1959-09-11-sc-p4-readying-of-atlas-sites

September 11, 1959 Spokane Daily Chronicle Page 4:

Air Force Reports

ICBM Bases to Get Link

Installation plans for a complete new set of microwave relay stations for the intercontinental ballistic missile sites surrounding Spokane were outlined today.

The 11 installations for the nine missile sites will provide communications with the central missile command setup at Fairchild air force base, Lt, Col. James E. Benedict, air force liaison officer for the missile construction, reported from Fairchild.

The army engineers today issued advance notice for the construction of the 11 underground reinforced concrete structures, 30x30x13 feet deep to house the microwave equipment to be installed later, The work at the 11 locations is estimated to total about $500,000, not including the electronic gear itself.

Bids for the microwave station installations will be opened October 8 in the Seattle office of the engineers.

Apparently an acre of ground will be required for each microwave site as the bid notice calls for clearing and drainage on that amount of land as well as access roads.

Colonel Benedict said the microwave setup was designed by the Bechtel corporation of Vernon, Calif., under contract to the air force. He said the microwave stations at each missile site will terminate at the missile assembly building at Fairchild.

The assembly building, Colonel Benedict said, will be at an existing warehouse, building 2447, on the west side of the base, Bids for modification of this building will be forthcoming soon, Colonel Benedict said.

Other ICBM missile site work announced today by the army engineers includes water supply systems for the Long Lake and Deer Park sites. Work calls for construction of concrete underground well houses, water supply lines, power supply and control circuits to well houses and gravel surfaced roads. Bids are to be opened October 13 in Seattle.