"Barracks To House Evacuated Japanese -- The first of 350 such barracks to house 10,000 Japanese evacuated from Southern California cities took shape March 19 as carpenters worked in 10-hour shifts to build a huge reception center at Manzanar in the Owens Valley east of the rugged Sierra Nevada. Within a few days the first Japanese were to come. The big community is being prepard under the direction of Lt. Gen. John L. Dewitt of the Western Defense Command." -- caption on photograph.
"Construction Pushed On Japanese Community -- Carpenters rushed work March 19 on the first of 25 blocks of barracks at Manzanar, in California's alien and American-born Japanese to be evacuated from Southern California cities beginning March 23. Each block will have 14 barracks, recreation hall, mess hall, laundry and other service units. In addition, a 150--bed hospital will be erected for the model community, which will house 10,000 Japanese eventually. Manzanar is a tract of 6,020 acres commandeered by Lt. Gen. John L. Deweitt of the Western Defense Command." -- caption on photograph.
