Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-15
WINS
FIGHT FOR GREAT
WAR CANTONMENT
Secretary Baker Recon-
siders Decision Against s
Virginia City.
ONE OF SIXTEEN SITES
FOR TRAINING NEW ARMY
From 10000 to 10000 Men Will
Learn Rudiments of Fight
ing There.
MEANS SPENDING OF MILLIONS
Will Require Force Of 10000 Work.
men to Clear Grounds and
Build Camp.
ONE OF SIXTEEN SITES
FOR TRAINING NEW ARMY
MEANS SPENDING OF MILLIONS
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.1

Especial to The Times Dspatch.1
WASHINGTON. June 14.-Secretary
of War Baker this afternoon announced
that upon reconsideration. he had again
approved of Petersburg, Va. as the site
of one OF the sixteen national army
cantonments. confirming the forecast in
Tho Times-Dispatch this morning.
At the same time. the secretary
stated that he had approved Annapolis
Junction or Admiral. Md, as the site
for another OF the cantonments. bear
ing out repeated statements to the ef-
feet that Virginia and Maryland were
not. In fact. competing for an cncamp-
ment. but that both were favorably
considered
To-day's announcement from the SEQ.
retary with regard to Petersburg con-
cludes a campaign of more than q
month for the location OF camp At
that point Last Saturday the formal
announcement came of Petersburg's So
lection. On Monday an order was is
sued revokinE the designation. upon
tho ground that the Du Points, at Hope
we'll. had protested.
This resulted in a vigorous renewal
OF the fight, which was carried by =
| Petersburg committee re-enforced by
Senators Martin and Swanson. and Rep
to Secretary Baker. The latter sum-
moncd General Bell to Washington to-
day and. following a conference be-
| tween them, Petersburg again was Sc
lected for camp site.
FROM 10000 TO 10000 MEN
TO BE TRAINED AT PETERSBURG
From 10000 to $4,000 men will be
trained at Petersburg. This means
that by September l there will grow
up in the heart of the State a new
city greater in population than any In
Virginia except Richmond and Norfolk.
1t means that millions OF dollars
month will be expended in the markets
Of the State. and that hundreds OF
thousands more will be left there by
the officers and men.
How long the camp is to remain ia
a question that cannot now be an
swered. Certainly it will remain for
the period of the war. 1t will be used
to train divisions OF each OF the In
crements of $4,000 men which the
President is authorized to call to the
colors. This means that the camp
will be occupied for at least one year.
And il the training of further incre-
ments becomes necessary the Peters,
burg plant will be available for that
purpose as we'll.
Meantime. the cantonment must be
built. Perhaps 10000 men will be re.
quired to clear tho site, lay out the
streets. lay water and sewerage sys-
tens. install lighting facilities and to
erect the barracks. Several millions
OF dollars will be expended by the gov
ernment upon the encampment after
the State has done it's part.
CONTRACTS TO BE LET ON
COST-PLUS-PRoTITS BASIS
All contracts will be let upon a
cost -plus-profits basis. Seven per cent
profit will be allowed all contracts.
! This covers overhead costs and con-
tractors compensation. 1t has been
estimated by the Quartermaster's de-
partmcnt of the army. under which
the cantonments will be built that
1000 cars of materials will be needed
for each camp. In all. 26.o00,ooo feet
OF lumber. or l.325 carloads, will be
required. and an almost infinite amount
OF other materials, such as roofing,
plumbing. spikes. rails refrigerators,
hunks. mattresses. tanks, heaters.
ranges. piping and electrical material.
The area OF the Petersburg encamp-
ment will be at least 1000 acres for
the cantonment itself. and perhaps
10000 to $4,000 additional acres for
rife ranges. trench training and for
divisional maneuverinE. The War
Department has officially stated that
the area for maneuvering will not
mean the desolation Of the land from
a crop standpoint. Most OF the crops
will have been harvested before the
overland marches and general maneu-
vers begin this fall.
The Petersburg cantonment will
contain not less than 1000 buildings,
tho typical company barracks being
\ two-story structure, built OF wooden
frame. Each will be we'll ventilated
lighted by electricity. heated by stoves,
and perhaps steam. Each will have
mess hall and it's own kitchen.
This. in brief. is the character OF
tho new city soon to rise midway be-
tween Petersburg and Hopewell It
probably will be the training grounds
of the Fifth National Army Division.
which includes the troops OF Virginia
The question OF dsposing Of tho divi-
sion under his command. however il
up to General Bell. He may send the
Fifth to Annapolis Junction and one
OF the New York or Pennsylvania diyi.
sions TO Petersburg. Upon this point
the War Department had no informa,
tion to-day. 3