[no source, November 24, 1940]
TNT Evacuees Given
Ten Days
[Handwritten: Nov.
24, 1940]
Farmers in
the area selected as the site of the new TNT plant to be constructed in St.
Charles County at Weldon Springs must move within 10 days, but may use land in
the safety zone to herd cattle or store farm implements until March 1, to
prevent the necessity of disposing of the property all forced sale, R. N.
McDowell, land purchasing agent for the government, announced yesterday.
The agent
declared the great majority of landowners are giving the government willing
cooperation in its acquisition of property in the area, with the exception of
owners of three tracts in the safety zone, on which condemnation suits will
probably be filed. Two of these tracts are owned by wealthy persons, one of
whom wants too much for his property while the other will not discuss terms,
and the third to an alien, who is also holding out for a large price, McDowell
said.
While land
owners who have reached agreements with the government are waiting for titles
and deeds to be prepared by a staff of attorneys, before final settlements may
be made, the Farm Security branch of the Department of Agriculture is prepared
to make temporary loans to those facing financial distress, McDowell stated.
The agent
said construction of the plant will start soon after all occupants have abandoned
the actual site selected for the plant.
==========
[no source, no date]
Notices to Leave TNT
Area Mailed
Notices to
the 100 families in the area selected as the site of the TNT plant in St.
Charles County at Weldon Springs giving them 10 days in which to move were
mailed last night, R. N. McDowell, land purchasing agent for the government,
said yesterday.
Construction
of a railroad that will go into the property will begin today. Work on the
proposed plant is expected to commence before the evacuation has been
completed, McDowell said. The 100 families who live in the “safety zone” on the
perimeter of the 18,000-acre tract will be given until March 1 to move.
==========
[no source, no date]
WILL CLOSE TNT AREA
TO TOURISTS WITHIN TWO WEEKS
Capt. C. R. Dutton
States Permits to Residents and Those With Official Business Will Be Issued
EXODUS TO START
Most of Families In
Area Have Already Obtained New Locations They Will Move To
Closing
public roads in the TNT plant area within another two weeks to everyone except
those with official business was announced today by Capt. Carl R. Dutton of the
ordnance department, who is commanding officer of the project in the
Howell-Hamburg neighborhood.
Captain
Dutton pointed out that a crew of ten men is now busy surveying for roads and
railroad right-of-way in the area to facilitate the handling of material when
the actual construction gets under way in about another month’s time. The new
roads and railroad lines will cross highways in the area and too much danger
will exist if sightseers are allowed.
Persons who
live in the area or have to use the roads to get to their homes will be given a
special permit, he added.
Minor
construction will get under way within two weeks and as soon as the Atlas
Powder Company makes a study of the terrain and designs the plant, subject to
approval of the war department, the big work will begin.
At present
Captain Dutton and Fraser-Brace Company, Inc., contractors, have established
offices in the new Miller school. The contractor plans to open an employment
agency next week. Just how many men will be employed on the job could not be
stated but the number will be large because of the sizeable project, Captain
Dutton said.
People who
will have to move will be given at least a week’s notice and none will be asked
to move before the minor construction is started.
Persons
living in the area must now have passes to get in and out of the area and
others who have business there must be approved by the guards before entrance
can be obtained.
County Farm
Agent Robert Langenbacher said a survey reveals 25 families in Hamburg, 40 in
Howell, and 130 in the remainder of the area must be moved. Eighty of the
farmers own their own land while 50 are tenants. Langenbacher stated most of
the people have secured new locations in the Callaway, Cuivre and Dardenne
townships which is in the northwestern section of this county.
Residents
of the section west of the TNT site plan to present a petition to the state
highway department asking that a road be constructed along the Missouri River
from Defiance to the Daniel Boone bridge which is a distance of six miles
instead of the 20 miles necessary to go around the area.
Captain
Dutton said he received reports that farmers were clearing land of timber
because they were under the impression the government wanted the clear land for
the construction. He asked this newspaper to ask the people to leave the trees
there and not to disturb nature any more than necessary as the trees offer a
perfect camouflage for the plant.
He pointed
out that countries in Europe spent millions of dollars camouflaging munition
plants because of the lack of a natural setting.
Captain
Dutton plans to make his home in the 10-room William Kaut residence in Hidden
Valley near Howell. He will of occupy the Kaut home in about two or three
weeks.
==========
[no source, no date]
Building of TNT Plant
Will Begin Before January 1st
Captain Dutton Says
It Is Important That Residents Leave Area Immediately.
With work
on 300 buildings for the TNT plant scheduled to begin between Christmas and New
Years’ Capt. C. R. Dutton of the Army Ordnance Department is asking all people
in the danger zone to begin moving as soon as possible.
Notice on
100 families to vacate the area was served two weeks ago and a surprisingly few
left the area, Capt. Dutton announced. He said a staff of men are contracting
the people and impressing upon them the necessity of leaving for their homes as
soon as possible.
Work at
present consists of building a railroad spur and construction of temporary
offices on the Howell High School grounds.
Captain
Dutton said the plant would be built in the center of the area with heavily
wooded sections serving as natural camouflage. Highway 94 and the 30 miles of
county road in the area have been closed to traffic with guards, under Sheriff
Joe Borgmeyer, patrolling the entrances.
