Evening star., 1898-05-30
Important Sanitary Measures Inaug-
urated There Today.
BATH HOUSES TO Be ERECTED
General Relaxation From Drill on
Account of the Day.
NEW REGIMENTS ARRIVE
srccial Correspondence of The Evenin- Star.

Memorial day at Camp AlEer mad rather
an unpleasant significance for the medical
department OF the 2d Army Corps. Men
in various parts of the camp have COM
planned during the last two or three days
of A rash or eruption. that bade fair to be
chronic. Something led to investiga-
ton and the unwelcome discovery was
made today that bugs known sraybacks
had crept into the bedding and clothing
of ;he men at Falls Church.
As viewed by the army surgeons this is
a very serious matter. and they have pro-
cured orders to be issued directing the men
to take proper measures to rid the camp of
the nuisance. These measures include.
first. the construction of temporary bath
houses, and. second, the destruction of all
straw used as bedding and the fumiga-
tion of all clothing SO infected. Accord
ingly the quarters of the Sth Ohio and 9th
Illinois regiments were the scenes this
morning of small bonfires, the men having
taken advantage Of the direction from
headquarters to do all possible to rid them
selves of the nuisance. Bath houses in
camp are not altogether unknown. but ex-
cept where the troops concerned expect to
remain in camp for several months they
are exceedingly rare. The officials of Camp
Alger were consequently put to the ne
ceSsity of devising suitable and inexpen-
sive temporary bath houses.
To Build Bath Houses.
They are 10 be built according 10 the fol-
Lowing plan: Tents will be set up at such
places afford means of proper drainage.
These TO be ffoored with rough plank
ing set about three inches apart. Water
Will be drawn to the bath houses from the
sources CT the water supply not too dis
tant. but not so near as to interfere with
the water now used for drinking cook
ing purposes. One such bath house will be
built for each regiment and the men will
be compelled to take a thorough bath once
each week and a sponge bath every morn
Ing
Maj. E. F. Ladd. the assistant quarter
master general detailed for duty at this
pest, today ordered from Washington AMI
Georgetown a quantity of lumber sufficient
for the construction of these bath houses
Barrels for the transportation of the va
ter necessary are to he secured by the time
the bath floors are finished, so that there
may lie no delay in setting on foot the
remedial measures proposed by DIR. Girard
and his assistants.
Pests of this sort frequently appear at
large encampments, and are the occasion
Of much worry and suffering on the part
Df men accustomed to keeping thems elves
clean No one appreciates this latter fact
more keerly than the regimental and di-
vision commanders of the corps. and every
thing possible will be done at once to eradi-
.ate the evil
Being by general orders excused from all
ioutine duty. and privileged to attend the
memorial services at Arlington, most OF
The enlisted men hurried away from camp
as soon as possible. Both the electric road
leading To ROsslyn and the steam road
across the Long bridge We're put 10 their
uttermost to accommodate the exodus from
Camp Alger. Men climbed on top of trolley
ears. stood on the coupling irons. or We're
held against the siIeposts by their friends.
Their passes extended generally until 6
o'clock in the evening. A few Were grant
ed good until clock. and a smaller num-
Der still Were given out that made it pos
sible for the men to stay out until taps.
On the whole, however. company and bat
TALON commanders were not disposed tn
give their men too much freedom and so
directed them to report at Camp Alger be-
fore tattoo. The camp was consequently
almost deserted. The long lines of men
waiting Tor the mess call at noon had gone
TO Washington. where mess is served at
any or all hours. There were to be no
parades or other ceremonies until late ir
the evening. and so visitors were not drawn
10 the camp in any great number
Two regiments, however, suffered the
peculiar misfortune Npf having to work all
day, while the otheIS were excused from
everything except fatigue duty and guard
mount The unfOrtunStes We're the men
of the 3d and 65th Newt York Volunteers,
N yxsbt
men from routine duty was through some
accident not delivered Energy and enter
prise are at a discount among those men
who feel that the mist fake OF some one
higher up the line was no fault of theirs.
More Troops Arrive.
More troops continue to arrive at the
camp daily The new arrivals are the 22d
Kansas Regiment. which came in late Sat-
urday night; the Sd New York and the Ist
Rhode Island. which arrived yesterday.
and the Sd Missouri, which reported late
Sunday night. The I'D Kansas Is lob
strong IL left Topeka last Wednesday
and made the trip without mishap, except
Tor the discovery OF six cases of measles
The men afflicted were put off the train at
Washington. and are still under treatment
there Col G. c. Lindsey Lieut. Col. Jas
Graham. Major Doften and Major Harvey.
the field officers of the regiment, have all
been able TO scrape up some sort of uni
forms Otherwise the I'D Kansas Voiun-
teer Infantry differs only in personnel
from the army of invasion that entered
Washington a year or two ago.
New Yorks latest contribution came
possessed Of everything necessary for ac-
tive service except shoes. and these the
men hal themselves. They are to draw
on the rational government for regulation
brogans this morning The officers of the
Sd New York ara Col. Z. NJ Hoffman, late
inspector general of the New York Ma
tional Guard; Lieut. Col. VIM. NJ. Kirby
late ms oector general of rifle practice:
Maj. W. NJ. Wilson. Mai. NJ. b. Butler and
Mai. A VI. Hall. Under their command
are 1.U2. men.
Col Abbott of the 1st Rhode Island and
tls have been n bad temper ever
since they arrived in Camp Alger. On the
way down from Providence il was thought
wise to carry Private BallOu Company NJ
on a stTr-cher because of the acute rheu-
matism from which he has been suffering
for several days. An enterprising news
Dapar repOrter in the service af ono of tho