The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-14
LAID OUT The CAMP
ASSISTANT CHARACTERIZATION GEN.
ERAL SATISFIED WITH
SITE SAVANNAH OFFERS.
NOTHING BETTER THIS SIDE OF
YELLOWSTONE PARK. HE SAID.

inspection Was Made mt O'clock
Yesterday AfternOOn-Maj. keenan,
Declared He Was Perfectly Salts
ned and said Savannah Would Get
<he Camp-Mr. Davis, Representing
Chamber of Commerce, Promised
to Make Certain Improvem
Position of the Various Quarters
Denoted by Mai. keenan,.
Savannah will get the encampment of
the ten troops of the First Regiment of
Cavalry, Georgia State Troops. This
fact was assured by the inspection of
the Fair Grounds tract, the proposed
site for the camp, by Maj. L. H. Ke-
nan. assistant quartermaster general,
yesterday.
Il don't see why Col. Meldrim ever
had me sent here" he said at the con-
clusion of the inspection. "One couldn't
hope TO find a better spot for camp
This side of Yellowstone Park"
Maj Kenan was accompanied on his
inspection by Capt. A Gordon Cas-
sells of the Liberty Independent Troop,
Capt. Thomas Hunter, commissary of
the First Cavalry; Mr.. Thomas ].
Davis, representing the Chamber Of
Commerce. and a representative Of the
Morning News. The camp site and the
country tributary were thoroughly sur
veyed, and the camp laid out by Maj.
keenan,. He also ascertained from Mr.
Davis just what improvement the
Chamber of Commerce was willing to
make.
The tents will be pitched at the east
end of the oblong formed by the race
course The land is high and dry at
this point, and there is enough ground
to encamp many regiments. The re-
xnainder of the Enclosure will be utilized
as a parade ground. With the excep-
ZION of the filing in Of several uneven
portions of the field, the space is now
in a condition At for the manoeuvers of
the regiment.
Splendid Mess Hall.
Machinery Hall will be used as a
mess hall. The building is a conmo-
dious one, easily adaptable to use as
a dining hall. and accessible both to
the camps and to the commissary de-
partment Some work will also have
10 be done in the way of renovation,
and the construction of tables, but it
was the opinion of the officers that
this would not entail the expenditure
of more than a small amount.
Next to the mess hall, in the old
Art building, will be the commissary
department. in charge of Commissary
Hunter. The provisicns will be stored
here. but its preparation will probably
be made just outside of the mess hall.
where tents will be pitched. The Art
building is one of the largest of the
group. In the southern end of it, just
across the race course from the camp
grounds. will be erected shower baths,
which will doubtless prove very re-
feshing TO the troopers after their
drills in the open parade ground
Maj. Kenan was particularly struck
by the excellence of the stables. 1t has
been stated that there are not now
enough to accommodate a regiment.
This is a mistake. There are more
than enough, and Maj. Kenan express
ed himself most favorably concerning
them. He said that he had never seen
any as good at a cavalry encampment.
Quartermaster J. G. Nelson will have
his provisions stored in the old Fowl
Exhibit building, which is within a
stones throw of the farthest stall.
Water Is Excellent.
Maj. Kenan took not less than three
drinks of the water on the grounds, and
declared it excellent. There were nu-
merous details which were not decided.
notably the quarters to be occupied by
some of the regimental officers. This
will probably be left to the officers
themselves. The positions of the sew
eral departments. the camp, etc, as
denoted by Maj. Kenan, are subject to
change. 1t may even be that the camp
will be pitched in the enclosure between
the race course and Machinery Hall
This, however. is not probable. The
points indicated by Mai. Kenan will,
In nearly every instance, be utilized
Tor the purposes stated.
The only objection of any conse-
quence which Maj. Kenan observed,
was the distance of the camp from the
nearest railroad, which is nearly a
mile. This will cut some figure in the
matter of transportation. but the In
specting officer said that it would not
outweigh other considerations
am perfectly satisfied" were his
words.
IF Savannah will make the few
changes I suggest she will get the en-
campment." said Mai Kenan.
We'll do it " said Mr.. Davis.
"All right" said Maj Kenan.
improvements Necessary.
AHc improvements which I0G CnaIn-
Der Of Commerce will have to under
take consist, in the main, of smoothing
certain portions of the Enclosure in the
race course, furnishing about a dozen
lights for the camp and quarters, rem
ovatlng the buildings and erecting
Few small temporary structures.
The grand stand affords an excellent
view of the camp, parade ground and
fitting path. and doubtless many visi-
tors will come to the ground. Avondale
range is about a mile and a quarter
distant. The car lines runs right by
the door"
Now that the question of location has
been determined the next question
which arises is the time. The men,
bers of the several troops are anxious
TO have this matter settled at once. so
that they may know how to make their
arrangements. Maj. Kenan returned
10 Atlanta last night. He will make
his report to the Governor at once
and it is probable that orders will be
issued shortly fixing the date of the
encampment.