European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 29, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Socially and economically the influx of so Many new faces through the massive expansion of fort drum has been disquieting for people in the Rural insular communities of upstate new York. The Newport drum army a biggest building site by Joe Stashenko associated press workers at fort drum n.y., Are laying in the last piece of tile painting the last Wall and putting the other finishing touches on the army a largest construction project since world War ii. The army has spent five years and $1.2 billion building a new Home for its reactivated 10th Mountain Light inf div. Everything from Barracks to Bowling alleys and motor pools to mini malls has been built for the 10.000 soldiers attached to the division and about 14.000 members of their families. Another 6,000 people moved into the Region As a direct result of the expansion officials estimate. Construction has gone so Well at fort drum that the project will be completed about two months ahead of the january 1991 target Date. But socially and economically the influx of so Many new faces has been disquieting for some in the Rural insular communities in the Region near the . Canadian Border about 250 Miles Northwest of new York City. A a it a ruined Small town .a.,&Quot says lawyer Jack Scordo 63, a lifelong resident of the City of Watertown located about 10 Miles West of the huge fort drum compound. Quot the Quality of life has definitely changed. It had what i like to Call a rarefied atmosphere. But that has  men in uniform Are nothing new in Northern new York. The army began staging Maneu vers in the area in the Early Days of the 1900s and much of the original fort drum was constructed during the Early 1940s, when the Encampment became a major training area for world War ii troops National guard units from throughout the Northeast have Long used the 107,000-acre a. Installation the largest in area in the northeastern United states for summertime training. In Winter the army sends troops to drum for training in the Region s Arctic like Snow and cold. Prior to expansion the army had based a permanent Garrison at fort drum of about 1,000 men to manage the facility. But moving the 10th Mountain div into the fort required the construction of what amounted to a new City. The Quot old Quot fort drum looks As if it could pass for the set of television s Gomer Pyle . The new base built on 1,800 acres adjacent to the quonset huts of the original installation looks More like a College Campus or an Industrial Park. Much of the housing for the soldiers and their families is located in communities up to 25 Miles away from the base. The superintendent of one school District that had an influx of military children said that integration of families into the communities was a Good idea. Quot we have a True mix within the communities of military related people along with the people of the communities themselves Quot said Kenneth Rishel of the Carthage Central school District. Quot we done to have much a them is. Us Between people from the fort Andith a ruined Small town .a.�? Jack Scordo lawyer resident of Watertown those from the  maj. Hyram Bell a Public relations officer at fort drum said that with housing for 1,900 army families scattered throughout the Region there has been much interaction Between the soldiers and civilians. Quot our kids go to schools in those areas shop in the local stores go to the same recreational areas and participate in Community activities Quot he said. Quot people get to know  a major worry for fort drum officials was problems that Black and hispanic soldiers and their families could encounter in the overwhelmingly White Region. Prior to the expansion of the fort less than 1 percent of the residents of Jefferson county where the base is located were minorities. Nearly one third of the divisions members Are minorities. The fort dispatched teams to local schools and chaplains were sent to local churches to speak about racial Harmony. Thus far there have been no racial problems. A. Some residents feel the ethnic diversity created by the fort drum expansion has added something to the Quality of life. Quot it s rather Nice to see a korean grocery s lore Quot said Steve Lyman Jefferson county s Deputy commissioner of social services Quot you hear some different kinds of music on the radio now. Its brought some Welcome diversity. This was kind of a stagnant area the sort of place where kids grew up and  but while growing up it was the sort of place where everyone Felt Safe. Now Krishef said some people complain about having to lock their doors at night for the first time in their lives. Crime has increased in Jefferson county during the past five years but it. De Sumser of the sheriff s department said authorities Don t believe the army personnel or their families Are directly to blame. Quot with the fort came an increase in population from other avenues from workers on the fort and in other industries that have moved in Quot he said. Quot we be seen a definite increase in crime no question about it but we believe it s due More to the population trends and not fort drum  unemployment has dropped in Jefferson county from 13.3 percent in 1984 to 6 percent As of june according to the state labor department. Lyman said that the county a welfare Rolls have been reduced from 2,400 cases before 1985 to about 1,900 now but Scordo argues that the economic benefits promised by expansion proponents in 1984 and 1985 Haven to really materialized. He said most jobs created by the expansion Are Low paying positions in fast food restaurants and mall stores not the High paying Blue Collar jobs that were a Staple of Northern new York s Economy for decades until a slump in the 1970s and 1980s. Defenders of the project concede hat the Boom the Region experienced at the height of theron Truchon is Over. Quot we re now settling into a plateau Quot Sard Mary Parry of the greater Watertown chamber of Commerce she said economic officials want to belter develop the Region s tourism Industry in Light of the fort drum expansion. The fort is not far from the northeastern Shore of Lake Ontario and the Rivers Many led with popular sport fish that flow into the Lake Quot these Are Young people at the fort and the a families come up to see them Quot she said Quot they come As tourists. We want them to come and see the area Quot wednesday August 29, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 13