Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-07
SINKS BURNED.
The Long Row at Muster Grounds
Destroyed, Tuesday.
Done by Order Of Authorities for Interest Of
Public Health.

The wooden sinks at the muster grounds
of the State. were burned to the ground
Tuesday, but the fire was kindled for
this express purpose. These sinks. ten in
number, ana occupying a long stretch OF
space about 50 feet west Of the cook
houses, have been used for MANY wears.
though "A few were built last wear on az
count of the increased force of the two
regiments when they came into camn in
Augusta.
Last fall, near the close Of the time
when the first Regiment Maine Voun-
teers was in camp, Adiutant General
Richards, believing that a large source
of the contagion came by the way OF the
sinks which were not of the most an
proved sanitary style. ordered Surgeon
General w. ]. Maybury to Augusta 10
inspect the place. With Secretary A. G.
Young of the State board OF nealth. the
two officers visited the camp, the hos
pital and the sinks. The result was that
Drs. Maybury and Young agreed that il
would be best to burn the sinks when ths.
regiment went away and also that for the
future welfare of the National Guard of
the State, it would be better to have a
At the close Of the fall when the mus
ter grounds had been deserted, Adjutant
General Richards believing that as the
troops of the United States were respon-
sibe for the infection with the typhoid
fever germs of the sinks, the United States
should pay for the extra expense tnereby
caused the State, sent a letter to the war
department explaining the situation and
asking that a board of survey be appoint
ed to look over the premises and see If
they agreed with the State authorities
On that board was Major ]. b. Butler.
the cOmmandant of the United States
arsenal, who acted with other officers Of
the volunteer service stationed here.
They agreed fully. but as a board of
survey have not the right to condemn.
General Richards secured the appoint
ment of Major Butler as inspecting Off
GER and then the major ordered the
sinks burned al such a time as it might
be thought fit. By the order of the ma
jOr and the papers to the effect, il ar
ranges all so that General Richards can
collect from the government the value Of
the sinks ana this can be used in the
rebuilding when the time comes.
With the sinks there were burned 1903
blankets, that Were used by the returned
Chickamauga veterans. These blankets
Were Of the very cheapest variety and
We're bought merely as emergency blan-
kets that they might be used by the
soldiers in connection with the regular
blankets. At the time of the soldiers re |
turn TO their homes. these emergency
blankets We're turned in to the quarter
masters department of the State. These |
blankets Were not of sufficient value to
guarantee the cost and trouble of disin- |
lection, so they were condemned by Ma |
jOr Butler and the government will pay
the slight damages for the blankets
Those blankets of value that were used |
in the hospital were disinfected at the in |
sane hospital steam disinfecting plant !
and are as good as ever.
In regard to the rebuilding Of the sinks |
there is no definite plan in view and |
there is Furthermore no great hurry, as
there will be no need of them this year |
but they must IN time be replaced. The |
last Legislature authorized the purchase |
of a strip of land SO that the sinks could |
be moved farther away from the cook |
and mess houses but even though that |
should be purchased the authorities do |
not believe it is for the interest Of good
health to build sinks of the pattern that |
have been used. They believe there |
should be a system 50 that a connection |
could be made with some sewer. The |
Legislature, however did not arrange for |
this. 50 the question is as far from being |
solved as it was last fan when first talked |
Of
At every encampment of the National |
Guard there Is an amount of illness, some |
Of which is directly traceable to the SIMS
Of unsanitarv style and the health of the |
guard demands that something be done
to improve the sinks.