The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1916-08-25
DOWN At DEMING
Arkansas Boys Are Busy Prepar-
ing Camp and Prospects Are
That They Will Be at Demlng
for Some Time-Local Com
pany in Good Shape.

DemIng. New Mexico, Eodl uF-
day August 19.-We have now
been here week, and are getting
nicely settled in our new home.
Our journey Saturday night
and Sunday was close to the
border, and at several towns that
we passed there were stationed
troops. Every bridge had 1t 5
guard of a squad or two Of soil
diers.
We arrived here Sunday morn
ing Camp Deming is about two
miles northwest of town, close to
the Santa Fe tracks. The train
was run out to camp and we UNI
loaded at once.
The government has two truck
companies here of 33 trucks each.
They were put on the job, and
everything was unloaded by noon.
The tents were quickly raised !
the stove set up. and we ate Sun
day dinner ON the sands OF New
Mexico-with little of the same
being blown into our food.
The afternoon was used in set
ting the camp in order, and by ev-
|ening the 2nd Regiment \. \. o.,
was ready for business. The lst
regiment got in Sunday evening
slept in their dog tents that night
and made camp next day.
So far we have done no drill
at all. and Probably will not Hn-
I'll we get all the work about the
camp done. IN order to get
ahead Of the sand in our tents We
put couple of inches Of
: dobie on the floors. This is
Wetted and pounded, and when
dry makes a good floor. Many Of
the houses here are made OF
of bricks OF this material. We
spent couple of days cutting the
mesquite and yucca plants from
about the camp and parade
grounds. This mesquite is very
deceptive; it has thorns an inch
long. and they are difficult to see
but not To feel.
On Thursday brick incinera-
tor was built; and work started
on the kitchen and mess hall. 1t
has to be built entirely by the
company; is 20x64 feet; is screen
ed and has a cinder flood. The
kitchen, made as sanitary as pos
slble under the conditions, Will
be at one end. at the other will
be the tables; one for the officers
one for the non-com > and one
for each squad. We are eager to
get INTO it as the cooks will be
able to- prepare our food IN better
shape. and we II have a better
place to eat it-nothing could IN
crease our ability TO cat
After this is done we will prob
ably grade our street, and decor
ate II with yucca plants. for IN
| dlcations point TO prolonged
stay here. and we want to make
our surroundings as pleasant as
possible.
We believe we shall like the
place. So far the only disagree
liable feature has been several
sand storms. 1t is the rainy
season here now, and we have
had two terrific rains. While it
gets hot here the heat is not OPP
Ipressive like it was at Fort Roots
and one seldom perspires. The
nights are very cool. and two
heavy blankets are needed TO
keep warm. The water is excel
lent; and with all these features.
There is no reason why any of us
should not return home in better
physical condition than when we
left.
There are a number of strange
wild things here, and SO far we
have become acquainted with
horned toads. road runners, tar
Ianhulas. and this morning Sgt.
Langford caught a kangaroo rat
"a peculiar little creature with
a long heavy tail So far he has
taught it to stand on It's hind
lags when the bugle sounds mess
call.
According to the plans az
nounced this place is to be made
a permanent base and doubtless
a large number Of troops will be
stationed here for some time. Be
sides the Arkansas men, there
are two battalions of Delaware
troops here, and men from West
Virginia and Colorado are ex-
pected.
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