The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean., 1917-10-11
rt. N#2f'
The Assembling 81 a
Great Army at Camp Dodge
Continued from last week..

Continued from last week.
It is estimated that it will require
100 cars Of food daily to supply the
men. Add to this the grain and for
age that will be required for the hors-
es and mules and some idea can be .he
Of the irnmensity of the undertaking.
All purchases of food will be made in
bulk through the quartermaster's de-
partment and doubtless it will devolve
upon the large commission houses to
furnish the supply required. These
firms will have to scour the country
for foodstuffs. This additional effort
in conjunction with thei1. regular trade
will draw heavily upon the food pro-
ducts of the central west.
Much Money and Many Workmen.
/ When the vast undertaking is COM
pleted it will have cost the govern
ment about five million dollars. Work
began about July 1st and since that
time the daily average of $500 men
has been employed. Of this number
1000 were carpenters. Since the be-
ginning Of the work the pay roll has
been about $25, 5000 day. It required
1000 cars of material and for the fur
nishing and equipment for the men it
required hundreds of cars additional.
All of the freight has been handled di-
rectly by by the Interurban line which
put in five miles of side-tracks to
make it possible to handle the busi-
ness. The freight business was all
handled after the workmen had been
taken away at the close of the day.
The Interurban company expended
$150,000 in additional preparation to
handle the business and is now plan
ming to double track the road leading
into Des Moines. In order to make it
possible to get to Camp Dodge at al
seasons Of the year the City Of Des
Moines is expending $1sO,O00 in paw
ing Beaver avenue and the board Of
supervisors of Polk county is planning
to expend $250,000 in completing the
paving from the city limits. to the
grounds, something like five miles.
No Labor Troubles.
Among so many men gathered from
all parts Of the country it would nat
urally be supposed that there are some
disturbers and agitators present, but
such is not the case. Everything
moved along without friction. The
men realize that this is no ordinary
job They are working for their coun-
try. The carpenters receive sixty-two
and one-half cents per hour, and II
hours constitutes a days work. This
makes $6.78.h per day. When they
work Sundays and holidays. they re-
ceive double wages or $13.75 per day.
Common, unslsilled labor receives $3.-
IS per day and teamsters $3.50. The
wort at the contonement stripped Des-
Moines of all available labor and this
resulted in tieing up most of the inn
provements contemplated early in the
season. Paving contractors have found
it impossible to get the help required
and the street car company failed to
carry out the terms of it's franchise
because of labor stringency. Govt
agents from the arsenal at Rock Is
land are here to offer work to every
available man who will be out of job
upon the completion of the work here.
Private contractors are also making
vigorous efforts to procure men.
Health and Morals. of Soldiers Safe
guarded.
The government takes great care of
its men. The first lesson given the re-
recruit when he makes his appearance
is how to take care Of himself. He is
taught the value Of personal cleanli-
ness. The shower bath is exhalted and
his personal appearance is given much
prominence. He is told how to eat.
A good many people think they know
this already, but the average soldier