The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-11
NEW BARRACKS
AT Fl. SCREVEN
AUTHORIZED BY GOVERNMENT.
BIDS FOR $4,000 IMPROVEMENTS
WILL SOON BE ASKED.

| Specifications Are Nearly Complete
and VIII Be Ready for Inspection
Within Few Days-ImprOvements
Consist of New Barracks for One
Company of 1O5 Men. New Detach-
ed Mess Hall, and New Detached
LavatOry-CaPt. Davidson Prepar-
ing to Advertise for Bids.
The building of the new barracks at
Fort Screven has been sanctioned by
the War Department. Information to
| this effect was received in the city yes
terday morning.
The exact cost of these improve
| ments has not yet been computed, but
| allowance was made in estimating for
them for $4,000. Owing to the fact
that everything about the buildings
will be of the best material and all
modern improvements put in, the total
cost will probably not fall below that
figure.
The new buildings will consist of
new set of barracks, detached mess
hall, and a detached lavatory. The
new barracks will be built to accom-
tillery, consisting of 1O5 men. The
| buildings will be built according to the
most improved styles and every con-
venience will be installed
The mess hall will also be of the latest
approved design and every thing for
the comfort of the men will be in
stalled. The detached lavatory will
! be fitted with the most modern ma
| terials and improvements, and the
plumbing will be of a high grade.
The work will be done under the in
spection of Capt. Joseph Davidson, of
the Quartermasters Department, now
in charge of the new officers quarters
that are being erected by Contractor
Dickson Every detail of the work
will be inspected by him, and until he
has approved them, the new buildings
will not be accepted from the CON
! tractor.
To Advertise for Bids.
The work of preparing specifications
| is now under way. These will be
printed within a few days and distrib-
uted among those who ask to look
them over for the purpose of making
| bids for the work.
AS soon as the specifications are
! complete, Capt. Davidson will advertise
| for bids for the work Thirty days
will be given contractors to look over
! the specifications and prepare their
| estimates. These bids will then be
opened by Capt Davidson, a recon-
mendation made, and all then forward
| ed to Washington.
AS soon as the bids have been APP
proved and the contract awarded
| mt 10 ri1
suit to the contractor given the con-
! tract. a reasonable length of time
will then be allowed him to begin work
and the buildings rushed to completion
as rapidly as possible thereafter.
In speaking of the matter Capt Da-
wilson said: specifications are now
under way for the new buildings.
will shortly advertise for bids and
award the contract as soon as posi-
| Bile thereafter. Work on the buildings
| will commence as soon as possible aft
er the contract has been awarded,
and there will be no delay in complet-
| ing the improvements. The exact
cost I cannot state. but it will be in
the neighborhood of $25 000.'
Continued improvements.
The authorizing of the new barracks,
mess hall and lavatory is in line with
the policy of the government to i'm
prove in every way possible its coast
| defenses, especially in the South. To
Fort Screven the War Department has
been especially liberal and. when all
the improvements are completed, the
post will be one of the best and most
comfortable in the South.
Within the last year the War De-
| partment has authorized the erection
of the six officers quarters on which
work is now being done, the new coal
shed. and other minor buildings. The
installation of the latest system for
sighting ships and training the big
guns upon them has also been order
ed. as recounted in the Morning News
some time ago. The latest improve
| ment is the erection of the new bar
racks, mess hall and lavatory.