New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-07
WATER FROM WELLS.

WATER FROM WELLS
In addition 10 these sources or supply 'nere
,e Nrst p considerable number OF driven weiis'
tho dcpth Of which range from ten TO twenty
r.e, From these a somewhat meagre supply OK
water Of more or less doubtful purity is OBJ
tanned Wate~ from some OF these wells is now
UNDERGOING chemical analysis. If boiled II -
believed 70 be not dangerous or unwholes9r'e
Second. four wells which have been sunk 70
depths ranging from fifty to sixty feet. which
furnish pure water. One Of these wells yields
water With the pump in continuous action. and
the flow from the others IS less abundant. II is
fo, proposed TO sink twenty other wells or the
same description. 80 that there viii be one for
each regiment and two weil-borns plants have
been ordered 10 do the work. and are said TO be
now on the way from New-York.
When these wells have been completed II is
hoped and expected that the total yield will be
sur1cien. 70 supply all the troops with pure
water Cor cooking and drinking purposes AZ
present much has TO be hauled III barrels three
Or four miles or more. rs there are now
twenty thousand troops In Camp Alger and
more are expected It is evident that for cooking
and drinking purposes alone large daily sup
ply Of good water is required
II is equally evident that a large supply IS
needed to keep the persons and clothing OF inc
men in healthful and decent condition To-
day for example. the dust lay two or three
inches deep on the drill and parade Srounos'
and in the company and reg!mental streets as
well as In all roads on the higher grouhu
throughout the encampmert SO far as tne
cleansing 0f the soldiers clothing is concerned
a Tribune correspondent was informed to-day
by an officer Of Major-General Graham 8 stan
that the problem was to be solved by entering
e. ,frs,la
lsundries Each soldier is 10 pay for the wash
Ing OF his clothes by having tho amount. ST. de-
auctei from his pay by the paymaster each
month, and paid 70 the contractor.
The staff officer said tha. with the clothes
washing thus removed from the encampment,
the quartermaster would be able to establish
bath houses for each regiment. and obtain water
enough TO enable the men to keep their bodies
clean. He remarked that the proposed laundry
system was the same as that in the regular
Army. where Il had been found satisfactory
Just how satisfactorily ii will work In the case
Of the volunteer troops in Camp Alger. VINO may
De ordered away at any time and on short no
tlce, and some OF whom may prefer to wash
their clothes especially in cases OF limited
wardrobes, remains to be seen. The fact that
the experiment is TO be tried on the ground OF
necessity Is another official confession that the
water supply of Camp Alger is not only made
qua.e now. but will not be made sufficient FOR all
requirements even by the sinking Of twenty more
deep wells
THE FOOD SUPPLY COMPLAINED OF.
Loud complaints have been made and some are
still heard respecting the rations issued to the
troops AZ Camp Alger. both as TO the quant !
eno quality. CT course. many OF these COM
paints are due TO causes for which the COM
'nanding officers and commissaries are not re-
sponsihle The caily ration Is liberal one. con-
"1s OF more good wholesome food-wheh 'he
e0h'raetor Is reasonably honest and the COM
'issary Reasonably diigent and attentive to MS
uu'S-than The average soldier can eat but
"ie volunteer has been accustomed TO greater
variety and different sort Of diet and ne
naturally rebels against. or complains about, a
0'et IN which hard tack" bacon, beans, conee
"''hoc' milk or cream and so on. cut what 70
i''i" seems disproportionatey large figure III
Nv mas oeen used 10 roast beef or steaks or chops
o"Ve o' twice "A day, change TO fresh mea-
'"ice week seems TO him real privation
4"es- things are troubling good many
volunteers now. as they did in 1861. Moreover
many OF the men detailed cooks are green
anu inexperienced. and some of their dishes are
"o' tempting They have abundant supply
VI cooking utensils-aoout three tines many
- 'he volunteers had in 1S6I-but have not yet
''1no The knack Of using them with the best
'eSu"s' On .he whole, however. as I he Tribune
SoTTSsprndent can ynuch from pers( nal ObSeT-