The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-29
Death Traps.


itary inspector on the staff of General
Breckenridge, has made concerning the
condition of things at Camp Thomas is
calculated to afford scant comfort to
the surgeon generals department. Ma
jor Parker notes that since July 20
the sick report has increased from
week to week as follows: July 25, 2,226
Aug. 1, 1915; Aug. s, 1881; Aug. Is,
4,426; Aug. 49, 1894, the last figure not
including over 1900 men furloughed for
sickness since July 20, and 291 dis
charged and he adds: THE strength
of the command Is now about $4,000.
An inspection of these figures will show
that the number of sick men in this
camp increases each week by one
fourth. At this rate Of progression the
sick will soon reach a number which,
with present facilities, it will be i'm
practicable to handle" The major
therefore recommends the immediate
abandonment of the camp which was
selected in the first instance with
great flourish of trumpets and lauded
as an ideal rendezvous.
Several reasons are pointed out in
the report for the camps unwhole-
someness, all Of which reflect harshly
upon the judgment of those responsible
for the camps location. For one thing,
the park is mainly a forest and tents
have had to be stretched in the shade,
forbidding proper ventilation or sun
light. Again the sofia hard, tenacious
clay-is poorly adapted for camping
purposes, refusing to absorb surface
water readily, and rapidly breeding in
fection. On this point the report
dwells at length, showing that those
who selected the camp failed to take
into account a factor of prime import
ance. Moreover the water supply,
which should be the first consideration,
is notoriously insufficient and insult
able; and finally, to use Major Park
er's own words, "these disadvantages
have been increased by certain 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. 1t is absolutely
necessary in this climate that latrines
be dug deep and boxed and rooted in
Many regiments had no picks or even
shovels they had no lumber and in
consequence of these obstacles insult
fcient latrines were dug and the
ground around the camps quickly be-
came shallow latrines and their con-
tents ran over the surface of the
ground, This made it necessary to dig
new latrines, which in turn had to be
abandoned. / know of one old camp
which has over 200 old latrines on it's
outskirts. The holes for garbage near
kitchens became filled with water in
the same manner. All these places,
shallow trenches with a thin covering
of soil, are now emitting poisonous
gases from the decomposing matter be-
meath. The camps have been changed
TO new sites only to extend foulness
and infection. The whole park reeks
with IT. 1t is estimated that 1000 tons
OF garbage, manure and sweepings now
infect II. Every precaution is being
Dut IL 10 tOO ne
has been done. This park, as a camp
ing place, is incurably infected"
If such has been the sanitation OF
the principal concentration camp
which at the outset of the war was
most highly indorsed by the medical
department, II is hardly surprising that
the other camps have been even more
prolific as breeding places of disease
The surgeon general can say what he
pleases hut the country knows that
there has been all the elements OF muir
der save malice in the uniform incapac-
ity which his department has showr
from the first moment in caring for
the health Of the volunteers. There was
no possible excuse for the selection OF
such sites as those at Dunn I.oring;
there the first principles OF good san
itation were absent from the beginning
II has been hinted that Camp Algel
represented corrupt deal" between