The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-05

hospitals by those in charge. and by the
noble women engaged in that work, was
especially gratifying. to me-"
| The vice president thought that the
hospital locations. their surroundings
and their climatic conditions could not
be improved" And he went on to say:
THE country is rich enough, prosper
Gus enough, to give these heroes every
consideration, every comfort and every
luxury that they deserve or request.
l am most agreeably surprised at the
hospital service
Senator Redfield Proctor, whose pres
ence is Indispensable to a presidential
party. said: 1.-The location of the camp
seems to be ideal. 1t has water on
both sides. soil dry by natural drain
age. and pleasant breeze from the
sea-
Secretary Alger was present when
these remarks were made, and added:
Il am well satisfied with the camp"
These are the views oe men who are
directly and indirectly responsible for
the misery and sufrerings of hundreds
or the boys in blue.
But what do the soldiers say? What
is the opinion of men whose technical
knowledge enables them to speak with
authority? Who are not trying to shield
themselves. and have no interest in
party politics?
DR.. Cyrus Edison inspected Wikoff,
and declared the camp unfit for occu-
pancy, because of an inadequate water
supply. He added that # an adequate
supply of pure water could not be had
in three days-and he was confident
that it could not-"the selectors of this
site viii have the burden of a fearful
responsibility to carry"
In protest communicated to a New
York paper at the time Wikoff was Sc
lected. DR.. Edison said: 1.-The water
supply there is certainly inadequate,
and the water is unfit to drink
The assistant surgeon general of the
United States demands, in the name
of humanity, that the men be moved at
once. The place is a pest hole, he
says and continues: THE soil will be
permeated with typhoid fever and cpl
denies will follow. 1t will be worse
than it has been at any time at Chick
amauga."
Another eminent medical authority is
quoted as saying: 1.-The only possible
way in which a great calamity can be
avoided is by removing the men from
Camp Wikoff, and removing them at
once. Not an hour should be lost in
getting the we'll men from Montauk
Point, and the sick men should follow
as quickly as their condition will per-
nit
The politicians are interested in AL
ger. The people are interested in the
soldiers. The politicians ratify Ayers
selection of camp. The doctors give
the result of scientific investigation.
Therein lies the difference
The secretary of war may be salts
fled with the camp. President McKin-
ley may be gratified with what is being
done. But the official report sent out
as the distinguished visitors were leav-
ing the point, showed the death rate
to be increasing ito an alarming de-
gree"
The Associated Press closed its report
with these words: Water is still scarce
in the camp, and as a result there is
much suffering
How long is this whitewashing of an
incompetent official to be continued?
How long will Alger insist upon being
satisfied with this camp, where the
death rate is increasing Ito an alarm
ing degree?" How long will the presi-
dent remain gratified with the work
of his war department?
Politics is responsible for many err
rors; but not for many crimes like
this.