Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-28
VIRGINIA EXPECTS TO GET
ONE OF environments
Thirty-TwO Cities to BE Built for
Troops Drawn in Sciec-
tive Draft.
CAMP SITE MAY BE PERMANENT
Suggested That Department May
Use Petersburg Camp for Draft
. Army After National Guard Has
Been Moved Elsewhere.

Announcement that Virginia will get
one Of the thirty-two environments for
the army to be raised by selcctive
draft is expected within the next few
days. Just where the camp will he
located is a matter of speculation. but
it is known that several sites arc
under consideration. This camp will
be separate and distinct from the State
mobilization camp at Petersburg. al
though tho same grounds may be used
after the National Guard units are dis
patched to the concentration point Sc
lcctcd for the division to which the
Virginians have been assigned.
Each of the camps for the training
Of the draft forces will be scmiperma-
nent affairs. Half n dozen Of the sites
considerable space is needed for the
training OF the thousands who "ill be
brought into the camps. the matte is
one that requires considerable. atten-
ton. railroad and other requisite
facilities are dimcult to find where
there is a sufficient area OF ground
suitable for the purposes to which it
will he put.
Each Of the camps will be fitted up
for approximately 10000 men. All will
be built on the same pattern. the
Standardization of build;nga making
the construction Of the camps n more
simple matter. The buildings will be
constructed with the view OF getting
maximum OF air. sunshine. comfort
and convenience in barracks that must
necessarily he compact and erected i'll
4 hurry.
STANDARD PLANS FOR
BARRACKS ADOPTED
the standard barracks for the camps
the unit will! be two-storied white
pine structure. 43 by 40 feet. with an
entrance in the middle and hall
twenty fee, wide. a mess nall and
kitchen viii he in an annex. Each
barrack will have six dormitories. five
Of which will contain thirty-two SOL
diers each, and the sixth forty SOL
diers. Double-deckcd beds. three feet
wide. will be provided for the men
Haif of the wall space in each room
will be window glass.
The camps will be about two miles
long and one-half mile wide. Each
will have more than $50 buildings. 1t
is planned to have the buildings far
enough apart to permit the planting
Of trees and grass after the first year
although il is hardly possible that
much thought will be given TO orna-
mentation this fall when the first in
crement is called out
Army officers have inspected several
large pieces Of property in Eirgni
with the View OF locating one OF the
camps in this State. In event one is
located here, men from New Jersey
District OF Columbia, Delaware and
Maryland will be trained in it.
Petersburg has already been selected
as a mobilization camp site. and IL is
expected that work will begin on the
grounds there within a few weeks al
though the Virginia National Guard
Will not be ordered out until July %.
II the acreage is sufficient at the Pc
tersburg site. 1t is probable that the
camp will be used for the selectlve
draft army quota after the guardsmen
are sent TO the concentration camp in
The Southeastern Department