The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-06-19
The Wriohtslown Camn

The work of surveying the large
} tract of land for the Wrightstown mill
tary cantonment is progressing rapidly,
and the large detailed maps being
made are expected to be completed in
about ten days. The map work is
being done on the second floor of the
store of John Smith, the postmaster at
Wrightstown. This large room is being
used also as temporary Office by the
military men who are in charge of the
preliminary work for the camp. Special
telegraph and telephone wires have
been run into the building for the use
of the officers.
1t is expected that in less than
month thousands of mechanics will be
on the ground, at work on the hercu-
lean task of erecting buildings, sewers,
water plant, roads, telegraph and tele-
phone systems and the many other
things necessary for completing early
in September, accommodations for
over 10000 men. A magic city is to
be established in about three months.
There will be about 1000 buildings
in the cantonment, of which many
will be two-story frame houses, each to
accommodate companies of $50 men.
A kitchen and mess hall will be in
each of these buildings. Then there
will be officers headquarters buildings,
hospitals, libraries, entertainment
halls, stables, power plants, etc. About
], 800 carloads Of lumber will be used
about 26,OO0,000 board feet. There will
be about 1000 carloads of other build
ing materials required for this gigantic
undertaking.
The sater supply is an important
item. A plant capable of producing
two million gallons per day isrequired.
Two sources of supply are available at
Wrightstown, both of which may be
used. One is artesian wells, by which
method a bountiful supply of pure
water may be obtained. The other is
by laying large pipes from the Rance
cas- creek at New Lisbon, distance of
about three miles, which will supply
the soft water so much desired when
obtainable. If creek water is used it
will be filtered through a sand fiItra-
ton plant to be erected at a pumping
station at the source of the water sup
ply.
The lighting system will be COM
plete and Of large proportions. The
Public Service Corporation is being
consulted relative to supplying the |
current from its large power plant at |
Trenton, which plants connected with |
similar ones at Burlington and Cam
den. If this plan is not feasible, an |
independent plant will be erected by
the government within the camp
grounds.
An adequate drainage and sewage
system will be provided. This will re-
quire the erection Of a large sewage
disposal plant. All kitchen and other
refuse will be incinerated.
Fifteen similar cantonments will be
gotten ready in the same period of
time in other parts of the United
States.
Many of the ablest construction en-
gineers and contractors in the United
States are at Washington to advise in
The planning and supervision OF pre-
pairing these cantonments for occu-
pancy. From these experts all details
are being obtained irelative to the best
sources of supply of materials and me-
Some Of the largestlcontract
'rs have volunteered to loan thousands
If workmen to the government for the
amp erection work.
1t is understood that all work at ;
ZACH camp will be done by some large
firm on percentage profit
oasis. All the labor saving devices i
Known in the construction world are to /
'e used in this work. 6
Erwin & Leighton, a Philadelphia
irm, has received the contract to do all |
he construction work at the Wrights-
own camp. They will sublet much OF
he work to subcontractors. Ii
Other cantopments will be located
It Aver, Mass; Yaphank, Long Island;
annapolis Junction, Nd; Petersburg, II
Va; Atlanta, Ga; Columbus, S. c.; |,
Jhillicothe, o.; Louisville, KY; Battle 7
Creek, Mich; Little Rock, Ark; Rock
ord, ILL.,; Des Moines, Iowa; Fort ]
Riley, Kan; Fort Sam Houston, Tex; {
American Lake, Wash.
The construction work at each of the
amps will cost approximately $4,000,
The Pennsylvania Railroad Com
ANY has gang of about 300 men at S
work running a siding from Lewistown
o Wrightstown, and laying 100 ID. :
ais. A new station will be built be-
ween the two places. Sidings will be
un from the main track into the camp I
grounds. Notices are posted at differ |
ent points in the neighborhood of the 4,
ANN calling for 500 lahorars