Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-07-20

$500
An idea Of the size Of this job may
be gained at a glance at the material
estimate for n typical cantonment.
Lumber Is the big item, some 10000
600 feet or 1925 carloads being the re-
quirement. Roofing nails alone will All
n modern freight car. Crushed stone
for the roads will make 812 carloads.
Here are some Of the other items
$4,000 squares OF roofing, 90 cars; 20
carloads Of nails and hardware; 20
carloads plumbing; 1872 carloads Of
tanks, heaters, stoves, ranges, piping.
electrical materials, refrigeratOrs, and
the like; railroad materials for FIVE
miles OF track, divided into 80 car
loads Of ties and other timber, 20 car
loads Of spikes, rails, ishplates, etc,
and ia carloads Of ballast; 10 car
loads Of electric light poles, wires. in
sulators, etc. Materials for 10000 cubic
yards Of concrete will make 20 car
loads Of cement, $50 carloads Of stone
and 175 carloads Of sand.
The men of the environments will
sleep In dOuble-deck hunks. This
means there will be $1,000 separate
hunks, each with its mattress. To
transport the mattresses, 125 cars will
be required, and the hunks will take
62 mOre. Water and sewer lines will
make 65 carloads each, and $50 car
loads Of hospital equipment will be
necessary. Three carloads of screens
ure also included In the estimate, as
are 20 carloads Of construction tools.
Where water cannOt be obtained
from already utilized sources wells
must be driven or reservoirs construct
ed. The problem of sewage disposal
will be met by connecting environment
sewage mains to already existing sew
age systems where possible, or by
building reduction stations where nee
essary.
Provide Rifle Ranges.
Areas Of the cantOnments will vary
with the topography, the minimum be-
ing from 1900 to 1000 acres. In addi-
ton to the city Itself, parade grounds,
m%aneuvering spaces and rifle ranges
must be provided.
AAuNu NuilAOAliAAgAl VII NOAAaAh NAOoN
to 1000 buildings, the typical company
barracks being u twO-story structure,
built of wooden frame, covered with
matched boards. Roofs will be well GOV
cred with prepared roofing. They will
be well ventilated with lues, lighted by
electricity, heated in the North by
steam and In the South by stoves
Each will have a kitchen and mess
hall.
Col. l. w. Littell of the quartermas'
ter's department Of the army, who is
In charge Of the work of building the
environments, made public the fee sys
TEN of the cantonment contracts. The
fees vary from 10 per cen on small
contracts of 100000 or less to 6 pei
cent on contracts of more than $500,
600, with n final upset limit of $3.50,
600. The fees In all cases cover both
profit and overhead expense. The!
were fixed upon by the department
acting with the assistance Of the emer
gency construction committee of tn,
general munitions board and othe
civilian advisers.
"In deciding on the environment con
tracts we have had to consider tire,
main points Of practically equal I'm
portance," Colonel Llttell said. 18th.
first has been the absolute ~necessit,
Of speed, the second, proper construC
ton, including sanitation and COMMIT
nlcatlon and transportation facilities
the third, economy. Taking all tire
into consideration md also the fac
that time will not permit the compile
ton Of drawings and specification
which would be necessary I'm order I
ask for competitive bids before tn
work must be started, the quartermus
ter's corps, acting In conjunction wit
the emergency construction committed
decided TO make contracts on the pei
centage or cost plus basis, at tn
same time using all possible safeguard
in the shape of guarantees from tn
contractors as to their capacity and II
tegrlty.
The profit system has been decide
on only after weeks of study to find
basis for the fees which would assuI
the country Of the highest grade {
work from the contractors and at I'll
same time prevent e~XtravagnnC
5 through the payment Of excessive pro
It's. II is a pleasure TO pass tribute
the loyalty and patriotism of the grei
? majority Of contractors who have con
here to discuss the question with u
With IA few exceptions, they have "A
qulesced willingly In our contentlC
, that the profits must be kept down
I the lowest level consistent with hlg.
grade work. Some firms have offer'
. to do the work on a cost basis, but y
have considered this an unwise pOli'
5 both economically and nationally. II
I utmost speed and efficiency must
= developed In these and future bull
+ ing Jobs for the government, and Il
r acceptance Of offers OF free servi,
e might easily disrupt the high-gra,
contracting firms best qualified to (
the work effectively,
e ION all amounts between $685., IL
m - 80 nNn nAn 49, III -