The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1943-03-11
Richland, White Bluffs and
IHa1ford Areas to be Taken
By Huge War Industry

| states OF 1873, 1888 acres OF land IN
Benton county. with immediate pos
session to be given for military.
naval or other war purposes" was
instituted in federal court in Spo-
kane Feb. %. it was disclosed yes
terday
The petition was filed by the de-
partInent Of justice and the order
for immediate taking OF the land
was signed by Judge Lewis B.
Schwellenbach. Nature of the large
military establishment which is
planned, for the area was not dis
closed
Censor Releases Story
Authority for publication Of this
report Of the action was given by
Byron Price, chief of the bureau Of
censorship.
The areas making up the 1913, 1893
acres already condemned are listed
in the courts order as rarea A."
1858 acres and "area D." 1850
acres.
An estimated 1000 people live on
the land covered by the court order.
The area includes the towns Of
Richland, Hanford and White Bluffs,
Copies of the court order already
have been mailed to most Of the
families In the area,
In the Richland area in particu=
lar, where more than 1900 persons
lived in the town and on the 5000
acres Of rich, .irrigated land sur
rounding, 1t is understood most Of
the families have been notified to
be prepared to evacuate their homes
and lands in 80 days. Some were
asked to move still more quickly,
while others were granted addition
al time, according TO q story which
appeared in today's Spokane Review.
Eleven hundred residents OF the
affected Richland area gathered &C
a massmeeting Monday night TO
consider the situation, and @. j.
Dam, general merchant at Rich
land for 30 years, and G. F. Fletcher,
secretary OF the Richland landown-
ers' committee, brought the follow
ing statement to Spokane: =
300 Farm Families
IN connection with the proposed
evacuation Of the Richland Irriga-
ton district the 1900 or more people
living in this district want it plainly
understood that they wish TO take
no action that would in any way
jeopardize military necessity. They
fully understands fact insist
that at all times military necessity
comes first. But the Richland irri-
cation district, a permanent and
self-contained community with 5000
acres Of highly productive land and
300 farm families, is a heavy pro-
Queer Of vegetables for processing.
fruits, poultry and dairy products.
all of vital Importance for military
and civilian consumption and for
lease-lend operations. ..
Important as is the fact that this
food is produced close to points of
consumption and close to the Pacific
coast, Richland farmers want 70
continue their contribution to the
national emergency by continuing in
the production Of these important
foods. II not permitted TO do so,
they win, as loyal Americans, con-
tinue to contribute TO the national
welfare to the best of their ability.
Waste Area Nearby
THE town Of Richland could be
readily made available for any
military purpose and in addition
there are nonproductive areas 10
the west Of the district that it APP
pears could be as well adapted 70
military purposes as the highly pro-
ductive irrigated land.
I'VE earnestly hope that our
military authorities will give fun
and immediate consideration 70
these facts IL they have not al
ready done So, and that in the
meantime Richland farmers be per-
mitted to produce and harvest the
1913 crop If this is feasible. Be-
cause the irrigation season begins
about March 20, immediate action
is imperative"
The Richland group, insisting that
they are in no way protesting" the
action, are seeking help in effecting
a change in order to save the pro-
duction Of critically needed food on
the 5000 irrigated acres, from Gov
ernor Langlie, Secretary OF Agricul-
ture Wickard, President Roosevelt
and members Of the states con-
gressional delegation.
Governor States Case
Governor Banglie announced yes
terday that he had sent telegram
TO Secretary wickard, calling at
tention TO the situation and asking
that he give careful consideration TO