Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-01
CITY AUTHORITIES
PUT BLAME ON MILITIA
Alleged Insanitary Conditions Said
to Be Due to Failure to
Police Camp.
GOVERNOR WRITES LETTER
No Sentinels to Keep Soldiers and
Visitors From Creating Nuisanccs
in All Parts of Grounds, Says
Commissioner Beck.
GOVERNOR WRITES LETTER

Alleged insanitary conditions obtain
ing at the State Fair Grounds. where
the Virginia Volunteers are mobilized,
are due to failure of military authori,
ties to properly police the place. and
not laxity on the part of the city in
of the Administrative Board yesterday.
following the receipt of a letter from
Governor Stuart. threatening the re-
moval of the concentration point un-
less conditions are Immediately i'm
proved
The city has spent thousands of dol
lars in.rputting the camp In shape to
receive and care for the militiamen,
and practically the entire time of
Commissioner Beck. Superintendent Of
Street Cleaning Cohn. Superintendent II
of Wster Davis. city Engineer Boiling
and Chief Health Officer Levy has been
devoted for the past two weeks TO
directing the oity's forces in making
necessary improvements.
GROUNDS ARE NOT
POLICED, SAYS BECK
AS far as the city is concerned
said Mr.. Beck, in reference to, Gov
ernor Stuart's threat, the camp will
be in shape tomorrow saturday.
morning. The city has worked as
rapidly as possible. and has made
every provision to do its part looking
toward the comfort Of the soldiers
The trouble arises from the fact that
the grounds are not policed 1t cam
not be expected that the city police
the grounds. II is absurd to consider
Guy employees even asking uniformed
soldiers to obey them If the grounds
are to be maintained in proper condi-
ton. let them be properly polced with
guards and sentinels The city should
not be expected to perform this SER
vice when there are hundreds of men
in camp"
The same opinion was expressed by
Chairman Hirschberg and Commits
sioner Hobson. Mr.. Beck is directly
in charge Of the work for the city.
GOVERNOR STUART
WRITES TO BOARD
Governor Stuart's letter follows:
In my conversation with Mr. Beck.
of your board. yesterday. ii was under
stood that all sanitary necessities at the
mobilization camp outlined in the paper
read to Mr Beck. II copy Of which he
told me was in his possession, would be
perfected either last night or early to-
day. am now Informed that this work
will not he completed before Tomorrow
Friday), at the earliest, and that much
of the work already done has been i'm.
properly constructed. leaving the sani-
tary condition practically umimp:oved
II am further informed that condi-
tions a CT
northwest corner of the Camp are
highly unsanitary from causes already
brought to your attention and w..olly
unrelated TO the presence OF soldiers,
Ut caused by the trespassing of city
employees and laborers. This situation
must not continue another hour.
These conditions present n very Sc
riouS situation. which might lead TO
epidemics and the propagation of
germs that might develop later even
If not Immediately. Your attention is
again called TO the paper above re-
fc"red to. and you are hereby informed
;hat unless immediate steps are taken
III the direction nt completion OF YOUR
in fulfillment of your posi-
tive obligations the State. an order
will re issued fo' the removal Z ,he
entire camp to some other point. at
whatever cost. The life and health of
the Virginia forces present considera-
tons far above all possible cost"
WHOLE BOARD MAKES
PERSONAL INSPECTION
Though addressed to the 4Administra-
tive Board. tho communication was
turned over to Mr. Beck
Fn111u,ino krIa
board yesterday afternoon. all members
Continued on Third Pagc)