The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-29

CHATTANOOGA. TENN, october 2S.-
The War Investigating Commission
spent the entire day in inspecting the
eite Of Camp Thomas, in Chickamauga
Park. under the guidance OF Genera
Boynton. General Stewart, member
Of tho Chickamauga Park Commission
ana Mr.. E T. Belts. the engineer OF the
Park Commission.
The INSPECTION began at Lytte station
and incluGcd an points Of interest III lhe
marks and near its borders which nave
been I'm any way involved In the contro-
versy concerning the sanitation or tns
mark. including Sternberg and Letter Hos
pitfalls. aud the various springs from
which water was secured by the troops,
Including the famous "Crawfsh' spring
and the point on Chickamauga creek at
which the water Of the pipe line supply
was taken out
THE INTAKE PIPE
Spccial attention was given TO this lat
ter place because OF the criticisms that
have been made upon this source Of the
camp's water supply. They found the
intake pipe submerged about twenty
feet above the mouth OF tributary
creek. locally known as Cave Spring
creek. which drained the camp.
Tho charge had been made that the
water from the tributary stream had
contaminated the pipe water being car
ried back into 20 by means Of eddies' and
in ono case. by an overlooking freshet.
General Boynton and Mr.. Belts, both OF
whom had been concerned in the location
Of the pipe line. admitted that there had
baen one occasion when Cave Spring had
overnowed and broken a dam thus throw
ing its water into the main stream above
the intake: but. they explained that this
freshet had occurred at night when the
pumps were shut down and no water was
being taken I'm.
They called attention to the rapidity OF
the now and 20 the depth Of the stream
and urged the lmpossiblity OF Infection
from this source
WE'RE NON-COMMtTTAL
The commissioners listened attentiveiy
TO all that was said. but naturally they
,gare conservative In their expressions.
General Wilson gave especial attention to
Inc question. as an engineer problem. and
while refusing 10 allow himself 20 be
quoted Il was manifest from expressions
that ne dropped ne was impressed with
tbe strong improbability If not the i'm
possibility Of Infection from thiss-source.
il was also equally evident that ma
ioritv OF the commission formed the same
opinion.
There were many expressions or com
mendations of the methods of the work at
sfernberg Hospital. Major Gihen IN com
nand OF the hospital. said IT would soon
be abandoned
TOO CLOSE TOGETHER
Tho Commission also gave attention 10
tho proximity OF the various camps TO
one another and the depths ard location
Of the sinks The conclusion seemed
ouite general that many of the regiments
we're thrown more closely together than
they should have been and that this jault
couid have been averted by moving as
there is in the opinion Of at least some
Of the commission. sufficient space tnat
was not occupied for the accommodation
~ many thousands more OF troops than
was ever present there
MANY Of the sinks were also found 70
have been nearer 90 the tents than pro
nor ideas Of sanitation encourage, ana
IN some cases the character OF the sur-
face was found TO warrant the cohNlc-
ti,n that the sinks were shallower than
thov should have been, but this was true
only OF parts of the camps.
After the inspection OF the camp Ma
ior Giffen. who had been before the com
mission before. was asked 10 nahe "
statement concerning criticisms OF hospi-
tai physicians. Tie uriiip" Ni''-' ~ "
had been neglected.
PURER THAN THE SPRINGS.
DIR. Charles +. Craig. bacteriologist oi
the sternborg Hospital was also exam
ined He was questioned especially WIN
reference 20 the water supply OF the
camp and expressed the opinion that inc
water taken from Chickamauga river
through the pipe system was purer than
that in the wells and springs OF the
grounds.
Dr. Craig expressed the decided I'M
prcesion that common house flies are cap
snie OF proving n decided source OF as
eose Infection and he detailed bacteriolo-
eical tests showing that they carried
tvphoid germs upon their feet. He said
that ne had macerated a number OF flies
,ehich had been placed in sugar impreg-
mated with the germs and had produced
from them a pure typhoid bacillus cui-