Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-20
PREPARE FAIR GROUNDS
FOR STATE VOLUNTEERS
City Officials Lose No Time in In
stalling Sewer, Water and
Lighting Systems.
BECK IN CHARGE OF WORK
Named by Administrative Board to
Handle Matter and at Once Takes
Steps to Comply With Request
From Military Authorities.

Hurried conferences between Com
missioner Henry =. Beck. OF the Ad-
| ministrative Board. and department.
heads of the city were held yesterday
afternoon. following receipt of the re-
quest from Acknowledgement w. w.
Sale for the use of the State Fair
Grounds as concentration camp for
the mobilization of the State troops.
and for the installation OF proper light
ing and sanitary facilities to care for
the body of men that will be nuartered
temporarily in the camp.
Instructions were issued by Mr. Beck,
who was appointed by the board TO
handle the matter. and the work Of
making the camp will go forward with
all possible haste this morning At
the session of the board, Commissioner
Graham r. Hobson called attention 10
the fact that the city might he called
on for the use of the Fair Grounds and
for the installation Of lighting, water
ard sewer facilities. No action. other
than the naming OF Mr. Beck rs a COM
mittee 10 take charge of the matter
was taken by the board at that time
as no request had been made to it by
the military authorities.
ARRANGE ALL DETAILS
TO CARE FOR TROOPS
Later in the day. however, as soon
as General Sale and his staff could take
M the many details of the mobilizn-
sent by messenger to the Offices of the
Administrative Board:
I'VE respectfully ask for the use OF
the State Fair Grounds for the mob
iization of the State troops. and the
laying of the necessary sewer and wa
ter pipes for the proper sanitary con-
ditious. construction Of lavatories and
lighthouses and kitchens, and the nee
essary installation OF wires for electric
lights
This request was made by General
Sale in accordance with the plan that
had been submitted to the board in
1914 by the military authorities. and
which was already entirely familiar to
members Of the board. There was no
hitch in the plan, and Commissioner
Beck Immediately called into consul
tation City Engineer Boiling and Su-
perintendents Traford and Davis, of
the Electrical and Water Departments.
arranging all the details for putting
the Fair Grounds i'll proper condition
To care for the troops.
/ superintendent Trafford visited the
camp site at once. making a thorough
inspection and determining what addi-
ional wiring would he necessary to
provide adequate lighting facilities.
and a force of workmen from the City
Electric Plant will be detailed to string
the wires and install the lights this
morning.
.sWAR ORDER" PLACED
BI CITY FOR PIPE
While a trerching machine will be
secured and placed at work this morn
ing. preliminary TO the laying OF water
pipes. this work will hardly be COM
pleted before late tomorrow. The
city was found short OF water pipe.
making rush shipment order neces-
sary. Superintendent Davis communi-
Gated by long distance telephone with
several companies handling water pipe.
CURED amount was ordered by tele-
gram. The shipment, left Radford last
night, and is expected in Richmond
! late to-day.
! The railroads were requested 10 give
| this shipment, war order" prefer
ence over everything else. Tho
trenches will be ready and waiting for
the arrival of the pipe. which will be
/ quickly laid. as a large force OF men
will he placed at work that II may he
completed as soon as possible.
! Mr.. Beck said that he thought the
| present sewer system would he sufi-
! however. will have to he installed. and
! this will also be done to-day. 1t was
. anticipated that the camp would be
in readiness far he city is con-
. ccrnc1, tomorrow. The board will see
that the necessary kitchen and bath
houses are provided. but il was stated,
many Of the present structures on the
grounds viii! he utilized.
The Virginia State Fair Association
lrssces Of the Fair Grounds, through
It's executive committee, yesterday
use of the Fair Grounds for military
M