Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-06-23
BOY SCOUTS IN. PARADE
Alexandria Organization Welcomes
That From Washington and Escorts
Them Through Streets of City.

Them Through Streets of City.
About lone hundred Boy Scouts
from Washington boarded the
steamer Northland Of the Washington
and Norfolk Steamboat Company
yesterday evering for Norfolk from
which place they will cross Chesa-
peake Bay to Accomac county, and
8 engage in the work of saving the
large crop of potatoes which has heen
grown in that section of Virginia.
The youngsters were accompanied
as far as Alexandria by juvenile
band, and upon leaving the boat at
the foot of Prince street they in
Z Quired of Sergeant Roberts # they
could obtain permission from the
Mayor to- march through the city and
discourse music. The sergeant COM
nunicated with Mayor Fisher, who
readily granted permission asked,
when the band, which had in the
meantime been joined by the Boy
Scouts of Alexandria, led by Harry
Rudd, formed and began their march.
Sergeant Roberts was at the head of
the procession, which marched
through the principal streets of the
city discoursing lively music.
Leader Kidwell, of the band, was
profuse in his appreciation of the
courtesy shown his organization by
Alexandrians.
While the band was on the streets
it attracted many people, who mani
tested much interest in the young
sters, and the martial music they dis
conrsed
Especial to the Alexandria Gazette).
.Accomac, Va, June 23.-Two spe-
cial trains carrying 800 of the Boy
Scouts of America have arrived on
the Eastern Shore to gather the po-
5tato crop Of 100000 bushels. These
Boy Scouts have come from Wash
ington, Baltimore, Wilmington, Rich
mond, and Petersburg to the relief
of the farmers of Accomac and
Northampton Counties. Labor has
practically deserted this territory
for the better paying ammunition
factories, and conditions were get
ting serious. Fully $4,000 negroes
have left for points farther north,
and it looked as if the potatoes wou;G
have to remain in the ground. The
workers that were left were demand
ing 25 cents a barrel for picking the
potatoes up in baskets after the pow
had turned the hills inside out as
against 10 cents a barrel last year.
The boys are housed in six camps,
schoolhouses having been cleared OF
the desks, the windows screened, ana
cots having been placed. Each camp
is under skilled Scoutmaster. These
men had left their business or pro-
fession to do their bit along with
their boys.
When the demand arose for the
Scouts the Governor got behind the
plan. ard detailed State Health Of
ficer Williams to make an inspection
of Tie district. A permanent repre-
sentative of the State: Health depart
ment saw that all the wells are pure,
that sanitary conditions are ABOVE
criticism and that everything was.
ruaranteed in an absolutely healthy
condition before the ooys were, sent
in.
The great potato crusade IS un-
der charge of Scout Executive Char
les F. Weaver, of Richmond, and a
committee appointed by the Cover
nor. This committee meets all the
farmers and makes the arrangements
for the boys to gather the potatoes
The Scouts will move from one farm
to another. all the way from cape
Charles to Maryland line. 1t will take
six to eight weeks to get the crop IN
The scouts arise early and are at
their task at $50 in the morning
They work three and a half houfs
and then stop during the blisterlng
heat of the day, which is as bad Tor
the potatoes as the boys. They are
back in the fields at 3 and work un-
til z. On Saturdays they will be OF
all aay and will take an "ocean hike.
On Mondays they will not start until
the afternoon. On Sundays there
will be religious services in the camp
and the Scouts will give the day to
the regular program of Scoutcraft'
Their chief reward for al this
hard work will be that each Scout