The evening times., 1898-10-17
CAMPS FOR OUR TROOPS
Selections by the American
Board i'm Havana.
SENT TO THE PRESIDENT
Dangers of Locating Troops in Old
Warehouses and Other Places in
mended Among the Guards to BE
Used Against sickness.

New York, Oct. 1.-THE Herald cor
respondent at Havana telegraphs to that
paper as follows:
The Military Commission. which will
select camps and arrange for the land
ing OF American troops, mas completed
its preliminary work, but must receive
the decision of the Administration le-
fore ii can proceed with the details. The
report of the commission was sent by
yesterdays mail, IL being deemed too i'm
portant to trust to the cable, AMI will
reach Washington Tuesday. A reply by
cable is expected not later than October
20.
If the President listens to the recon-
mendations of the commission only a
very small body of troops will reach Ha-
Nana earlier than December. Coils. Lee
and Hecker go so far as to recommend
that the landing be made no earlier
than forty-five days. There are two
reasons for this. The first is that the
weather will be much improved by De-
cember. The second and lnore impor-
taGt reason is the desire to use no docks
Warehouses, hospitals or camps that
have been used by the Spanish or Gu
bans. This is the only way yellow fever
can be avoided.
New Buildings Are Necessary.
he commissioners urge the President
10 authorize them to build everything
new. If this authority is given orders
Tor materials that are already written
out will be at once cabled to the United
States, and by November / the material
viii be here, and not more than thirty
days will be- required 10 do all the neco s
Sary work
The point OF Decentralization will de-
pend upon the number of men sent here.
As cabied a few days ago, the troops
will camp in the hills southeast of Guam
ahacoa, where plans are already made to
care for AT least one division-about eight
thousand soldiers.
If the President decides he cannot walt
until December. the troops viii have to
disembark in this city which means tn t
they will come into direct cont 4cl with
feNer. 1t was at first thought they
might land at Regla, but that suburb is
now one vast fever hospital. The only
warehouses in Havana that have not
been used as army hospitals are those at
the san Jose docks. These are thrle in
number-airy and clean and adjac Mt to
five piers, which would make light rage
unnecessary, but the railroad track is in
adequate.
To Ward on Disease
Unfortunately these warehouses are in
the most unwholesome part of the city.
Troops landing there would be exposed TO
great risk, and supplies would be liable
10 Infection, but still it is the best Ia
vana has to offer. If the coming of the
troops can be delayed until December, as
.f..g
be built at Cojimar or at Mariel probably
at the latter place. Cojimar Bay opens
directly into the roadstead and offers no
breakwater. Still a pier could be built
and a five mile spur of railroad construct
ed which would carry the troops and sup
plies almost to = camp at Mariel just
across the boundary line in Pinar del Rio
province, and about thirty-siX miles from
Havana. Ii offers superior landing ia
cilities. A pier must be erected, but the
cost Will not be great \ new warehouse
can be constructed at little cost, which
would make the danger of infection Of
supplies almost nil.
The most perfect fumigating plant pos
Sibie 10 obtain will be erected, and All
supplies which arrive in broken packa geS
Will be thoroughly disinfected. After land
ing at Mariel troops will be marche
three miles to Guanajay. where they Will
take cars ana De carried over the NOrSi
piece of railroad in Cuba to few miles
from the Guanabacoa hills. Before they
arrive laborers will have prepared the
camp. constructing floors for the tents
and building sewers.
The floors will be raised al least !;
inches from the ground, giving space for
the circulation Of air. In a recent cable
the cost OF building a pipe line for water
from Nento 10 the camp was estimated al
SCc,OO9. Col. Waring says that the estimate
is too high, and that the commission will
not need TO expend more than $50, 600. A
f-inch pipe. which is large enough can
ne laid foot below the surface at cost
of not more than 81, O60 mile. A pumping
station will be required, but as the water
is 10 he raised not more than 200 feet
no great force will be required.
Deputy Quartermaster General Lee is
expected TO arrive soon to take charge
of the quartermaster' department for the
entire ISLAND.
The matter of proper food for the sol
diers is now receiving considerable atten-
ton. 1t is safe to predict that hardtack
| and bacon will be discarded as the staple
of diet