New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-28
MAJOR PARKER'S REPORT.
CHATTANOOGA NOT FITTED TO BE a CAMP
ING GROUND FOR TROOPS. HE SAYS.


DAVIS a2o General Breckenridge appointed Major
Parker Of the 18th Ncw-York. TO investigate
the sanitary condition Of Camp Thomas Major
Parker Is now Acting Inspector General OF the
Camp and to-day he presented racy report
the gist Of which follows:
This park think II can be shown. Is NOT h''eu
10 be a camping place for troops Firs'' me park
Is mainly a forest. with occasional openings oi,''
These openings AFFORD a very limited space io' '.e
exercises Of the troops. grand man1uvres De'hs III
most out OF the question To preserve these open
eracos for drills etc seemed 20 necessltate that
tho troops should camp in the woods Such camps
are not healthy; being largely In the shaoe' the
tents and the ground around them remain Damp
the salutary action OF sunlight on germ organisms
Is shut on. and the free movement OF air. wh'ch
would otherwise assist in the drying process -
,revortod The disadvantages OF camping In the
woods are especially apparent during Inc rainy
season.
I think II may be said. IN general. that II mas
been found that such camps are obj"ctohaoe' anu
that the rule has been in the Regular Army al
ways If possible to camp on ground exposed 10
the sun This rule adhered 10 by the reg
Mar troops when they were concentrated here this
spring but when the volunteers came here the
necessity of preserving drill grounds me hui'oe'
OF the troops. and also the fact mat inc open
spaces had already been largely used FOR camps ior
Regulars. prevented the example oil the "'b"'''
from being followed.
Again the soil is rot adapted to camping. III Is as
"A rule hard, tenacious clay. Such soil does not
absorb Stops dirty water, grease, saliva, urine
vomit etc. which 1t is impossible to Keep from 'he
ground in "A closely packed camp. The refuse ~ NOT
carried into the lower strata by subsequent ram
hut s confined 20 the thin layer of mould one or
two inches thick which lies on the surface. IhiS
surface layer In consequence in snort ume pe-
comes thoroughly infected. breeding maggots,
stencil and disease.
Further In heavy rains the area OF the ground
Is enlarged Especially this is the case with the
ground In the neighborhood OF the various dumps
or places IN the neighborhool Of camps where re-
fuse Is thrown which must become a large area
soaked with a solution OF manure. garbage ana rot
ting refuse OF al kinds Owing To the great num-
Der Of camps and OF dumps. which are usually
placed one hundred or more yards from the camps
a very large area OF the ark is now imprcgnatr'
from this cause alone. ard much of 1t IS rendered
nosome from the foul doors resulting
SICKNESS DUE TO WATER SUPPLY.
II was a peculiar feature OF this camp that all
troops on arriving here were at once affected witn
n continuous and more or less violent dIarrh~a
Practically none escaped. whether officers or men
veterans or recruits This Intestinal arrangement
kent ND for two or three weeks. sometimes longer
and there can be doubt that In many cases by
weakening and deranging the system 1t prepared
tho way for more serious ailments There also
be no question that this diarrhpa is due 70 the
water though what the constituent Is that pro-
duces this effect is a matter Of controversy. In
the last two three months typhoid fever has
made appearance here. ard The number OF cases
ia now large and constantly Increasing II Is be
Neved that this disease Is also largely propagated
by infected water.
The water here is derived from three Sources
from wells. limited supply from springs. HIM
tied supply and from the Chickamauga River
The wclls ar Of recent construction most ~ them
having been bored by the Park authorities since
the troops have arrived here. They are STINK. as a
rule over one hundred feet. In order 10 reach a
wator-bcaring strata The water furnished BY
them IL cool and. therefore. much rclshed by the
soldiers. but Il II so strongly charged with I'm"
and magncsla a. 10 give IN some cases a pcrcepr-
bly, brlny taste. II IL not unlikely that surface
water is able 10 percolate down 20 the bottom OF
the wells by passing outside OF the casing. For
this reason. and account OF the strong solution
q mineral matter II Is not believed that tho water
Is good for the The quantity OF this water
which can be obtained Is limited. since the wells
give or. Ivy much pumping. Sufficient has been
said of the character OF Chickamauga Park. l's
soil and It's water 10 indicate tina, It has certain
drawbacks which prevent IT from being an deal
camping-piace for troops.
TROOPS UNUSED TO CAMP LIFE.
These disadvantages have BEEN increased by cor
tain facts IN connection with its occupancy When
the volunteer troops arrived here. IN May they
were inexperienced IN the details OF camping
Moreover they were poorly supplied with materials
| and tools Of all kinds II is absolutely necessary
in this climate that la'rnes be dug deep and
boxed and rooted in. Many regiments had no
! picks or even shoves: they had no lumber. and In
consequence Of these obstacles insufficient latrne
were dug The ground around the camps quickly
became contaminated.
The rain quickly filed tho shallow latrnes. and
| their contents ran over the surface Of the ground
| This made II necessary TO dig new latrines. which
/ in turn had 10 DO abandoned. | know Of one old
camp which has over two hundred old latrnes on
its outskirts The holes for garbage near kitchens
| became flied with water In the same manner
All these places shallow trenches. with thin GOV
ering OF soil. emitting poisonous gases
from the decomposing matter beneath. The camps
have been changed TO new sites. only 20 extend
| foulness and Infection. The whole park reek'
with IT, II IL estimated that eight thousand tons
Of excrcment garbage manure and swcepIngs now
| infect IT,
The troops now have better methods OF treat
ment OF their ofral and earbage-the latrlnes are
properly closed the garbage In some cases IS
burned the manure and refuse burned II possible
| The troops camping in the open drill fields
where they get plenty OF sun and air.
Every precauton IL being taken but II IL toe
late. The mischief has been done. This park. as
camping place. Is incuraby Infected. Every
breeze carries a stencil. The sick report mount,
day by day. general lassitude is apparent IT
men and officers The months In which typhoid
and malaria are most common are at hand Tn,
cases OF typhoid fever have reached 800 and IA,
whole situation presages a general epidemic. Unde
tho circumstances detailed above remedy ex
lists except It he general departure OF troops
from this place.