SENTINELS ON THE DESERT: , The Dugway Proving Ground (1942-1963)
and Deseret Chemical Depot (1942-1955) BY L E O N A R D J . A R R I N G T O N AND T H O M A S G. A L E X A N D E R
W h e n it b e c a m e a p p a r e n t early in World W a r I I that the enemy (Germany, Italy, and J a p a n ) possessed a capability for chemical warfare, the W a r Department began planning for expansion of its capacity for chemical warfare defense. T h e Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland, situated in a well-populated area, could offer little room for further development with housing tracts pressing on its boundaries and other defense industries sapping the local labor market. T h e Chemical Warfare Service needed a location with elbow room; and from a study m a d e by the Federal Grazing Service, the government knew that the desert area in western U t a h offered advantages of climate, altitude, and space for expansion which it could not find in other locations. 1 U n d e r a grant from the U t a h State University Research Council, Leonard J. Arrington, professor of economics at U t a h State University, is directing a study of the history and economics of government defense installations in U t a h . A graduate of U.S.U., Thomas Alexander is now a candidate for the doctorate in history at the University of California, Berkeley. 1 "History of Dugway Proving G r o u n d " (typescript, D u g w a y ) , 1. This history was furnished the writers by Colonel David Armitage on September 12, 1961. Unless otherwise noted, the information in this article is based upon this nine-page typescript history; a paper furnished by Colonel Armitage to the writers entitled, "Statistics: Dugway Proving Ground, U t a h " ; interviews with Captain Max Newman, Dugway public information officer ( 1 9 5 9 - 1 9 6 2 ) , and Wayne Haddock, of the Dugway Controller's Office, in August 1961; and letters from Lieutenant Lawrence D. Doff, information officer ( 1 9 6 2 ) , to Professor Arrington, dated August 14, 15, 19, 1963.
