New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-26

drilling large bodies Of troops. a: low tide the
sand beach hard ard dry. affords "a magnificent
parade or drill ground The beach rs over
eighteen miles long and is one Of the finest on
Tie South Atlantic coast. The bathing IS superb.
The water supply here Is abundant ana from
analysis it has been found to be Wholesome and
good II is Sc, ured from several artesian Wells
the same AZ al Jacksonville. good water beng
found at depth Of 500 to 200 feet. The water
is being piped to the camp site now, II beng the
idea f. have everything in readiness before
rnclo regiment arrives. Eght-inch mains VIII
he used to carry the water to the camp site and
G-inch pipes tc carry il through the compan!
streets giving each company many plugs or
.ydrants as may be needed. This VII prove of
,-eat ADVANTAGE to the troops, giving them an
ample supply Of watci al Their tent doors, as
II we're The camps viii he from quarter to
half milo from The waters edge.
The Florida Central and Tcnnsulaf road is
ionr much work ia getting ready To- handle the
troops with expedition and without loss Of time.
over five mics Of extra sidctraoks are being put
in and the road TO the beach i being placed H.
Grst-class condition. This road runs dIrect To-
the camp site 50 hat tho troops and tho.I equip
lncnts can be- unloadc1 almost at the very point
where their tents are &c bc pitched Tins VIII
prove q great convenience ana sas, much los
If time ia carunG.
There are ample facilities for securing good
ana large Warehouses; for storohcusos for thu
comm.ssary ana Quartermastcr's Gorarinents.
on the piers there are scvCa. whcr, The trans
tan bc unloadcd directly Near by IL Tho
own arc several others that can h, s.cureG 50
hat the facilities IL tins Inc al. that could
be desired
The health a. the place . beyond "a. question
The reports Of the city health officers prove that
.he health Of Fornandina. summer Or winter. s
phenomenal. 1t has a low death rate ana the
utter absence OF malaria makes IT a great sum
mer resor, for people from The interior H. tins
respect il has no cqua H. the STAT. except
perhaps Jacksonville.
The main points which influenced the official
reports are the pure and abundant water. the
deep water O: the harhor furnishing good fa"t-
ties fcI loading troops tn" ease Of access Of the
camp site for loading and cnbark.nr troops.
he mafnincc.n sca bathing for the men ihc cool
broezes from the ocean ana the excellent drain
tge facilities. making II altogether one Of the
best points ioI iarc, camp il Ia, south
Tho land IS furnished free and The water is
served to th' camps at no cost to the Government
mcr. Both these conaido iatIons, 80 utterly
inherent rom me fon'iIthns In'NdIIIf al
Tampa soinewha; astonished the officers sent
10 inspect The sites offered
Fernandina ia al old town with many marks
Of antiquity about her The main street
runs east and west. reading osi from ihc station
direct 60 the beach From thie raHIai" many
smaller thoTourhfaTcs. many O! them lined with
coscy homes and handsome mansions It has a
history. ard Times important
point J: has u i.rr, shipping trade now, and it
IS a lively Ilac, in that line ii - quiet moral
town and ,he soldiers viii not have The bad in
Hucnces 10 contend with tina. they haV, had at
Chattanooga and other larger cities. II will
tend 10 make the camps much easier to control
and and IN establishing better morale for the
soldiers
Fort Clach 4! oidoa time. j. still IN existence
here and It's old walls have thr appearance Of
war Times. m,uriod "a they are with guns ana
The other Improvements which have hcon re-
gently made. Battery T. Of She C,h Heavy Ar
tlleIy * IN chargt 81 i now. II is under
stood that over tire. h:lcadcs OF ahcu: eighteen
thousand men VIII he placed her, a. first. There
arc room and water here FOR fully fifty thousand
men without trouble 1t - stated that the Lee
expedition viii sail from this port AZ soon as the
Army can te got into shape for an early move
There are eight transports here now and
more are expected Loading with provisions
and commiseary supplies viii begin soon az