The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-21
CITY OFFICIALS WILL
CONFER At NOON TODAY
Active Campaigns OF Other Cities For
Mobilization Camp trouses Rich
mond to- Action.
PETERSBURG.
LYNCHBURG, CHASE CITY
All Arc Presenting Their Claims For
Consideration In Locating Proposed
Point of Troop Concemration-No
Immediate Decision.

With the possibility or Richmond
losing the state mobilization camp
looming larger. city officials yesterday
were stirred TO action. Mayor George
Ainslie calling a conference in his
Office for today at noon. at which the
president OF each branch Of the coun-
ell, members of the administrative
board. finance committee, and others
will be present 10 discuss the situa-
ton. Yesterday Mayor Ainslle. with
" T. Dabney, business manager of
he chamber 0. commerce. called on
he acknowledgement OF the state, who
advised his callers what could be re-
quired of Richmond If it would get
the camp.
Colonel 10 Lane Stern and Major
Allen Potts named by General Sale
TO investigate camp sites. yesterday
morning made trip TO Petersburg to
TOOK over the location offered by that
city. and they were very much pleas
eli with the grounds. The property
les near the crater famous as a scene
II battle during the Confederate war,
and in addition to being high rolling
ground well drained. has many other
sdvantages for camp site.
Containing 500 acres Of land, more
'han ample for the requirements %
ne state, the tract is on the railroad
anl car line. and has running through
4 the new concrete road connecting
Petersburg and Hopewell In addi-
ton. on the property is large build
.ag. which could he used for the stor-
age and handling OF equipment. q
AXE is on the ground, n stream and
nearby the Appomattox river. The
.ract is near enough 10 the city 10 be
Eh Will elaPfrir liphtS
and water. and except for the fact
hat it IL removed from the seat OF
government. II IS regarded as par
'icularly desirable site.
4 satisfactory Camp.
In Sherwood Park Richmond has
camp which has been made salts
factory to military officers. 1t does.
however lack the drainage that would
be desired, but the Virginia militia.
through constant effort, last year
made it one If the most sanitary,
camps that could he found. II ts
not unlikely that at the meeting to-
lay held in the Office Of the mayor
some plans will he made whereby
sherwood Park will he turned over
for the use of the military OF the
state. While Petersburg has much
10 recommend it as the location for
the camp lhS dd4iAI'i@ti RNi'A' NN"i'A
he handled with greater facility and
more economically II established
here This was shown during the ex-
istence OF Camp Stuart. and it may
weigh heavily In deciding the loca-
ton for the camp.
Major Wright. of Norfolk, yester"
aay notified Colonel stern that
subscription had been started among
the people of that city to raise s4o,-
600 TO cover the expense Of providing
a camp for the military Of the state.
Norfolk is especially anxious for the
Camp, and as soon as the 100000 is
assured. Colonel Stern and Major
POTTS will make trip TO the seaport
town TO look over the property offer
ed for the camp.
The chamber OF commerce OF
INnchburg last night wired Colonel
stern that Colonel Craighill and
Colonel Percy. of that city, officers OF
the First Virginia regiment, were
looking over sites in the vicinity of
and that they would
shortly send to Richmond a written
offer OF camp site to the state. 1t
is not the intention OF the state to
make any decision until the offers OF
the various cities have been investi-
gated.
1t Is understood that there Is no