Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-11
CAMP IN FINE CONDITION
FOR COMING Of MILITIA
Virginia Soldiers VIII Find Place
Wonderfully Improved Since
Last Encampment.
" PERFECTLY DRAINED
Instead Of Sea OF Mud and Water, as
in 1913. Troops VIII See What
Compares Favornhly With Modern
Golf Course.
Especial to The Times-Disratch. ]

Beach camp and rife range week
range. they will And wonderfully
Improved place AS compared with what
the site was two years ago. when the
stay OF the First Brigade, Virginia Vol
unteers, was made unpleasant by a tor
rental downpour that flooded the lower
section OF the site. Since then the
state has been gradually improving the
site. until now II Is one OF the best
arranged and most sanitary properties
possessed by any State for the train
ing Of its national guard.
The camp is almost ideal for target
work, to which practically ell OF the
time and attention OF the State militia
Will be devoted this year. Instead of
the three infantry regiments being in
camp At the same time, each regiment
Will stay week on the range.
From morning TO night tho citizen
Roldiery will spend the hours receiv-
ing instruction In handling tho rife.
and then at record practice.
ENCAMPMENT WILL START
WITH FIRST REGIMENT
The First Regiment, Colonel William
j. Perry commanding. Will start the
enca mpment, arriving late Sunday July
is. A week later the First will depart,
and by the time It Ia on its way home
the Second Regiment, Colonel. Robert
+. Lecdy commanding, Will arrive for
a week. Tho Fourth, under command
OF Colonel f. f. Goodwin, will not
reach the camp until August 3, as the
military authorities have found II i'm
practicable for the officers and men to
he away from their civil life positions
on the first OF the month.
When tho troops were encamped at
Virginia Beach two years ago, the
greatest trouble they experienced was
iron
dectly drained. Since then the military
board has devoted It's attention to
Temedying that defect. Officers OF the
State militia who have inspected the
camp since completion OF the work
which has been going on for the past
eighteen months. say that no such con-
dillon as, developed In the 1913 en-
cam pmcnt are possible now.
About eighteen months ago Sergeant
T. f. Douglas. OF Stanton, was ap-
pointed camp caretaker, and he has,
under the directions OF the military
hoard. so changed what was once the
Mason farm. a tract OF sandy hills, half
bottoms and unditched and undra,ned
swamps. so that II now looks like the
golf course OF n long established and
well-to-do club in New England. There
are 10 acres sown in lawn grass and
drom them more than enough hay has
been cut to feed the draught animals
kept at the camp.
The system employed in draining Is
known as farm bedding The south
western section, the lowest part OF
the camp site proper. has been laid
off In slightly rolling beds, crossed by
surface drains which carry the water
to the bitches leading to Lake Christina
on the northeastern edge Of the camp
Lake Christine is really the solution
OF supplying the drainage for the camp.
IL has natural outlet to Rudy In
let. south of Virginia Beach This
connection between the lake and the
inlet has been deepened twenty-five
inches. lowering the surface OF the lake
that much and giving a greater draw
ing power for the underdrainaee Of
the camp. Several acres of dry ground
formerly weed and grass filled swamps
on the edges OF the lake. have been
added TO the available drill ground
space. The lake still has three feet
of water.
GROUND PERFECTLY DRAINED
AFTER RECORD RAINFALL
80 successfully has the new drain
ase system worked that after tho rec
breaking rainfall OF nearly Ave
inches In two days early in Juno. the
camp site was. not flooded at ALL Capt.
X. T. Warridk, INSPECTOR OF the Viz
einia National Guard, said the day
after the downpour. that he walked
across what was once the low spot of
the camp without getting any mud over
the tops OF his low shoes
The drainage system has not been tho
only Improvement. Two and a half
miles Of roadway have been built The
new roads wind In and around tho
camp site. and their natural cutters
help In carrying of the water They
also prevent the rolling acres OF turf
from heinE cut 10 pieces by vehicles
az was formerly the case when there
were no driveways The main ayenue
OF approach 10 the camp now curves
around the eastern edge OF the parade
ground. instead of cutting directly
through It. This has given twice tho
area TO parade purposes formerly
available
The target ranges have been reor
gained throughout. new target frames
for the 900 500. 500 and Go0-yard butts
having haen set up. system of direct
telephones has been Installed. leading
from each Of the butts to the hrinc
line The new telephone system gives
an instrument for each four targets
THIS Viii greatly expedite tho work of
me men on the firing line, preventing
confusion and delay IN giving the re-
suits OF the shots
The 200. 200. 500 and snc-yard ranges
VIII he the only ones used in the ap-
proacnine encampment. They const,-
tute regular army course The 900
yard range will not be used excent
for national matches
GRAVES Is PREPARING
FOR ARRIVAL OF TROOPS
Major James ". Graves, chief com
missary Of the Virginia National
Guard. reached the camp about fen
days. ago. and has been preparing for
the arrival ~ the troops tn. reri
nents will he camped on tho south
western sector, leaving the place be-
tween the firing line and target but.s
entirely rnohstructed Fifteen naea
shelters have been built two 81 ,he,,
Tor the officers They are located nr,
the western part OF the wooded Is,a
on the western edge % the camp. New
sanitary EQUIPMENT has heen put IN.
ana Kitchen sinks, four feet deem n,I.d
with pieces of granite have haan
placed under the connections with m.
water SUNNY svst.rn ''''