Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-06-16

.dred thousand OF. those will be ut once
selected for our new national army.
The first thing to be thought Of In this
army after selection Is training. and
to train, properly we must have camps.
cantonments. as they are called. With
our 1000 new recruits there win be
oGicers and extra men enough to make
q body OF over >600,O 900. to be divided
into groups OF 10000 each. That
means that by the LIST Of September
we must have ready for our army 16
eantonments or towns. No such task
was ever undertaken before in IL
weeks. In three months more money
win be spent than went into the Pana-
ma Canal In the course Of any one
year.
TeWns Must BE Well Equipped
These towns can not be the old
fashioned camps. 1t is not tolerable
that they shall not have ample water
supply and the best OF sewerage. and
to have It when the boys arrive but
they must have also streets, rail-
road, barracks for the men. and quar-
tefs for the officers. Each will be a
town Of about 1000 houses. as now
planned, and all this construction
mist, as far as essentials go. be ready
BY the LIST of September. Every re-
source OF the quartermaster's depart
ment, which has charge OF this piece
Of work, Is being strained, and to sup
pIement and advise the quartermas-
ter's department the council OF ma
tional defense has appoined an emer-
gency construction committee. Prob
ably the ablest men in construction
work In this country are gathered in
Washington in this advisory capacity.
We have here the best of our city
planners and water experts. They
are here working without pay and
most OF them nearer "a hours a day
than IL.
Plans Are Ready
The plans for the great undertaking
are ready. The materials are in sight.
~
rails are enormous. Each camp will
require over 1900 carloads OF lumber,
something like 100000 feet; $500
carloads OF materials for each canton
ment.
This week the contracts will be let
for the construction work. The war
department has decided upon policy
( OF absolute and continuous publicity
In the building OF these cantonments,
and 1t is anxious that at the start the
public, which is so vitality interested
I'm having these cantonments healthy
y places for the boys going into them
should understand clearly why they
have adopted the form of contract
they have and what safeguards they
I. are. following In letting the contracts
( No Time to Advertise fer Bids
II the Quartermaster department haC
{ leisure. the practice which has Away!
, been followed In. the government
; would prevail now; that Is. full speci
Z. flcations would be written out and tn,
:. department would advertise for bids
I The contracts would be awarded onl,
i. after the most careful consideration
4. and the work would be done on wha
is called "lump-sum bid" Now ther
is no time. obviously, for any sue
!, lefsurely work.
II IL Of the most vital importanc
49, khn WAN 80 nra tn tratu Tint chi
: work should be pushed with all tn
speed and efficiency Of which tn
Z building forces Of this country ar
(, capable. This decision has led tn
3 advisory committee OF the council {
national defense to counsel the qua
termaster department to make col
;. tracts on the percentage basis. BIZ
Y In doing this all sorts of prscaution
/. and checks have been provided, In o.
j der that only the abiest and mos
+ honest contractors should be give
s contracts.
4 ouestlonaires. aent Out
! To begin with, a full act OF question
( confldenitaiIy have been sent to all th
s leading contractors OF the countr.
They are asked to tell Of the wor
they have done in the last three year
It's size. etc. They. are asked to te
3 how large a number OF men they ar
prepafedlto keep In camps; that is,
!. pretty good history OF their operation
( 10 required. With references.
4 In addition to this. CONFIDENT,
$ qusstionares have been sent to leat
! Ing engineers and architects askin
them about each contractor, his II
tsgrity, his reputation for hnishin
work on time, his equipment, etS
These. sets OF answers have been pu
into the hands OF one of the bes
Judges OF contractors that Is known Il
tbis country. II has long been hi
busiuess 70 iHage contractors for grea
security and guaranty companies. III
goes aver the questions, and thsr
gives The auhFtormasteris department
his jrAgmspts thar IL. whether IN bis
opinfon the ieontfaetor'as ofter is 50
sound thai OTIS gepiiemsn would be
wilfsn9 TO adtIseshis ndeiity and guar