The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-23
CAMP LOCATION POOR

and a petition to have the camp
changed to some other site. This is a
delightful and healthy place. but there
are other sites with these same recon-
mendations, which are devoid of Camp
Alger's inconvenience, and there is no
apparent reason why one of these other
places should not be chosen.
The greatest fault found with this
place Is its lack Of water. 1t has been
stated that it is intended to gather
the water from the numerous springs
hereabout and pipe it to the different
regimental camps. This would remove
the cause of complaint, of course, but
there is no definite assurance that this
will, or even can be done, and again,
it will require time to accomplish all
this, and in the meantime the soldiers
are bound to suffer.
WATER FAMINE FEARED.
At present there is imminent fear
of a water famine. The springs are
small and, because OF being almost
constantly riled by the frequent
draughts made on them. are half the
time comparatively usless. To get
water that is fit to drink it is neces-
sary to travel anywhere from half a
mile to mile and a half, and by the
time the water reaches the camp it is
so warm that it loses much of its re-
freshing effect. The creek l referred
to in an earlier letter l have since by
personal investigation found to he little
better than ditch, and it is said by
the residents here that but for the
rain of the last week the water would
IL. i,, nj q, oh
not he tit to be used.
Should a dry spell come and the flow
of the springs diminish to any ma.
terial extent there is no telling what
the consequences would be.
The second cause of complaint is the
isolation of the camp. 1t is three miles
| to either of the stations from which
the camp is reached and the roads
even in dry weather are decidedly
poor. The government as yet has made
no provision for Carting supplies and
camp equipments and as a ConSe-
quencc each regiment upon it's arrival
| has to shift for itself The fact that
| the liverymen and farmers hereaboutS
| find more revenue in carrying visitors
| between the camp and the stations
| than they could derive from hauling
! camp stuff makes it difficult to get
| horses even for fancy prices.
If there was anything to counter
| balance these and many other minol
! objections to the place there might
| be some sane explanation given why
! this site was made a rendezvous, but in
the light of the fact that there is moth
| ing to recommend it above any other
of a dozen conveniently located places
| the only conclusion to be arrived at is
! that there was deal or that the wal
| department bought a pig in the bag
NO PARADE GROUND.
| No one has as yet been able to find
| the parade ground that is absolutely
I necessary to a camp of instruction
| What the early arrivals were led tC
! suppose would he the drill ground is
| being taken up with tents Of the in
| coming regiments and now there ism
| a clear space large enough to man.
oeuvre a regiment, let alone a brigade
| If there is any drilling to be done there
| will have to be a parade ground made
or else the drilling will have to be con
! fined to company and at the mos
! battalion evolutiOns.
| As | said in my despatch of las
night the matter is likely to be brough
up in congress tomorrow and stept
taken to have the camp location chang
ed. In the meantime other regiment
ought to be prohibited from coming
| here There are twice as many mel
| here now as the water supply will
rightly accommodate and to bring NOR
| men here would be not only a mis-
| take but crime.
| Quartermastcr Cox, Of the Thir