The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-05

Mrs. r. W. Danner. of Richmond.
and Chesterfield county has given the
local corps of the Salvation Army a
tract OF fifteen acres on the electric
railway between this city and Peters
burg and only about eight miles from
Richmond 10 be used as r. site for sum
risr fresh all camps.
During the three hot months of next
summer, and In years TO come when
the city is almost unbearable TO those
who cannot buy ice, afford electric
fans and similar Injuries. hundreds of
Rfchmond's poor. those who occupy
novels In alleys and fight for exist
ence In the slums. will sojourn On this
tract OF land and enjoy the pleasures
Of cooling breezes, blue skies and green
fields and woods as wards of the SAL
walton Army.
Marks an Epoch.
The gift Of Mrs. Danner marks an
epoch in the annals OF charity In Viz
ginia's Capital City: places the name
OF the donor among the list OF phiian-
thropists whose deeds will be handed
down to porterity. and gives Richmond
q degree of equality with the great
cities OF New York and Chicago.
In the suburbs Of the former Met
ropolis, there 10 am estate OF nearly 500
acres known an the Cherry Tree sum
mer Camp where thousands OF New
York's poor seek refuge from the stiff
ling heat OF the city in Summer. The
estate was given the salvation Army
by a millionaire who asked that ii be
named Cherry Tree Camp In honor of
George Washington.
Cherry Tree Camp boasts man
sion Of nearly seventy i've rooms
which the Salvation Army has rauaod-
eied to accommodate a large number
OF sickly mothcrs. weak children and
others to whom fresh air and the coun-
try means the difference between life
and death.
The camp Ia abou. thirty miles from
New York and there IL a like distance
between Chicago and it's fresh air
camp. Several other cities are proud
OF fresh air camps. gifts of the wealthy
TO the poor.
Rschmond's fresh air camp is to he
modelled after the camps already cstah-
lished In larger cities. Structures sim
liar TO shelters in tuberculosis camps
have already been designed and Will be
built In the near future,
A spacious dining room with kitchen
nnd pantry attached VIII also be erect
I'd short distance from the living and
sleeping quarters. The dining room
and kitchen will be large enough to
accommodate all the inmates OF the
camp who VIII use II In common.
Viii Be Sanitary.
Every sanitary innovation perfected
by modern science for uss In preparing
and serving meals will be installed
and the health OF the city's poor will
be guarded with every possible care
e4@k - T.
examined by experts and pronounced
the source Of the purest. healthiest
and most beneficial water In the sec
ton.
In point OF location. the tract il
ideal az the site OF fresh air camp, II
10 situated at Stop No. Il. on the Pet
ersburg Turnpike, easily accessible and
yet far enough from the city to be
..real country" The ground 10 high
and the contiguous country picturesque
and restful to the eye. There is a
beautiful grove of old trees on the site
ana II abounds in other natural ad-
vantAges.
The city's poor and needy will be
n1yen q vacation and rest OF two weeks
81 the camp. in detaehments OF about
twenty or twenty-five persons. With
the advent OF hot weather the first de-
tan Of q score of more will be sent to
the camp and after they have enjoyed
assfortnight's rest, their places will be
taken by another squad. This system
Will be followed throughout the sum-
taer.
Great Boon to City.
IT Ii impossible to estimate the bene-
fits which Richmond will accrue from
the summer fresh air camp, and no one
can tell to what extent the community
u Indebted to Mrs. banner. Her char
ity viii probably gain the highest
thanks Of q grateful people.
ss4ssA Mr.. Dannar In widely known and
hAs . host of friends. She liz the wild
0w Of r. w. Danner. who was proba-
bly, best known as the head of the
Richmond branch OF the Equitable Life
Insurance Company.
The above facts were obtained by
. reporter for The Richmond Virginian
from 4 reliable source. He interview
"a Adjutant George w. Virgins the
well-known leader of Richmond's Sal
walton Army Corps, who, although re-
lpctAnt-. to- discourse, an the ssuhtact,
fnally verified every detail.
What method will be used to procure
funde for the maintenance Of the camp
has not been decided. but this and sim
lar problems. says Adjutant Virgins
will be solved in short time. The
lumber for the buildings to be erected
will be supplied by charitable lumber
dealers Of Richmond. Assurance Of
this has been given Adjutant Virgins
md he expects other help from friends
~ the poor.