Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-08-26
GOV. SHAW ARRIVES HONE
Back from His Tour of Inspection
to the Camps OF the Iowa
Volunteers.
he ASKS FOR A CHANGE OF LOCATION.
Service-Iowa Troops Rank High
and Are Admired by All-MembcrA
of the Board of Control Visit the
School for the Deaf.
Ispeclal corresponaence.l

| Des Moines, Ia, Aug. %. Gov. Shaw
has telegraphei a request to the war
department that the Fifty-second
Iowa regiment of volunteer infantry
: be removed at once from Camp Thom-
as, Chickamauga National Park, or
mustered out of service. The request
was based on the mems condition of
health as found by the governors on a
visit to the camp. He said on his re-
turn that the Flfty-second was in. some
respects favorably located, and he saw
no place in the vicinity for which he
thought it would be advisable to
change. The men are CHARTERED on
high ground, mostly composed of lime
stone, and are protected by COM
Portable growth of timber, principally
oak. The boys have cut away the I'M
dergrowth, cut bitches, turnpiked and
even paved some of the company
streets and around the regimental
headquarters.
Hest Camp Ever Seen.
Col. Woodruff, the governor was
told, after inspecting the camp for
the government, rode back to Col.
Humphrey and told him the Fifty-sec-
ond had the best camp he ever saw.
One casually looking at the camp
would think it one of the healthiest to
find in northern Georgia; but this is
only true of portion of the camp, the
governor says. The water is not first
class, however, and it has been re-
sponsible for nearly all of the sickness
reported in the camp. The water fur
nished by the government comes in
pipes from Chickamauga creek, and is
about the same in texture as Missouri
river water, except that it is of red
der tint. 1t is necessary to filter and
boil it before using.
Set Up "shacks.n
At Jacksonville were found the
-Forty-ninth and Fiftieth regiments,
and, as at Chichamauga, they had adj
mittedly the best camps, though not
the best locations. The Fiftieth had
just been moved to higher ground, and
was occupying greater elevation
than the Forty ninth. Both regiments
are on very sandy soil. The latter is
on ground having water near the sur
face. In both camps the boys had set
up what they call "shacks,' temporary
structures made of lumber and having
floors, which make more healthful
quarters than the tents which have no
Hoors. Quite number had secured
2x4 lumber IL feet long, which was set
on end and floor built about eight
feet above the ground, with their tents
on top. This gives them double floor
and they sleepin the aattic." The boys
said the commanding officer had given
them permission to go as high as they
pleased, SO they did not get above the
tops OF the pines, which, the governor
says, are the smallest he has ever
seen. There are usually but one or
two branches to a tree, which are high
enough from the ground for two or
three telegraph poles to be cut below
them.
Stands at the Head.
The Forty-ninth stands at the head
OF its entire corps, having but ssick
the last day the governor was there,
Including thoseill with measles, mumps
and two with appendicitis, and only
seven others off duty in camp with
some temporary ailment. None of the
men in the hospital were seriously Ill.
The Fiftieth Iowa has few more sick,
but stands at the head of the list of
companies which have been in camp
an equal length of time. The water
is excellent here, from artesian wells
200 feet deep. It is sulphurous and has
to be aerated, but this is done in large
FOOLS in the city and is afterwards
pumped to the camp.
Hospital Service.
The hospital service, both at Chicka-
manga and Jacksonville, can be i'm
proved. There is scarcity of nurses
at both places. 81 had an interview on
the subject with President Mckinley
and two interviews with Gen. ,Alger
and Surgeon General sternberg," con-
tinued the governor. II was able to
make some specific statements which
believe were surprise to the presi-
dent and secretary, and possibly dis
credited by the latter and the sur
geon general. They showed me cor
respondence, and heard number of
orders given, which lead me to be-
ieve that nothing is Intentionally
omitted which can be done for the
benefit and comfort of the men in
camp. Gen. Sternberg showed me a
letter he had written to the surgeon
IN charge at Chickamauga, inclosing
check for $1,000, and telling him to
make prompt requisition for anything
needed, by telegraph. if necessary, as
the department expected those In
Charge to draw all necessary supplies
promptly. Hesaid that the department
had been overrun with applications
from inexperienced nurses, but was
aiming to employ all the qualified tai
snt it could get hold of. All our regi-
mental surgeons suggest that the gov
eminent does not supply certain med
lcines, such as preparations of pepsin
and some tonics, which they are in
need of. | authorized them to buy in
moderate quantities such of these rem
edies as they were familiar with, in
order hat they might do their best
for the sick as well as to prevent Ill
ness wherever possible"
Want to Come Home.
When the governor returned home
he was met by ''round robin" from
300 members of the Fifty-second regi-
ment, asking that he secure in some
manner their removal from the camp
at Chickamauga. This was the direct
cause of his telegram from the war
department asking the removal or i'm.