New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-09
Yaphank Bestirs
Itself; Soldiers
To Train There
Ancient Long Island Town,
Chosen as Army Site,
Comes to Life

Only a few weeks ago Yaphank
drowsed peacefully in a valley nesting
between the low, fat hills of interior
Long Island. Train dispatchers could
tell you that two trains daily visited
the ancient hamlet. Few Long Island
tourists had heard of its existence.
But suddenly Yaphank sprang into
fame, for Washington had approved OF
il as a camp site for 10000 men-the
flower Of the young manhood of New
York and surrounding territory.
To get TO Yaphank one must travel a
distance somewhat more than sixty
miles from the metropolis. The time
consumed is generally about two hours
and a half, depending on the DISPOSE
ton of the wheezy, superannuated en-
CINE that slides along over fat land
and through pine barrens. But Yaphank
has arisen from its sleep of centuries
and is stretching its limbs. The thud
of falling trees, the clamor Of hard
working hammers, the shouts of hun
dreds Of workingmen assailed the ears
of a reporter for The Tribune when
he neared the camp one day last week
And a tour Of the camp site left the
distinct impression that Cucle Sam had
chosen wisely and we'll the place to
train thousands of his fighting men.
Covers Forty Square Miles
Exactly how big the camp site is is a
matter Of conjecture. II is not well
defined, nor have the engineers, work
ing necessarily, determined the exact
acreage The majority OF estimates.
however, place the area at forty square
miles-forty square miles Of little else
than pine barrens, scrub oaks and sand
hills. And on this site the war De-
partment is planning to erect city OF
approximately 1000 buildings, IN which
10000 men will be housed.
The camp itself will be about two
and q half square miles in area, Major
O'Kelly Myers, in charge OF construc-
ton, believes. II will lie midway be-
tween Yaphank village and Manorville,
at a spot which was known to the
Indians as Wampmissick and to the
farmer. of the neighborhood as Crows
Nest. Around it most of the land will
remain uncleared. Three miles to the
west Of the camp Is Yaphank station,
typical of the old tumbledown stsAans
featured in vaudeville and novels.
Scattered over the neighborhood are
the wooden houses Of Yaphsnk's in
habitants, each the centre of smiling,
cultivated fields. To the north, east,
west and south of the camp site are
number Of small hamlets, most Of them
consisting of a dozen houses and a
country store.
Rush Work on Camp
As the crow flies, the distance be-
tween Manorville and Yaphank is ap-
proximately seven miles. Manorville is
the centre Of prosperous farming dis
trict that helps supply New York with
potatoes. cucumbers and radishes.
Major Myers has already laid his plans
for the housing and training OF ten
regiments Of infantry, of 1900 men
each; three regiments Of artillery, OF
200 men each; one regiment OF engi-
reerg. with about 800 men; a signal
CORPS battalion, numbering ESQ men;
an air squadron, a balloon company,
truck companies, motorcycle companies.
hospital corps, wagon trains. mosor
trains, etc.
II is estimated that TO get everything
in readiness for the cantonment VIII
cost s5.000000. Millions Of feet Of
lumber will be used, hundreds of thou
eznds Of nails, tons OF glass, hinges,
door knobs, etc. There will be hun
dreds of wooden buildings TO be used
as barracks, mess halls, headquarters,
officers quarters and as living places
for the civilians who will have TO work
in the camp. A few of the buildings
will be nnetal-clad or partly constructed
Of corrugated iron. In the Yaphank
cantonment. az in the other Northern
csntonments, il is probable that CEN
trail heating stations will be built and
the structures warmed by radiators.
Between the buildings streets will be
laid out in orderly fashion. Stores,
Y. ". G. A. buildings and camp ex-
changes will be sandwiched in between
the other buildings. One capable OF
interpreting the completed plans sub
mitted by the War Department can
construct in his minds eye city DIFF
fering in but minor ways from the
..Las.,tf.I reutyes NJ the cOuu-