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CONSTHUCTlO" ,\ND EQUIPMENT OF RFLOCATION CENTERS 249 Authority, the accountability for all such equipment and property was transferred to the Authority. The present chapter summarizes the action taken by the Wartime Civil Control Administration and other Army agencies and services In the acquisition, construction and equipping of Relocation Centers. Project Site Selection. In conformance with the prOVISIOns of Par. .' of the Memorandum of Agreement between the War Department and the War Relocation Authority, sites for the Relocation Projects were selected by the War Relocation Authority. \'V'hen a decision had been reached that a location W3S considered suitable for a Relocation Project, the Commanding General, Western Defense Command and Fourth Army, was so informed by the Director of the War Relocation Authority. Steps were then taken to "clear" the area from a military standpoint by ascertaining if the appropriate Defense or Corps Area Commander had any objections to the use of the land for evacuee relocation. Where the Navy Department might be interested, clearance was secured from the Commandant of the Naval District concerned. The Manzanar Relocation Center in the Owens Valley, California, was an exception to this procedure. Manzanar was originally selected and acquired by the Army as a Reception Center. It was turned over to the War Relocation Authority on June 1, 1942. Colorado River Relocation Center was also an exception. The Army acquired this site from the Secretary of Interior for a reception center-for usc by the Army for such purpose for the duration. TIle Wartime Civil Control Administration never operated it, however, as Director Eisenhower agreed with the Wartime Civil Control Administration Director, to staff and operate it from the beginning. Because of difficulties in assembling such a staff, Director Eisenhower turned over operations to the Indian Service. Project Site AcqUisition. The acquisition of the property comprising Relocation Project sites was a War Department function and was done by the United States Engineer Corps on the request of the Commanding General. \'V'hen military clearance had been obtained, the Commanding General issued a directive to the Division Engineer, South Pacific Division, who acted for the Chief of Engineers, requesting that he direct the Division Engineer concerned to proceed with the acquisition of the necessary land. At the same time the Commanding General notified the Governor of the State concerned that, because of military necessity, a Relocation Center for Japanese evacuees was to be located in his State. Ten sites were acquired and their locations arc shown on Figure 21, the center spread in the series of individual Relocation Center location maps following page 250. Description of Relocation Project Sites. The following paragraph presents brief descriptions of the ten Relocation Project 'sites on which Centers have been constructed and to which the Japanese evacuees have been sent. (1) Central Utah. Located at Abraham, Utah, in Millard County, this Project site comprises approximately 19,000 acres. Several thousand acres were in crop but the greatest ~rtion was covered with greasewood.