Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-02
Getting The Muster Field
Ready for the Troops.
Gov. Cobb the Guest Of Rum.
ford Falls Board Of Trade.
Visitors at the Capitol Five New Cor
poradons Just Formed.

themselves. realize the immense amount
of work there is on the site of the en-
campment preparatory to a State mus
ter. Although the soldier boys are
only in camp two weeks. the work in
connection with the cncampment ex-
tends practically the year round
This job of looking after the muster
field has been i'm the hands of Capt
Thomas F.. Dodge for the last ten
years. and he is known as the quarter
master and storekeeper connected with
the ACCOMPLISHMENTS department. One
of the first things to do is to cut the
grass on the so acres over which the
soldiers will tread and the 50 or 40 tons
that it will yield is usually sold to the
highest bidder this year the lucky man
being Josiah Norton Of Augusta.
There are 50 buildings that have to be
looked after and gotten into readiness
and with some of them. especially the
quarters of the chief officers. there is
considerable Overhauling after a period
of winter idleneSS. The cOOk-hOu'e.
mes3-hOuSe. dishes and all the rest of
the paraphernalia must be inspected
cleaned and put in condition for immc-
diate use. The buildings all have to be
kept neatly painted and in good condi-
ton. AS fast as they reach their full
age of usefulness new buildings rise to
take their places. There is not a build
ing on the State muster field over is
years of age.
The work on the muster field begins
almost six weeks before the soldiers ar
rive. and from I to 10 people are kept
busy. OF late years the preference, in
the matter of help, has been given to
the students of the High school who
earn considerable extra money during
the pre-encampment period. There
are 14O tents to he erected, bur this
work is usually done only about four
DAYS before the soldiers arrive. as the
officials do not like to take the risk OF
getting them too wet from rain storms
before the encampment opens. THIS
work of putting up the tents is so we'll
SyStematiZcd that a tent can be erect
ed every four minutes. when once start
ed. There is machinery devised for
driving the pins. and so carefully sur
veyed is the field. that year after year.
every pin goes in exactly the same
Mace. and not single tent has varied
an inch in location for the last decade.
Not a tent now in use is over five years
old and all are in the best of condition.
Mr.. Dodge has built this tented city
so many times that it is said he can
almost locate the canvas houses blind
folded. SO familiar is he with all the
appurtenanCeS that he can tell immeil-
atcly if 4 single pin or piece of rope
is missing. The ambulance corps build
ing is changed this year into the hoSpi-
tai corps building. and the h"Srntal
corps and nOn-CommisSioned ONO
will occupy the same building.
In addition to putting up the tents
there are go beds to get ready. and with
every bed there must be - pounds OF
straw. There are usually about five beds
n q tent. Then there is all the bedding
, TO get ready for the stables, the various
stoves to set up in the mess and COOK
houses and ell the kindling to have
ready. The first uniformed man TO en-
ter the field before the soldiers rs
usually the commissary general ana py
| the time he arrives Mr.. Dodge plans 10
have every detail of work done.
| OF course, the general supervision ol
| the work at the muster field is given oy
| Adiutant General Farnham who. since
| taking up his permanent residence jill
| Augusta. is enabled to visit the scene az
| frequent intervals to offer many pracu-
caI suggestions. Gen. Farnham IS SO
| familiar with the field that he can tell
| almost at a glance. if everything Is
KEYED M to the right pitch. Another oil
the duties of Mr.. Dodge during the en-
| campmcnt is the issuing Of the allow
ancc of powder to the soldiers every
night and morning for the salutes.
| A large part of the supplies OF th'
| c,.to from = military standpoint. are
kent in the large storehouse just sou'h
west of the State House. and IL any
| thing is lacking in the way OF tooiS VI
other appurtenances for the prcPa'at'oi
~ tho encampment Mr.. Dodge IS not al
lowed to take any Of the Things IRON
tho boxes that are nailed up ana read!
| for shipment at any moment. ror
nav not he generally known that II wa
| ,hor,d break out tomorrow ana TN
Maine .troops were suddenly called uPoi
A. hodge could load on the cars In th
,hort srace of two hours all the thing
.h,t two regiments would need Tor
,onc torn of service Not single thili'
a., this completed list is allowed 10 u
oIosted and these numerous POKE
n.and there in the storehouse ready q
meet an emergency. Upon every pox
plainly marked its weight and q tull ms !,
~ ali that it contains and now
should be opened. At Intervals ines
boxes have to be inspected 10 So u az
of the tools have rusted OF 'o. oio''
;nr become moth-eaten and the in
haired articles are Immediately 'e
nlaced with new things.
The work. incident upon the must
docs not cease upon the close OF IN
encampment. There are three montn
~ work upon that 80 acres of territor,
although the toll is not Of such a rusi
"haracter All of the buildings have t
no cleaned and prepared for the ciosin'
and all the tents taken down ana pack
cd away. quite number of them need
;na ronairinC and mending. AS one III
cident of the work at the close of tn
last muster new covers were require