarified air and health
giving climate creates an appetite of
more than ordinary Importance. The
nights are conducive for sleep: In
somnia is unknown and hay fever Is
entirely missing.
The Gegoka camp will be In charge
OF Captain Marston and two neutenants
who will oversee the housing, mess and
morale of the men. The actual woods
work will be in charge of trained
foreSterS and men familiar with forest
work. 1t Is expected that four more
camps will be put in near here as
rapidly as possible. Another of these
will be located in what is known as the
KawiShiwi District which Is in charge
of Ranger Frank R. Grove The second
camp will be located at Birch Lake
Dam and will be known as the Hallway
camp. In the district presided over by
Ranger M j. Valentine on the Ely
Buyck trail, three camps are to be
put in, one known as Spring Creek
Camp located at FenSke Lake; one
known as Portage River Camp located
one mile east of Portage river and the
third, Cold Springs Camp, located three
and half miles west of Cold Springs.
At the Cold Springs site handsome
log cabin has been erected recently for
the accommodation of the rangers In the
district. Twelve men were sent out
from the local Office Friday who are
known as technical men and advisors
and who will act in such capacity at
the camps to be established. This force
will have charge of the arrangements
for planting, trail construction, road
building and in fact all work to be done
in the conservation movement. This
force will be increased as occasion
warrants. Those now in the field are
getting themselves in trim for the work
at hand.
In charge of the crews according to
advices will be men recruited from the
experienced woodsmen who have signed
up during the past week and have been
selected by men from the Superior
Forest Office. These men will be be-
tween the ages of IS to 40 years and
fifty have been selected for the first
draft.
Training camps will also be estab-
lished by the Forest Service for tech
nical and cultural work In which many
men will be enrolled. Nothing definite
has been learned of this as to the time
when enrolment viii begin.
Assistant Supervisor C. B. Stott was
here Tuesday from Duluth to inspect
and arrange for the planting of the
IS, 900 seedlings which arrived with
the camp contingent on Monday.
Major Stadig and Captain Mahoney
of Fort Smelling we're in the city Friday
and Saturday arranging for the trans
portation of the men and getting sup
plies lined up for the arrival Of the
army. Major Stadig had charge Of the
transportation end and Captain Ma
honey was in charge Of securing sup
plies.