Letter to W.F. Kelly, Chief Supervisor of Border Patrol from Nick D. Collaer, Supervisor of Alien Detentions, Fort Missoula

              U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IN REPLYING PLEASE REFER to THIS
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE file number
Detention Station
AIR MAIL
Mi ssoula, Montana,
Mr. W. F. Kelly, Hay 23, 1941
Chief Supervisor of Border Patrol, Ioaigration and Naturalization Service, Washington, D. C.
Dear l r. Kelly*
The local quartermaster received another shipment of dishes today sufficient (according to his records) to handle the additional group of 318 or thereabouts.   We could not, however, secure the single beds which will permit of double-decking so we are building a wooden frame and are utilizing the single folding cots of which we will have ample for the third group.
Little by little (like pulling teeth) the Army is withdrawing.   I finally have a little more office space and anticipate that these headquarters will probably be cleared out within a few days.   The Post Exchange has been vacated with the exception of one room where fixtures are being stored for the time being.   I am setting up the property officer there tomorrow.   As I believe I told you, we are utilizing the old moving picture show in the rear of the Post Exchange as a storeroom.
In view of what you told me over the telephone yesterday with reference to arrangements being made to handle 1500 here, I have changed the plan for the consolidated mess and am devoting all of the space in the large building in bad of barracks "A", and "B" for kitchen and dining room and am not leaving an issue sto] room in the north end thereof as planned.   We will issue daily from our main warehouse �
Mr. Humphrey, Warden, Sandstone, I.'inn. has been here for several do He is well informed and a fine type of man.   Many of the problems that have been annoying me, I find, have already been solved.   I refer particularly to the use of any officer or employee for such work as seems necessary.    In connection with the prison set-up this has been permitted.   On this basis we are going ahead, notwithstanding the shortage of trained personnel.   Several of these young officers have ability as typists and one as a stenographer.
Incidently, in connection with the establishment of the consolidate mess (which I am rushing as fast as the WPA can move � which is not too fast) we will need some large steam cookers and vegetable steamers. I*believe that while sc what expensive, this type of equipment will shortly pay for itself in saving in fue consumption and food. I have told the Italians that as soon as the ration got down to 30^ per day per man we would be able to buy some of the things they have been as ing for and which the $1 does not handle. I have wired for approximate prices on heavy equipment needed here and shall ask for authority to solicit bids after I hav conferred with Mr. Walls with reference to the requirements at Fort Lincoln.
Between times I am working on a set of orders covering most of the essentials looking to an orderly handling of affairs here and at Fort Lincoln.Mor