Pushing aside the sage brush and literally growing from the desert sand, Manzanar has mushroomed into a bonanza town of '42, boasting today a population of 3,302.

In 3 weeks this magic town has boomed ahead to become the largest city in Owens Valley - the largest California city east of the Sierras.

From the time when 85 hardy pioneers, including 8 girls, came from Los Angeles to stake out their new homes in skeleton buildings, additions and improvements have been constantly speeded.

Today 575 buildings are occupied by the following additions:

March 23- 800 from Lost Angeles; 25- 9 from Palo Alto; 500 from Los Angeles; April 1- 227 from Bainbridge Is.; 3- 1000 from Los Angeles; 4- 900 from Terminal Is.

Hot water is already running in some of the showers and laundries and work is being rushed on the others. As additional blocks are completed, more contingents are anticipated to swell Manzanar town.

With this issue we launch a new venture at our camp in Manzanar. Volume I, Number 1 of the Manzanar FREE PRESS makes its appearance as America's youngest newspaper, and in our opinion, one of America's most unique newspapers.

It will be "printed" exclusively in English, manned entirely by Japanese. It covers the camp activities, and we will try to make it as informative and as entertaining as any of the big dailies running on multiple presses.

We don't have a "policy"... Politics are out! We don't have to worry about what our advertisers think! We will have no circulation department worries.

This, to a newspaper man or woman, is plain Utopia. We should be able to devote all our creative efforts to make this sheet one of the liveliest ever published in the world. And one of the most democratic.

So far we don't even have an editor to worry us, so without this last bothersome detail, we should have a lot of fun!...

The citizens of Manzanar wish to express in public their sincere appreciation to General John L. DeWitt and his Chiefs of Staff, Tom C. Clark and Colonel Karl R. Bendesten, for the expedient way in which they have handled the Manzanar situation.

The evacuees now located at Manzanar are greatly satisfied with the excellent comforts the general and his staff have provided for them.

"Can't be better," is the general feeling of the Manzanar citizen.

"Thank you, General!"

Inoculation of the entire population of Manzanar is the first major project of the local medical center under Public Health Administrator Yoshiye Togasaki, M.D. Ordered by the U.S. Public Health Service, this comprehensive immunization against small-pox is compulsory. Any exceptions because of recent inoculations must be sought in certified declarations.

The clinic is open daily from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Although the constant influx of new arrivals taxes their facilities, the medical administrators have a way of checking individuals trying to evade inoculation, was the warning issued by their office.

Jockeying for position as the largest evacuation reception center, Santa Anita is temporarily in the lead with a population of 4353 to Manzanar's 3302.

Majority in Santa Anita came from the Long Beach, Wilmington, Rodondo Harbor area with later arrivals from San Diego and San Francisco. Early next week 2500 from Downey and Lawndale areas are expected to further increase its population.

Where are all those English section correspondents and high school newspaper editors? This is the time for all those with news writing experience and interest to express their talent and apply for staff positions on the FREE PRESS. Applicants may see Mr. Bob Brown in office building no. 1.

A brief message to the residents of this Owens Valley Community:-- For your protection it is urged that you report to the Information Center any FIRE HAZARD that may come to your notice and any HEALTH HAZARD that may come to your attention.

Some member of your household should check with the bulletin board at the Information Center at least once a day so that current information will be available in your home.

Cooperate with the group that nightly checks your location and realize that the Police Department, Fire Department, Recreation Department, are rendering services for your benefit; therefore, let wholehearted cooperation guide your actions.

"Names don't mean a thing to us. We will choose men on their qualifications alone in filling jobs in the reception center," Mr. J. Frazer, employment and personnel manager announced today as his department went into action interviewing and classifying every man, woman and child in the camp according to his work and ability.

Efforts will be made to find work in some line in which he has had experience and every effort will be made to provide jobs for every able person, he declared.

An efficient system of classification of applicants in their primary and secondary vocations is made so that he may be available as fast as the need arises.

For those who want to work in a special field, employment applications are being accepted at the information department.

Any cases of diarrhea should be reported to Dr. Yoshiye Togasaki at the local medical center. In reporting by proxy, the full name of the patient, first appearance of symptoms, and the number of the mess hall where he ate must be provided.

Emulating the sumptuous chateaus and manors, all manners of names adorn the portals of the various homes.

Apt titles like Dusty Inn, Manzanar Mansion, and Jerks' Jernt stand with the more wistful or pretentious Waldorf Astoria and Hotel Mt. Whitney. For that La Casa de Paz (House of Peace, you of the north), we can admit it's clever.

But this Voo-T-A jr. has us stumped; it's just too Voo-voo! But we're still looking for the sign that reads: "Thru these portals pass the most beautiful sweaters in the world."

Henry Mittwer is organizing from a surprising field of gathered talent a dance orchestra with plans to enlarge it into symphony proportions, with Dr. Shinzo Mitani as leader.

All musicians in Manzanar are invited to see Mittwer at B.2-11-1.

Brisk sales of Defense Bonds and Stamps are reported by Mr. M. S. Deputy, in charge of the Manzanar Post Office, as residents sent the total to $500. Of this amount $300. was in bonds and the rest in stamps.

Giving emphatic significance to those sales is the fact that the local branch has only been in operation since April 1.

Mail was reported to be unusually heavy, taxing the six members of the staff to their utmost. "In a few weeks we expect a rushing parcel post business," declared Mr. Deputy.

Nisei civil service employees now at work here include Hiroshi Neeno of L.A. and John Hanamura of Alameda.

Pertinent advice given by the office:

1. Only 2-cent postage is necessary on 1st class letters to Los Angeles as Manzanar is a branch of the L.A. main post office.

2. Do not call for mail more than once a day. Mail is sorted and should be ready for distribution by 9 a.m.

3. All outgoing mail should be in the mail box by 4:15 p.m.

4. Airmail to Los Angeles is unnecessary. However airmail to distant places will make good connections.

5. Money orders for Japanese Americans will be cashed after proper identification.

6. Issei should make out 3 change of address cards to be sent to the proper authorities. Those who have not yet done so should ask for these cards.

7. The Post Office closes at 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

With the constant arrival of families and children, a Community Reading Center is now under consideration. Plans call for a newspaper and magazine room where growing children and students may keep in contact with the events and chaos in the world left beyond the hills.

Suggestions have been made by the residents in a fine spirit of cooperation. To form a nucleus upon which to found a library, they suggest:

1. Leaving at the information or administration building any book for community use.

2. Sending for the books they have left in their previous homes.

In this rapidly expanding community, there's little room for rumors. Yet like those guests who blithely overstay their weekend, those rumors hang around, cramping our close quarters and not earning a thing.

Rumors are born out of idle minds and in our case are easily multiplied by the too easily inadvertent eavesdropping thru non-soundproof partitions. They're also attributable to self-assumed authorities letting others in on their sagacious conclusions.

It's in the realization that much of the cause lies in the absence of a specific source of information that this Manzanar FREE PRESS makes its debut. In our office we hope to make a special little room for those rumors where they can be grilled into authenticity or exposed for the flimsy fake they usually are.

We are the principals in an experiment unparralleled in the annals of American democracy. Much of our progress lies thru uncharted ground. So we can't give all the answers. We won't know the answers until we come to them.

We'll be providing the answers that a world and American public especially are asking. Democracy is being tested of its mettle right here. By our actions and attitudes we shall be responsible - responsible to this and future generations of free-men.

Truth must be the key stone of this community. So we have called this the FREE PRESS. We'll buttonhole that parasite rumor and give it the old bounce. You bring him around and we'll see how he survives.

Citizens of every block will take the first step toward self-government Monday evening when they meet at their respective recreational halls to elect leaders for their blocks.

By popular acclaim or by voice vote, 3 capable persons will be chosen; one will receive the official title and another that of assistant block leader.

Temporary chairman have already been appointed to preside over the meeting and will explain the purpose of the election: the duties of each citizen to contribute his share in the birth of democracy here.

3 men nominated by each block will be interviewed by the administration as to their background and qualifications; the one selected will have a full time assignment.

Problems and difficulties arising out of each block will be mediated by these block leaders and they will will help in the formulation of camp policy.

Get acquainted in your block and consider your nominee:

Remember: Date: Monday, April 14.
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Recreational Hall in each block - Building number 15.

Sunday afternoon, April 12.
First Game - 1:30 p.m. North (Seattle) vs. South (Los Angeles)
Second Game - 3:30 p.m. Kibei (Los Angeles) vs. Nisei (San Pedro).

Everyone is welcome. Root for your favorite teams.

All parents living in blocks 3 to 12, inclusive, are invited to register their children between the ages of 3 to 6 Monday morning from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Classes will meet every day from Monday thru Friday and will be under the supervision of competent leaders. Mothers are asked to accompany their children to the building and have them properly registered.

Two centers have been set aside for registration. Blocks 3, 4, 9 and 10 will register in Block 3, Bldg. 15; Blocks 5, 6, 11 and 12 in Block 5, Bldg. 15.

Mothers with children below the age of five are invited to have their meals at mess hall 4 as special food will be prepared for them from Monday.

Dr. James Goto informs local residents of this community that in spite of discoloration, the water is bacteria free and pure. Drink all you want! It's good!

Effective today, all tenants must continue residence in the apartment to which they are assigned subject to the following conditions:

Requests for transfer from one abode to another must be made to the Employment Division at Block 1, and Building 8; no physical move is to be made unless approval is first secured.

Violation of this regulation will result in disciplinary action and loss of assigned equipment.

Clayton E. Triggs, Manager, Owens Valley Reception Center

Church services for the Protestants in Manzanar will be held in Block 4, Bldg. 15.

At 8:45 a.m. Dr. Joseph Hunter, representing national headquarters of the Christ church will officiate in English.

At 10 a.m. Rev. Woodward will give a sermon in Japanese.

Information Center has been delegated the authority to organize a Voluntary Helpers Corps with Bill Tanabe in charge.

Its purpose is to help the incoming groups as they arrive here.

200 able men are needed. Able-bodied men who are willing to serve during their leisure hours are welcome. No pay, but service to the community.

Sign up at the Information Center at Blk 1, Bldg. 2 this week.

Staff members contributing to this initial issue of the Manzanar FREE PRESS include: Koji Ariyoshi, Joe Blamey, Teosuko Fujii, Fumiko Fukushima, Isao Hara, Jimmy Hashimoto, Roy Hoshizaki, John Mohri (art work), Sam Mohri, Chiey Mori, Roy Nakama, Dan Tsurutani, Tom Yamasaki.

As this paper is at present contemplating to come out twice a week and has all kinds of plans for the future, anyone interested is invited to join us.