Evening star., 1898-09-12
Character of the Ground.

case Of rainfall the total departure for the
month is given.
Character of the Ground
The ground was of gently rolling ma
ture; the soil was generally of clay. In
rainy weather the passage of the army
wagons and the movement of the troops
converted this into deep mud, sometimes
extending to the hubs of the wagons; in
dry weather, of which there was a great
excess during the time of occupation of the
camp, the same cause produced dust in
many places several inches deep, which
rose in clouds upon the least disturbance
Groves of woods were scattered throughout
the site.
THE first troops to occupy this location
were the 1st District of Columbia about
May IA. They only remained few days, as
they leIt on May 20 for Chickamauga. Upon
the day of their departure the 65th New
York, followed by several other regiments,
arrived. The existence Of Camp Alger
proper was from May 16 to August 20, since
which time it has bean practically deserted
From first to last there We're twenty
seven organizations encamped there some
remained but a short tima. being sent to
Cuba or Porto Rico, or other camps. The
maximum number was about 2o,N0. Prac-
tice marches and changes from one part
of the camp to another were made from
time to time
Extending the Camp.
About August 1 the Crittenden farm
containing 400 acres, in the immedia te
vicinity, but nearer Dunn Loring. was Sc
cured as additional camp site The
maximum number of troops to occupy this
area was less than 10000. The number
was constantly being diminished by the re-
noval of troops to other camps or to their
homes.
Regarding a visit to Camp Alger, DIR. Ma
gruder said:
AT that visit the entrance to the camp
was made by way of the road running
along the north side of the camp. For a
distance of several hundred yards opposite
the camp along this road there we:s booths
erected at which were sold various soft
drinks, including lemonade, milk, frequent
ly of poor quality; fruit, more or less
fresh pies and various other food and re-
freshments. Similar booths were found
scattered throughout the location.
ITO the rear of these booths there is a
vicinity of the camp of the New York Cav
airy. On each bank of this run was much
underground, where deposits Of Alta w5re
numerous.
From reliable sources of Information,
this gross violation of the first principles
of sanitation was also practiced even in
the immediate vicinity of many of the
commands, and quite commonly through
out the neighboring woods.
"Tha water used by the vendors Of food
and drink was in many cases obtained from
the neighboring wells and springs, ard in
some instances from the very runs in the
vicinity. On September lemonade made
from one of these springs was being sold
at Dunn Loring.
Not Enough Space.
TT was noticed that the areas assigned to
individual regiments were in some cases
very contracted, that the tents were crowd
ed close together, and in but few cases had
any provision been mads by the ;nen to
provide sleeping facilities above the
ground; the regiments were in close juXta-
position, and in several cases the sinks
were, on account of the close location of
the regiments, within from ten to twenty
yards Of the adjoining regiment, and some
times Of their own kitchens.
THE precaution to protect these sinks
by screens made by bushes or other ma
terial seemed to have been neglected.
Swarms of flies ware visible in every direc-
ton, especially in the vicinity of the
kitchens and sinks. The contents were fire.
quently allowed to remain uncovered. The
same conditions prevailed at the visit on
June 20. These points are brought out In
greater detail in a report made to the adju-
geon general, by Lieut.. Col. Charles Smart.
professor of military hygiene In the ARMY
Medical School, dated July 13, giving the
result of an inspection made July 8 and 10.
AT Dunn Loring the regiments seemed to
have avoided the overcrowding of the area
selected for individual regiments as well
as the unfavorable location Of kitchens
and sinks that had been observed at the
Cannhell farm Graater care was also