Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-03
rCHICKANAUCA PARK.
War Investigation Board Visits the
Place and Inspects Camp Thomas.
ATTENTION GIVEN TO WATER SUPPLY



the entire day in inspecting the sit,
Of Camp Thomas in Chickamauga park
under the guidance Of Gen. Boynton
Gen. A. p. Stewart, a member Of tn,
Chickamauga park commission, ant
Mr.. E Z. Belts, the engineer Of tn,
committee. The inspection began a
Lyle station and covered all points o
interest in the park and near its Dor
ders which have been in any way in
volved in the controversy concerning
the sanitation of the camp, including
Sternberg and Letter hospitals, the
various springs from which water was
secured by the troops, including the
famous Crawfish springs, and the poin,
on Chickamauga creek at which the
water Of the pipe line supply was taken
out.
Special attention was given to this
latter place, because of the criticisms
that have been made upon this source
OF the camps water supply. They
found the intake pipe submerged
about 90 feet above the mouth OF a
tributary creek, locally known as Cave
Spring creek, which drained the camp.
The charge had been made that the
water from the tributary stream had
contaminated the pipe water, being
carried back into it by means OF
eddies, and in one case by overfows
after freshet.
Gen. Boynton and Mr.. Belts, who
had both been concerned in the loca-
ton OF the pipe line, admitted that
there had been one occasion when Cave
Spring creek had overlooked and
broken a dam, thus throwing its water
into the main stream over the intake;
but they explained that this freshet
had occurred at night, when the pumps
were shut down and no water was be-
Ing taken in.
There were many expressions OF
commentator of themethods followed
at the Sternberg hospital, and Gen.
Dodge was heard to remark that it
was a pity to have to leave an institu.
ton so well equipped. Maj. Giffen, in
command of the hospital, said 1t would
soon be abandoned. The commission
also gave attention to the proximity Of
the various camps to one another and
the depth and location Of the sinks. The
conclusion seemed quite general that
many Of the regiments were thrown
more closly together than they should
have been. Many OF the sinks were
also found to have been nearer to the
tents than proper ideas Of sanitation
encourage.
After concluding the inspection Of
the camp Maj. Giffen, who had been
before the commission before, was
asked to make statement concerning
some criticisms of the hospital made
In Vermont newspaper by Frank
A. Bailey, who had spent six weeks in
the hospital nursing his brother.
When he returned home he wrote an
article saying, among other things,
that he had heard physicians in the
hospital tell attendants to give their
attention to patients who had
chance to recover and not to nurse
those who were sure to die, in the
presence of those designated as of the
latter class, and that he had heard
other physicians instruct their helpers
TO give ice cold baths with the view of
finishing their patients" DR.. Giffen
pronounced as false all the statements
made.
DR.. Charles f. Craig bacteriologist
If the Sternberg hospital, was also
examined. lie was questioned espe-
Tally with reference to the water sup
ply of the camp and he expressed the
opinion that the water taken from
1hickamauga river through the pipe
system was purer than that in the
wells and springs of the grounds. lie
said he had found some sewer bacilli
n one or two of the wells, though no
typhoid germs. He had also found
in water taken from some
If the springs. lie expressed the de-
,ided opinion that common house flies
ire capable Of proving decided source
If disease infection, and he detailed
archaeological tests showing that
hey carried typhoid germs upon their
'eet
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