The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-03-03

Immediately along the line which the
center ofpopulation has pursued from
the beginning of the nineteenth CEN
fury, when it was at Baltimore, to
the year 1900. when the center of
population was at or near Columbus,
Ohio. This line of the center of pop
ulation between those years is almost
coincident through its whole length
with the main line of the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad, which runs through
this camp site.
If the uses to which these camp
sites are to be put, as specified by
Major Parker in his report above re-
ferred to, are correctly, inteliigentlY
and skillfullY given, and the requi-
sites for such camp sites, as laid down
by him, constitutes the proper stand
ard by which selection should be
made, then, it is confidently and
respectfully submitted that the Oak
land camp site meets more of these
specified uses and requisites, and
meets them more fully than any other
eastern location suggested.
That the uses to which these camp
sites are to be put and the requisites
therefor are intelligently and skill
fully given by Major Parker, it is
hardly necessary to argue. At all
events they constitute the only stand
ard which the War Department has
furnished for the guidance of this
Committee in making it's selection.
A most important requisite for
these camp sites is generally but not
specifically named in Major Parker's
report. This is the requisite of ranges
for artillery and small arms. The
Oakland site completely meets this
requirement. Innumerable ranges for
small arms, of any length desired, can
be secured, with mountains for back
stops, and perfect safety in the use
thereof. Ranges for artillery can be
secured to the extent of five miles,
with mountains several hundred feet
high for back-stops, in the midst of
a country very tLinly settled, so as to
secure the minimum of danger.
Another important consideration
that should not be overlooked, and
that is, the degrees of immunity of
the respective camp sites from the
temptation and contamination of
larger cities. The environment of the
Oakland camp is ideal in this respect
The nearest settlement is Oakland,
beautiful little mountain town of less
than two thousand inhabitants, and
Wheeling, W. Va, one hundred miles
distant, is the nearest city.
1t may be objected that the report
of the Eastern Camp Site Committee,
covering pages II, ~ and IS of House
Document 618, first session of the
tifty-seventh congress, is adverse to
the Oakland site and favorable to
that of Mt. Gretna in Pennsylvania.
Without animadversion or criticism
upon any one, the attention of the
committee is respectfully directed to
the fact that this whole controversy
between the three proposed camp
sites in the east, involving a great
variety of considerations, is summa-
rily disposed of by this report in a
little more than two pages.
Moreover. the advantages of one
site over the other are not so clearly
set out in the report as to adequately
advise this honorable committee of
the reasons for the committees pref
erence.
In the report of this camp site com
mittee on page ID, only two objections
are urged. The first is embodied in
the following language: ut is found
that the drainage, though excellent
natural drainage), would not be adapt
ed to a comparatively inexpensive
general sewerage system" This seems
to contain a contradiction in terms
In the first place, if the natural drain
age be''excellent," where is there a
necessity for artificial drainage? If
the natural drainage be excellent"
where is the difficulty in supplement-
ing it along the same lines with arti-
fetal drainage?
The final disposal of all sewage
would be made into the YOughiogheny
River.
The second objection to this camp
site is contained in the following Ian
guage of said report on page 10: 81 am
of the opinion that none of these are
suitable for a camp of instruction of
the size contemplated, because of the
difficulty which would be experienced
in the matter of rapid concentration
and equally rapid dispersion of
troops In view of the transporta.
ton facilities heretofore submitted,
this objection would seem to indicate
that the camp site Committees Fgave
the transportation facilities of the
Oakland site no dignified or serious
consideration.
So imbued am with the conviction