Topaz, Utah

TOPAZ, UTAH

With a mixed feeling 6f regret and emptiness in my stomach,

we left Tanforan Assembly Center on the Western Pacific at

6:25 p.m. after bidding goodbye to frramds left behind.

Train--green velvet cushioned seats, and one to a seat.

George "agiwara was our Car Captain and *4as Abiko was ouk

Car ionitor. Passed thru Redwood City and San Jose. Con-

panions on the train happendd to be tnose who had been our

neighbors in the City. We were supposed to have passed Stock-

ton at 3:00 a.m. andSacramento at 5:00 a.m. of the following

day. Kind of long getting there. Breakfasted at 8:30 a.m.

on oatmeal mush, ham and eggs, toast (c) butter, coffee, potatoes,

milk, marmalade. Visiting was permitted between 10 - 11 a.m.

scenic view after passing Sacrmmento was beautiful--Feather

River Canyon---passed ##arysville, Oroville---small waterfalls,

m.jestic green frees, green foliage, pure granite rocks and.

boulders. Scenery reminds one of Yosemite "ark and vicinity.

Clear cool looking streams running along the canyon. Recrea-

tion aboard the train consisted of talking, playing cards and

board games, knitti g, reading. Not very many got sick on

Our car. OF. of the cavY was Dr. Cas

30th - Just heard that we were late--should have been in Reno

early this morn. These had been a long delay at San Jose dur-

ing. the night--switching cars around.

7 p.m. In Nevada, thru sage brush, flat land. Alm-st white

sand, backgrounded by tall mountains which slowly reduced in

Ssize---wnhat a contrast to California where the color is pre-

Gominantyy green. Passed thru a place called Gerlach.

ist--Awoke to find ourselves in Utah. Flat salt beds with

mountainous background. ;

Got no breakfast. Just a glass of milk or coffee about 11L00

Stalled at Salt bake City where cars were switcned again.

Finally hooked on a Union Pacific diner and we had a wonder-

ful lundh about 1 p.m. While waiting around at Salt Lake, the

Challenger passed us up and on the last two cars were some

Japanese fellows---yelling Manzanar--later found out they

were destined for the sugar beet fields of Montana. Teiko

Ishida, JACL, was at the station to see the train--caught a

glimpse of her and time enough to say "Hello",

Pulled into this desolate looking place about 9:00 p.m. that

night after a hearty welcome irom the Campers settled here.

What a feeling riding into Camp on the bus---dark, dusty,

and yet a warm night. Friends were the cheering factor.

Topaz -- Central Utah Relocation Project

arly contingent coming here had good food - ate with the Adminbtrative

oificials and had the same type of food; however, with the arriwal of

later c.ntingents, the administrative staff has its own kitchen with a

cook or someone there being paid #160 monthly, and each getting individual

service--meat cooked in each one's own way. The comissary brings them the

best of every food in camp. The administration also has first preference

to housing--ist to get roofs, painting, inner walls, etc. ,

Due to inability to. get along with the commissary and the kitchens, there

was a strike the lst day that the family contingents arrived in this camp..

The head, who knows practically nothing and the others who try to "teach"

him cannot get along. For instance, in Tanforan, Mr, "ogarty knew nothing

there too, but he was willing to learn and at the end he was'. good man.

However, in this camp it is not the case.

At the postoffice, Ben Murota came here and was more or less heading the

postoffice; however, Mr. Iyeki, coming from Tanforan with a letter of re-

commendation came in and got the supervisory position. He is now only a

mail carrier. Those left in tanforan yet have mailed a letter of recom-

mendation into Mr. Hughes who says that there is to be positions open for

three men in the office and probably Sim tamakawa will be in charge. How-

ever as Hughes is in charge and knows nothing except for the letter being

in his hands, Yamakawa is expected to get in. ----DIRTY POLITICS, HVHERY-

WHERE. |

In the Personnel, Mrs. Aya Endo is supposed to be running things hereway

and has the chosen jobs for her friends and relatives. Keeping one hand

in the file, she is running the whole show as far as the employment is con-

cerned.

October 5th---many people going out of the camp to work in the sugar beet

fields--Mike Ykusa went out today to Idaho for a months period. Johnny

Miyoshi is going out. to work at Ogden, Utah to work on a farm also, tomorrow