Show A Natural Defense Center CIRCUMSTANCES ANCES developing in our naV national national na- na V C policy inescapably focus attention on the need for added security of our west coast In times past it was believed that fixed afforded afforded af at- fortifications defending principal harbors forded this security We V c now see that mobile mobile mobile mo mo- bile defenses along the whole coast hue lino are arc called for that new types of come conic into the time picture and increasingly dependence must be placed in powerful military militar planes All of these things combine to require an extensive plan for defense installations alon along the whole Pacific coast These in turn call for inland bases at strategic points This focuses focuses focuses focuses' fo fo- fo- fo attention anew upon this region Many rallY years ago the Commercial club now the chamber cham chain ber of commerce laid before the war department department depart depart- ment the peculiar features obtaining here which commanded their interest Now fresh efforts are being made by the Salt Lake City chamber to impress ss upon congress and army armr chiefs the tho claims o of the city for consideration utilization of or the in l working out a practical natural advantages found here One feature of the western de defense ense plan calls for a series of or establishments for the army air service along the coast These reqUIre require re re- re- re quire stations in the rear as ns supply depots and training centers No point can offer geographical geographical geo geo- graphical and topo topographical advantages to compare with those found in this valley alley The rhe chamber of commerce representatives now in I Washington 1 are bringing these to the tho notice of officials who will be charged with the se selection selection se- se I lection of an inland base The airmail has demon demonstrated sf rated the vital ital importance importance im im- un- un of Salt SaIt Lake Cit City in any plan of this sort From this city radiate all main airlines in every direction of f the time compass Rail lines set up tip establish lines of communication with the northwest southwest and time the west The city is the business and industrial center o oth of th the intermountain region a ready source of supply for many of the needs of land and water water water wa wa- wa- wa ter forces operating along the coast Emergency Emergency Emer Emer- gency motor transport services would use the network of highways likewise radiating from this region Coal and ana metal mines fabricating fabricating fabricating ing works and a n vast and productive agriculturaL agricultural tural area areaS center their marketing here lere Not Notto Notto Notto to be lost sight of is the militar military reservation nt itt Jordan Narrows where Camp CampT W T G. G Williams Wil Wil- hams liams is already set up imp with installed accommodations accommodations for a large body of troops Touching Touching Touch Touch- ing the time city limits is Fort Douglas and between between between be be- tween the city and the Great Grent Salt SnIt lake man many favorable sites for air fiel fields s and their garriSons garrisons garrisons garri garri- sons are to be found Foresight on the part of the chamber of commerce and city officials prompted Mayor l Marcus to have Ilave fa favorable or able sites surveyed and mapped An offer of these locations has already already already al al- al- al ready been made to the war department and General E. E C. C Kilbourne is said to favor this area for an air base and amid depot All of this should be of high bight interest here Because of its natural strategic location and because it is a trade and industrial center as well as the heat heart of an important producing region the city elty inescapably will pIa play a big part in In a coordinated western defense plan In addition to the interest that attaches to to the purely military features fea ures of setting up es essentIal essential es- es defense installations here the city and the state would benefit in no small degree from stimulated activity during the thc const construe construe- ue- ue tion period a and ld as a point of supply for the personnel which would be allotted fo to the ad ad- garrison to be set up All AU forces which are promoting the time welfare of this city in furthering fur fur- these likely possibilities earn the good goodwill will and support rt of the community |