Citizens Military Training Camp - Columbian Yearbook (Fort Lewis, WA)

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THE C-OLUMBIAN Camp Lewis, The Waterfront Camp I A History of the Development of the Largest Permanent Military Cantonment in the United States BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT ALEXANDER Commanding Officer, Camp Lewis WB 59933 TRETCHING 'southward from the City of Tacoma in the State QQ of Washington, lies an upland region of great beauty. It is Xfw formed by an ancient glacial shelf that lies between the blue l X2 S 022 forested foothills of the ice-clad Cascade Range and the clear, cold 'waters of Puget Sound. It is a land of quiet lakes and sparkling streams, of grassy and evergreen trees-a natural park where Nature has Worked lunharnpered and produced a region of sylvan loveliness. ln the early days, Fort Steilacoom on the north and the old Nisqually trading post on the south were the nearest settlements and it was called the Nisqually Plain after the lndians of that tribe who herded their horses on its green pastures. With the passing of the pioneer days and the coming of the railroads a new era dawned for the Northwest, but the cities sprang up at tide-water and the farmers settled the more fertile Valleys and the prairiesn, as the One hundred three

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THE C-OLUMBIAN newcomers called the rolling uplands, were left to themselves. This en- forced isolation continued for a number of years, but as the methods of transportation improved, the splendid natural roads of the region were worn smooth by the wheels of bicycles and automobiles and 'ithe prairie became a vast pleasure ground. Before the prairies came into their own, however, the military adgvan- tages of the region had been demonstrated when the first organization of State troops chose the shores of American Lake as the site for their summer encampment. Every time they were used the regulars participated. On that instant was born the plan that through years of effort on the part of far-sighted men has developed into the largest military post in the United States. ln October, l9l6, Major General Franklin Bell, Commander of the Western Department of the United States Army, sent Captain Richard Park to the Norhwest to investigate .sites for an army post. Through some over- sight the American Lake site was not included in Captain Park's list, but the fact that he was engaged on such a mission became known to Stephen Appleby, then Cashier of the National Bank of Tacoma, who was attending the business men's military encampment at American Lake. Mr. Appleby got in touch with Captain Park, who in company with Colonel U. G. Mc- Alexander, Commander of the business men's camp, Major Logan and Mr. Jesse O. Thomas, inspected the site. On receipt of their favorable report, Major General Bell visited the site and before a meeting of prominent business men he added his enthusiastic endorsement to the plan and called attention to the fact that in August, 1916, the United States Senate had passed a military bill which included the clause which allowed the Secretary of War to accept, as do.nations, such sites as were adapted to military pur- poses. Here was the opportunity which had been -so eagerly desired by the far- sighted men of the community and without a moment's hesitation it was accepted. A fund was instantly raised by popular subscription and Mr. Appleby Went to San Francisco, where he obtained a definite recommen- dation of the site from Major General Bell. On October IS, a Committee composed of Mr. Appleby, Mr. Frank Baker and Mr. Jesse O. Thomas, went to Washington, D. C., where they were joined by Mr. Elbert l-l. Baker, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Appleby's Committee was authorized to offer to the United States Government a tract of one hundred and forty square miles, of which l08.2 square miles, or approximately 70,000 acres, was to be acquired under con- demnation proceedings on the understanding that the Government would establish thereon a permanent military mobilization, training and s-upply station. The land was selected by Major General Bell. No private citizen had any hand in it. Speculators received no consideration when the propo- sition was initiated, nor during the subsequent proceedings. The prices were to be fixed by jury. After Senator Chamberlain, Chairman of the Senate Military Affairs Committee, and Congressman Dent, Chairman of the House Committee, had approved of the project, President Wilson added his endorsement. One hundred four ia