Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-30
.G0VERN0R L. WOULD |. SEND
f. CAMP.LE men TO FAIR
Visits Cantonment and Confers with
General Cronkhite Over Project.
Negotiations Under Way.
TURNPIKE NEEDS IMPROVING
Executive. Sees Road at It's Worst
and Notes Bad Features-Better
Railroad Service Necessary Be
j tween Camp and Richmond.
TURNPIKE NEEDS IMPROVING
rFrom a Stan correspondent.I J

lrroM Stan tCorreSpondent.J
CAMP LEE. VA. September 2s.-vis-
itors to the Virginia State Fair. to be
held IN Richmond the second week in
October. Will have tho opportunity OF
| seeing enlisted men of tho Eighteenth
Division OF tho National Army Mt the
annual exhibition, II plans of General
Cronkhite, commanding tho division,
which have been Endorsed by Governor
Stuart. are carried out. Tho command
ing officer stated to-day that ncEo-
ustions were under way which perhaps
would lead to the isending OF at least
a battalion OF the men in training here
. ess ~ sssssi sss sssi wa Il sissss i N.
cantonment to-day, and called on Com
az xsksbH q d fpsSf sonaf OH TRIP, aid while
herAa tho matter was brought to hia
attention. He heartily commended the
idea aAd agreed to use his influence and
Efforts In making It! possible for the
Virginia people to see what has been
accomplished with tho men from this
State. as we'll as those from other Com
monwealths,s who have been put
through a month eof military instruc-
tior.. = : So = * s. ;.
The, plan; as yet is merely suEges-
ton. And has been brought to the at
tention. OF the Virginia State Fair As
sociation. If. that organization will
finance tho project. 1t will be possible
for battalion OF the best drilled men
in the camp to make a visit to the
fair, where they will be able to givo
an exhibition drill for the benefit, of the
people there, and at the same time be
able 20 meet many Of their relatives
and friends. There Is no fund avail
abletat the disposal of General Cronk-
hite to cover the expenses OF tho trip.
and, II 1t Is to be made. the entire cost
must necessarily be paid by the fair
association,
It has been pointed out that the
presence OF tho National Army men at
the fair would prove drawing card
for the exhibition and bring much ad-
dItIonal attendance to the grounds 1t
would serve further to show the fruits
of the training that the men have re-
ceived while they have been at the
camp, and thus give an idea to the
people of tho State OF Just what is
being done here for the men.
CONTESTS WILL DECIDE
MEN TO Make TIE TRIP
Everything depends on whether the
fair association agrees to stand the
expense or, some fund is raised pub
licly. Governor Stuart. while at the
cantonment to-day. declared the idea
of sending the men to Richmond to be
an excellent one, and he said that he
would lend HIS efforts to bring 1t
about.
If 1t is arranged to send the men
to the fair. a battalion composed of
the best drilled troops in the camp
will be selected, and contest will
be held here for the purpose Of pick
Ing the companies. All of the men
naturally will desire to mako the trip
to the capital city, and there probably
will develop a beneficial rivalry among
the commands. Every man will work
to the limit to assure the selection
of his company. and a general ad-
vancement OF the military status Of tho
men consequently Will result.
Governor Stuart took the occasion
Of his trip to tho cantonment to OBJ
servo the Petersburg Turnpike, and
he stated that it should be put into
proper condition at once. Tho high
way is much worse now than 1t has
been. and II communication between
Richmond and Petersburg 10 to be
made easy this road will have to be
reconstructed at the earliest time pos
sible.
1t was pointed out to-day that at
present there is no through train SER
vice from Camp Lee to Richmond,
and this Is regarded as necessity by
those who are looking after the rec
reation for the selected mon IN the
camp. AS has been pointed out, thou.
sands Of these men will go to Rich.
mond weekly. and their only means
OF getting there now Is by automobiie
service from the camp TO Petersburg
and then by trolley or steam cars to
Richmond. In short tims the trolley
(continued on Fourth Pass.)