Evening star., 1917-09-05
All Sorts of Charges Made.

Much has been written and said about
the methods followed by the War De-
partment is constructing the canton
ments- Almost every kind OF charges
have been whispered about Washing
ton by that little group Of professional
gossips who infest hotel lobbies and the
corridors OF Congress. The most pre-
posterous stories have been told about
the prices which Uncle Sam is paying
for the labor aid material Used on the
new cities.
General incompetency and secret dis
honesty have been charged repeatedly
by the group of disappointed contract
ors and their local agents. Little by
little this gossip has gone out into the
country. In some instances 1t has
borne the earmarks of reliability. The
War Department has received many
letters from persons who We're as
founded and disturbed by the "infor-
nation" which they received from some
person who was on the inside at Wash
tngton.'
An investigation has been made of
scores of these whispered allegations
and it has been found that they are
grcundless The investigation shows
Instances. and in other cases that the
construction was held up because the
War Department had not prepared long
IN advance for the contingency.
In justice to the officers responsible
for the work it should be noted that
these delays and mistakes would have
been impossible if Congress had follow
ed the departments advice and granted
the appropriations needed to prepare
plans to meet such situation.
Compared to Digging Canal.
Putting aside the small errors and
viewing the problem in its entirety. am
pie evidences will be found to show that
the work done by the War Departmen Mt
In completing the cantonments can be
NJ rad y-f n
carried on by the federal government
during the last half century except the
building of the Panama canal This
statement represents the view of men
of large affairs. construction engineers
and fnanciers. who have watched the
progress made in the cantonment con-
struction.
Soon after the United States entered
the war in April Col. Isaac LitteN. in
charge OF the division of construction
and repair of the quartermaster divi-
sion. was called into Mr.. Bakers office
and instructed TO prepare to build
sir e sites. in the most available locali-
ties. to house 100000 drafted men.
Col Littell's force al that time con-
sisted of himself. Capt Richard Mar
shall, jr-, and three clerks. His assets
consisted of several sets of blue prints
presenting model barracks and the will
ingness of Secretary Baker to help in
every possible way. On the same day
GERS throughout the country to pick the
sites.
New Plans Quickly Drawn.
The instructions which the boards
had We're 80 pick sites that were
healthful and offered the best availa Bile
transportation facilities Col I.ittell
and Capt. Marshall Immediately took
the dustcovered blue prints from the
Shelves and used the barracks de-
ecribed in them as the basis for cities
The old plans provided for one-story
cantonments. Cpl. Littell decided that
many ADVANTAGES could be added by
making the buildings two stories New
plans Were quickly turned out and were
presented to the Medical Corps for ap-
proyal. Mai. Gen. GOrgas decided II at
modern sanitation demanded more Gu
bic space per man than that provided in
the old plans. ReviStonS were made
There was a general enlargement
Before the plans were Thoroughly fin
1shed the War Department boards re-
ported on the sites. Then the po!ftf-
clans made rush for the War Depart-
ment Certain groups Of senators and
Representatives were besieeed bv con
stituents to G@t 4 cantonneut for their
sections. Pictures Of fabulous wealth
were painted for those communities
lucky enough TO get 10000 soldiers as
temporary neiEhbors
The political attack did not phase
Secretary Baker. Some slight changes
were made in certain Of the original
seiections. but principally because
boards Of review decided that the sites
selected did not promise proper sanf-
tary conditions