Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-27
PETERSBURG CAMP SITE
WILL COST $4,000
Major Potts Reports to Adjutant-
General OH Arrangements for
Coming OF Troops.
PIPE WATER FOR TWO MILES
State Has No Funds With Which to
Make Such Extensive Outlay-Es-
innate Provides Only for National
Guard at War Strength.

Guard at War Strength.
That it will cost not less than
$4,000 to prepare the Lakcmont Park
site near Petersburg as moboliza-
tton camp. is the outstanding feature
OF report submitted to Adjutant -Gen-
cral w. W. Sale yesterday afternoon
by Major Allen rotts. Quartermasters'
Corps. Virginia National Guard. fol-
lowing an Investigation ordered by the
Department OF the East. The sum
mentioned by Major Potts is necessary
10 prepare camp for $500 men. the
total war strength or tho Virginia
National Guard and does not include
the reserve battalions which must Ire
raised under the national defense act.
Major Potts returned from Peters
burg Yesterday after making AN OK
haustive investigat ton Of all features
or the proposed camp. including tho
possibility Of purchasing the i'm
nense quantities Of supplies for tho
camp In that city. The report will
he forwarded to tho Department OF
the East. which Will have control over
The camp after it ia prepared. The
department will be asked to provide
the necessary funds. as the state has
no money available for the purpose.
L.akcmont Park was selected by
Major General Leonard Wood COM
mandor of the Department Of the
East. the selection being based on re
ports submitted to him by Captain
Frank r. Hines, United states Army.
who visited number OF proposed
sites in this and other cities. The
State had been ordered 10 select "A
site to he approved by the depart
rncnt commander. aud the Petersburg
property was OF ono of several avail
able locations.
The Adjutant-General. after forward
Ing the requested estimate OF cost to
the department. held a conference with
Governor Henry G. Stuart. II was de-
cthed that the matter OF paying for the
camp be taken up directly with Cen
cral Wood. the department commander.
and General Sale will make special
trip TO Governors Island y y for that
purpose.
PETERSBURG HAS OFFERED
TO CONTRIBUTE 100000
The city OF Petersburg offered $40 :
600 10 get the camp in shape for the
troops. This sum Was augmented by
$4,000 from John J.. Vaughan and NJ.
y Finn. owners OF the property. while
the Norfolk and Western Railroad has
agreed to cxpend the Sum 81 $1,000
In laying the necessary sldlncs 10
various parts Of III. grounds This
makes n total Of sci 600. o. exactly
onc-ffth OF tho needle amount
In his rcpor, Major Potts showed
why IL would cos; such il &c sum
20 prepare the camp one or the
h'Egcs; items Of cxpcr.c is the lay
tnC o. Two ana ono hair miles % y
inch water mains An EXTENSIVE. sNs-
tom or sewerage must also -. install
cd throughout the CAMP grounds.
Kitchens. mess hale. inc'uerators.
shower baths and -to-ure buildings
no tn -.
government specifications. The SOW
cragc SYSTEM alone viii cost approx
lnatcly $4,000.
TIL" camp Il prepared al cos; OF
$4,000 would he o.ly available for
Tho war strength OF the Virginia
forces. In accordance with the nation
Al defense act. IL Viii be necessary -
rails" battalions, which won!d add one
third 70 The WAY strength II the
camp is used tor Nhginia's frst quota
under the proposed CONSUMPTION Lili.
twice the amount OF tho figure named
by Major Fott. r..y n necessary. Ills
estimates Of cost a.. la sed on lines
suggested by the department in ,ele-
graphic instructions
The Department o. the East Will be
In charge Of the camp. as all Of The
forces viii bc in the Federal service
The department. however. expects Nir-
GINA 10 bear the expense Of getting
department Will designate an officer to
construct the camp. or whether Ma jor
Potts will be in charge. has no, been
stated
SUPPLIES TO DE PURCHASED
ONLY AFTEh GETTING BIDS
In any event all supplies will he
purchased by contract only Bids will
be advertised for in accordance with
plans and specifications Furnished by
the government. The contracts will
20 TO the lowest bidder
Major Potts finds that there Will be
ample room for camp on the Lake
mont Park property. The park site
is about one and one-half miles square
and there i. ample room for camp
for 10000 men. about the size Of an
army division In addition there are
about 1000 acres available for drills
and maneuvers. on which i, will not
be nece ssary 10 spend any money
In: making its tGIJ for tho camp.
Petersburg pointed to the fact that
the park had water. roads and railroad
sldings. The water comes from an eX-
ccileni spring. but void not he stuff :
Gent for camp of any size. which