Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-04
KlCKcgNe;I He PAY
Ohio Troops Object to,the Rate Pro-
pose@by She State.
OFFICERS AHDhEI REFUSE TO ACCEPT
Prospect That the Authorities Will
Accede to Demands.
REPORT ON SANITATION
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

| Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
| CAMP ALGER, Va, June 4, 1898.
State Auditor Gilbert of Ohio came into
the camp late last night for the purpose Of
paying the Ohio state troops for the time
spent in camp at Columbus. His plan was
to pay off the sth Ohio first. the 7th Ohio
next and the 9th Separate Battalion Of
Ohio last of all. The morning, however,
brought unexpected developments, and so
what should have required half day will
probably keep the state auditor at the
camp until Monday night or Tuesday morn
ing. The unexpected developments came
| from the ranks of the It'll and were in the
| nature of organized opposition to MI. Gil
| bertS scale of wages
Under the law of the state of Ohio mem
! bers of the National Guard are allowed 81
| per day for their services. The men OF
the sth Ohio, as well as of the other buck
| eye commands fully expected to be paid
| at this rate, but under instructions from
his state treasurer Mr.. Gilbert cut this
| rate to 81. Such salaries were not di-
| minished were estimated by a different
| process, the operation resulting in the loss
| of about 10 cents per day to each man con-
| cerned When Mr.. Gilbert proposed to pay
the 9TH according to the scale indicated
| dDoNc lie lOuHu every one, anu iltH
alike, determined not to accept his terms.
Since his first conflict with the men of the
7th Mr.. Gilbert has kept the wires hot with
| messages to Columbus.
| What the outcome will be no one seems
to know. but the impression prevails among
these intimately acquainted with Ohio poll
tics that the state auditor will eventually
| pay union wages
| Hospital Site Moved.
| Lieut.. Col. Girard, chief surgeon Of the
| corps, moved his hospital this morning
| from a site at the bottom of a hill to
| spot at the top of the hill. This hospital,
which is the one of the first division, is
intended for all patients whose illnesses
are likely to become acute. In it is the
ward for contagious diseases, where there
are now about fifty sufferers. Formerly it
received drainage from all that side Of
| the hill, and not regarded as a par
| ticularly well situated hospital.
| There will shortly be thirty ambulances
and ia hospital stewards in attendance
at the LIST DIVISION Hospital, and a similar
institution will be established for the bene-
fit Of the I'd Division Monday. 1t will be
placed near carbohydrates of the 10th
| Indiana.
Mumps as an epidemic seems to be giving
away to malaria AND pink eye" Every
| thing that can be done to lift the volunteers
out of the despair occasioned by malaria is
done. The surgeons Here regard it as the
most dangerous element that has yet mani
tested itself.
No general otde}fst nave been so far is
sued today. THIS IS partly due to hest
tation occasioned by, the visit Of the com
mission from the war Department, but it
is more largely the outcome of the great
anxiety anxiety to have tie muster rolls of the
corps completed. -. ,~..,.. ...
sanitary Condition OF Camp. s
The rank and file of the ID Army Corps
have been absorbed sineefs yesterday In
studying the details of the report rendered
to the War Department by the special com !.
mission appointed to inquire into the sani-
tary conditions Of Camp Alger. 1t seems
| to be agreed by common consent that the
present site of the camp will not be
changed; that work will be begun at once
| on plant to secure additional water and
| that until this plant Is in full operation and
| the supply of water is materially increa sed
no more troops will be transported to the
camp
The Commissions Report.
| The report runs follows:
The water supply is obtained from two
| driven wells, several living springs and a
| number of surface wells; two additional
driven wells are in process Of construction,
from one Of which water was expected to
| flow today and from the other by tomor-
| row. The Potomac river Is about four and
| one-half miles from the camp, the nearest
point-five and one-half miles farthest.
| The driven wells are conveniently located
60
and wells are distant from 100 yards to one
and one-half miles; the surface wells are
| within the regimental lines.
The quality of water from the driven
wells and living springs, as determined by
| the senses of taste and sight, is excellent;
| its quantity, as estimated by the engineers
| is inexhaustible from the driven wells but
| the springs are said to fail in the dry sea-
son; the surface wells are temporary ex-
pedients. The chief surgeon has given or
! ders to send samples of the water to the
surgeon general of the army for analysis.
The method of obtaining water by the
| men has been to carry it IN any vessel they
| can get, buckets and canteens being princi-
| pally used. Later barrels have been placed
| in camps and water has been hauled We
were informed that a large supply of bar
| rels for the whole command was en- route
| The quantity of water Immediately avail
| able for use by the troops has been confined
principally to that for cooking and drink
| ing, being ample for these purposes. Where
economy was forced sufficient supply was
| to be had for laundry and washing, but the
| limited quantity available made the supply
for bathing practically nil. The colonel of
| one regiment informed us that he met this
difficulty by marching his men to the Po-
tomac river, qfstaht four and one-half
miles. for a bat As sanitary precau-
ton. the medical officer recommended and
the commandingogeneralo ordered that water
for drinking pufposey be boiled. AS protec-
ton against pollution and to economize the
| supply, guards were placed over the wells
and springs, anb thssfow during the night
was used in thef morAing to fill the barrels
In other respects there is no objection on
sanitary grounds +tonthe location of this
| camp. :" sis
If this camp isetos I'd maintained 1t is rec
commended thattprornbt measures be taken
for an Immediate increase In the water sup
ply SO that its aluantity shall be without