Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-27
WILSON IS AWARDED
JAMESTOWN CONTRACT
Will Erect Frame Structures for
Navy Cantonment OF
10000 Men.
WORK TO BEGIN AT ONCE
Telegraphic Instructions for Ship
ment of Lumber Are Sent Out lm-
mediately on Receipt of Notice
That Award Had Been Made.

Another, step in this. country's prep
aration for prosecuting the war against
Germany was taken in Virginia last
night when orders for the erection i'm
mediately of sufficient number of
buildings TO house $4,000 men on the
jamestown Exposition Grounds. which
are located several miles from Norfolk
were issued by the Navy Department
over the long distance telephone to the
John IT. Wilson Co. of this city. The
navy cantonment 10 he established at
jamestown will represent an cXpcndi-
ture of approximately s2.000.000. and
the camp will be completed at the
earliest possible moment.
Work of clearing the grounds IN
preparation for the erection of these
buildings and for the various improve
inents necessary before the property
can be occupied by the department as
training camp for its recruits was
started shortly after the land was &C.
Quired last week by the Federal gov.
ernment. This work has progressed
rapidly. but the contract for the cree.
tion of quarters for the men was no,
awarded until last night
John T. Wilson, president OF the
construction company. held several con.
ferences recently with Navy Depart:
ment officials. and last night Admira
Harrison telephoned him from Wash.
ington advising him that he had beer
awarded the contract for the work
The contractor was told that the proper
facilities to house and care for 5000
men must be available not later thar
August Is, and the other work mus
be completed as quickly as possible.
ORDERS FOR LUMBER
SENT OUT AT ONt l.
With the department desiring the
completion of the cantonment In a very
short time, Mr. Wilson called togethe,
his office staff last night. and for sew.
eral hours the contractor worked Out
details for the undertaking and fol
the starting of operations at once. In
structions were given the Phillips Lum
her Company TO have the first shipmen
of timbe. go forward TO the exposition
grounds this morning.
Workmen will he sent to the location
of the camp to-day. and IL is expected
that actual building operations will be
under way Tomorrow With prepara.
tions of all kinds being made by the
department to prosecute the war, ii is
absolutely necessary. IL was stated
last night. that the jamestown caml
be opened as soon as possible. that the
recruits to the navy may be pu
| through n short vigorous training
course TO fit them for active service
! within the next few weeks.
Instructions issued by the depart
ment last night to the contractor cal
| for the erection of frame buildings IL
which to quarter the men. but these
structures will be of semipermanen
nature. and Will be so built as to stanc
service for several years. 1t will bt
necessary to erect several hundrcc
houses to accommodate the 10000 mer
the Navy Department expects to main
tain in the camp during the months tc
come, but the first increment will no
he ordered to the camp until August is
MAY UTILIZE ABANDONED
EXPOSITION BUILDINGS
Local military officers last night con.
sidered 1t probable. however. that ade.
quate facilities for the handling OF
even more than 5000 men--the frs
assignment to the camp-could be pro.
vided by August Is. After taking int
consideration tho amount of work &
large force OF men could do In the mex
six weeks, they pointed to the fact tina
CONTINUED on Second Page.)