A total of 200,704 acres have been placed under signature for the army maneuver area of 225,00 acres in Richland, Fairfield and Kershaw counties over and above the 54, 000 acres of the Fort Jackson reservation, according to an announcement yesterday by Maj. A. R. Wellwood, post rents and claims officer.

A breakdown of the 200,704 acres shows that it has been signed up since February 3, the date of the first preliminary land-owner meeting was held the night of February 18.

At these land-owner meetings, a total of 120,062 acres were signed over by the owners for use by the army during coming maneuvers. Since the morning of February 19, through the early part of yesterday morning, 80,642 additional acres were signed over by the personal contract and mail contact plans.

The total numbers of landowners in the 225,000 acres is 2,002. To date, 1,529 have signed over use of their property for army maneuver. This leaves 473 unsigned owners.

Also, there is much complicity in checking records (all available) to determine the ownership of certain properties and further to located these properties. As each piece of property is definitely located and is ownership established, then the owner is contacted and the signing completed.

Of the approximately 24,296 acres now unsigned, a large percentage lies in small communities such as Ridgeland, Blaney, Killian and Blythewood, which is residential property including a house and law and therefore not suitable nor desirable under the maneuver area training program.

Further, there are areas, such as cemeteries, which are also not being sought and which will not be signed up in the program.

In reference to the program, Major Wellwood said:

“I am more than gratified with the results of the signing-program so far. Every day we receive more acreage through the mail or from newly contacted landowners.

“The people of South Carolina should be proud of the way their landowners in the area have joined in pushing over the maneuver area training program for the first corps maneuvers.

“The patriotism of these landowners is unquestionable and their understanding of the necessity of maneuver training for their boys at Fort Jackson is genius.”