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Show Sen. Moss Proposes National Cemetery At Fort Douglas Sentor Frank E. Moss of Utah has introduced a bill providing for establishment of a National Cemetery on the Fort Douglas Military reservation in Salt Lake City. He said, "One hundred acres at Fort Douglas was surveyed by the Army in 1948 for us as a national cemetery. This bill would put to use a part of that previously surveyed area. There is a post cemetery now in existence exist-ence at Fort Douglas which will become a part of the proposed new cemetery. "There is at present no national cemetery in the intermountain region. The historic importance of Fort Douglas, founded in 1862 as well as its central location, makes it ideally suited for the 'national cemetery to meet the needs of the intermountain west. In 1862, Colonel Patrick Connor Con-nor established camp for his detachment on the east bench, calling it Camp Douglas, after President Lincoln's famous opponent, op-ponent, Senator Stephen Douglas. Doug-las. Col. Connor encouraged his men to prospect for minerals, and their work was important in developing Utah's mining industry. indus-try. "Fort Douglas was an important impor-tant training post during the first World War. Until late 1940, it served as a regimental Dost of ! command for the 38th Infantry. During World War II the headquarters head-quarters of the Ninth Service Command was moved inland from the Presidio to the Fort." Congressman David S. King has introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives. In other action Senator Moss called to the attention of the Utah State Road Commission the importance to national defense of the improvement of the highway high-way between Corrine and the Thiokol Chemical Corp. plant. The Air Force has told the Senator that road improvements are needed on the state highway in Box Elder County for movement move-ment of the Minuteman missile between the plant and Hill Air Force Base. In a letter to C. Taylor Burton, Director of Highways of the state of tUah, Senator Moss wrote: "The portion of the highway from Corinne to Blue Creek is presently an improved highway, but will need to be widened and resurfaced. The road running north from Blue Creek to the plant site is a gravel road and will need to be rebuilt. "The Air Force estimates that the cost for construction to meet their standards will be about $1,800,000. These improvements are necessary to enable movement move-ment of the Minuteman and related re-lated items from the Thiokol plant to Hill Field. "The Department of the Air Force indicates that the problem is of extreme urgency and that construction must get under way. There is an indication that they are so concerned about it that they are willing to contribute rather substantial funds for the project." The first stage engines for the Minuteman are being produced at the plant near Brigham City. Hill Air Force Base near Ogden has been designated for assembly and recycle facilities. |