The diamond drill., 1917-09-08
VISIT TO "CAMP GRANT,
HAlF NAY SPENT At the BIG CANT0kMEkT
GAVE SOME IDEA OF THE IMMENSE
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR
Government Is Spending Millions On Sixteen
Big Camps In Which To Train The
National Army
tBy Thomas conlin)

tBy Thomas COnllnJ
Although the United States has been at war
for six months the fact is little realized yet
throughout the nation. In such out-of-the-way
places as the upper peninsula, about the only
contact the people have with the preparations
that are being made is when some Of our young
men march away TO join the colors, and even
that manifestation isn't strong enough to bring
home TO one the seriousness Of the affair or the
extent OF the preparations that are bing made
Cor this war If all Of people could see this
thing as 1t is there would be more serious coun-
tenances in the county today than there are.
The writer had an opportunity week ago to
visit Camp Grant at Rockford Illinois. AS /
gazed over that vast of buildings, watched
the seven thousand workmen swarm about the
construction like nnumerable bees saw the big
excayators at work digging trenches for the
water and sewer systems and watched the road
rollers, the concrete mixers and other machines
lay pavement, the enormity of the task which
Uncle Sam has undertaken was brought home
TO me as never before After getting panor-
annie view of this enormous undertakings be-
fore me closed my eyes, multiplied the under
taking by sixteen and tried as best my limited
understanding would admit to conceive of the
combined enormity Of the undertaking If all OF
the cantonments that are being prepared for the
reception and training of our National Army
were presented in view II was beyond my
comprehension,
Add to these sixteen cantonments the big
naval training camps such as the Great Lakes
camp. the additions that are being made at the
established forts and the extent OF this prepara
tion for war gets far beyond one's compre-
hension that there is simply no trying to
master It.
Three Miles OF Buildings.
TO get an idea Of the extent of this great camp
imagine concrete road extending from the Cd
gers mine to Fortune Lake, a distance little
over three miles Eliminate the hills that lie
along the way and bring the country down to
gentle .soping rise, draining towards Briar
Hill creek 10 the north Then mark OF tract
on each side OF the road trihe over half
mile. Fill that tract full OF buildings ranged
along streets running the tract like
on a checker board and one will have some idea
Of the extent Of the enclosure called Camp
Grant
Not all OF the buildings that contemplat-
ed for this camp standing when / visited
II. The big block of barns intended to house
the many horses had not been started and then
there are the power plants and different service
buildings that will be erected at leisure after
the big work is completed
War and Husbandry Neighbors.
SO rapidly has this building program been
carried out that the buildings in some places
stand beside the fields OF corn that workmen
have not had time yet to cut down The tract
chosen for the site OF Camp Grant is made up
OF number of rich farms that were planted
TO the different kinds of farm crops by their
owners last spring Corn stood several feet
tlto
operations and Of the first items of work
lwas to cut down and cart away this halfmatur
ed corn crop to allow the contractors to
start the work of sewers and water works
Along the south side OF the entire tract ex-
tends the long sidngs lined with cars of lum-
her supplies. machinery and other articles no
cessary to keep the work going The Miwau-
kee road originally tapped this section but
when the government bought up the farms that
comprise the tract. interchange arrangements
were made 50 that all railroads entering Rock
ford have access TO the camp either directly or
through. switching arrangements
First Impressions of the Visitor.
AS drove out 10 the camp wondered what
would be my first impressions Of the scene that
4 Sas,A about TO behold thought. figuring from
what had been told OF the place. that the mag.
ntude OF the building operations would be the
most striking. but Il was not and perhaps this is
due TO the fact that only a portion of the camp
comes into view AT one time. on approaching the
location from the city
The thing that struck me most was the hur-
iy-burly apparent all sides First there was
tie concrete roadway which. by-thc-way. IS
sixteen feet wide and an excellent thorough
fare jammed with vehicles Of all kinds. mostly
autos and trucks. Sightseers were there IN
Jbhndance and the trafnc about as congested
H. Il Is IN some Of the business streets Of Chi
cago.
The difference was that there was a sort of go-ae.