Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-06
Total PAID OUT
FOR CAMP DODGE
NOW $780,
Engineers Estimate Final Amount
WIN BE Slightly Above That
Figure When Complete.
WILL SPEND 100000 NOR
Original Appropriation Of the War
Department Is Five and
Quarter Millions.
Especial 10 the Argus.

Camp Dodge, Nov. 6.-The total
cost OF building Uncle SANS training
camp for the Elghty-eighth division
Of the national army at Camp Dodge
will be more than five and one-half
million dollars.
This was the estimate Of govern
ment engineers yesterday, OF this
amount s5,420000 was reported spent,
Oct. 81. II Is estimated less than
5000 900 more viii be needed 10 com
plete the army camp 81 which men
Df Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota and
part OF Illinois viii receive their pre-
limlnary training for service on the
bgttle front In France.
The original appropriation OF the
war department was five and one
quarter million dollars This has been
Increased from time 10 time until the
total appropriation now stands at 95,-
100000 1t is believed tho total cost
will bo less than this amount
Almost Completed,
Government engineers have only
the highest praise for the work OF
the Charles Weitz Sons company
which swung the big contract and has
carried out the government plans for
the building OF the cantonment.
With the construction work nearly
completed it is probable the entire
camp will be turned over to the camp
uuartermaster within the next IL
DAYS.
The cantonment at Camp Dodge il
ia said by government officials, was
built at as reasonable d cost as ans
of the l6 big army camps at which ma
tional army men are training.
Actual work was started July /
but lack OF material held up progress
until about Aug. /. when every mar
who applied at the employment bu-
reau was put to work.
II is estimated about "a 100000 feet
pf lumber has been used,
Much Paid for Labor.
In reference to the construction If
In estimated the cost OF labor has
been St.05 to every dollars worth OF
material used.
The maximum profits allowed con
tractors by the government was $3.50
zoe FROM this amount overhead eX
penscs in conducting the work wer,
to be paid. The contract called for ;
sliding scale Of profit ranging from
per cent down
The transfer Of Major NJ. A. But
Ter, constructing quartermaster o
the cantonment az Camp Dodge Il
some point in the east and probabl!
France soon, was learned from au
khentic sources yesterday.
A. O. Leach. supervising engineer
and dozen other engineers who have
aided in the supervision Of the con
struction work probably will also &
Mst.
Mr.. Leach recently returned from
Washington where he conferred witt
var department officials.
Are Railroad Men.
The probability that these men viii
pee service in France is supported b.
the fact that they practically all wer
Ia the employ OF the Great Northern
railroad before accepting positions a
Camp Dodge.
Major Butler was chief engineer 70
she Twin City Belt Line company IAN
formerly with the Great Northern an
MIR. Leach was valuation engineer 70
he Hin road.
1t is known that capable men ar
wanted for railroad service in Franc
and that the war department alread
has placed orders for several thou
sand locomotives and a special typ
% be used by the American forces am
n conjunction with French rolln
stock.