The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-20
ROCKFORD CAMP
IS WONDER CITY
FIFTY MILES OF TRENCHES RE-
SEMBIE FRENCH FRONT IN
MOLE-LIKE ADVANCE.
THOUSANDS AT WORK
Thirty Buildings Must Be Completed
Daiiy-Eight Miles of Railroad Yards
are Maintained Construction Is
Divided Into Units-COncrete Roads

Rockford, ILL.,, July 2O-Fifty miles
OF trench work is under way at the
Illinois division cantonment site under
the direction of j. w. Alvord, hydrauli,
and sanitary engineer Of Chicago. a
government sanitation squad and Com
pany A, First Illinois Engineers. The
work resembling the French front in
its mole-skin like advance. will care for
water and sewer mains that go to make
up the army camp sanitation system
Hourly, under the hands of indus
trious thousands, a city half the size
Of Rockford is pushing forward to COW
er- the beautiful farm lands, that a few
days ago made up nineteen peaceful
country estates. Long. low frame build
ings are rising from the ground. Three
regimental units, sufficient to house as
many thousand men, have been COM
pleted since barrack construction be.
gan, July l. and as many more are talk
ing shape behind the army Of wo-kmeu
1000 strong who are shaping Uncle
Sans training city on the double quick.
An additional three thousand work
men will join the force as housing facll-
tiles are made for them in order to in
sure the building of fifteen hundred
camp structures before September /.
Thirty Buildings Daily.
f. P. Lenahan, in charge Of constrfc-
tion for the contracting company, estl-
mated that a schedule Of thirty com
pleted buildings a day will have to be
maintained when camp forces and work
swings to maximum proportions. Az
present the camp is a closely guarded
bee hive, webbed by eight miles Of rail.
road yards Five camp locomotives
shunt their long trains Of material cars
to the various unloading stations from
a. m. until late at night, automobile
and horsemen scurry through the maize
Of camp streets that have already been
laid out and great piles Of matched lum.
Der grow along the sidings only to melt
under the attack Of workmen.
Construction is divided into the unit
system. One company OF men advance
over the site to dig post holes for
building foundations at points desig
mated by engineers a second follows
close on their heels to set the posts.
a third erects the framework; a fourth
boards it up; a fifth stretches weather
proof material and finishes the inter
ior flooring and walls; a sixth roofs
the building and a rear guard equipped
with paint buckets finishes the job.
At present work on a mile long line OF
bunk houses and mess halls for work.
men is the feature. Stables are going
up, water tanks are climbing to give
fire protection and a network Of tele-
phone and telegraph wires are connect
ing the completed buildings. A branch
post office under the control OF Post
master w. II. Hefferan Of Rockford,
mas been established in camp and n
permanent branch employing fifteen
clerks win be installed before troors
arrive.
Organized for Gigantic Task.
The organization that makes the gi-
gantic task possible is briefly this: An
construction is rnder the direct charge
Of Contracting Quartermaster Major
Dwight II. Sawyer His military organ
izaton is made up Of a government field
auditor and force of fifty men who
check up on each inch Of material AMI
each minute Of labor that goes into
the work; two hundred men in Com
pany A. First Illinois Engineers in
command OF Captain c. c. Saner, who
make plans. survey, locate water
mains and meet other engineering prob
lens; a unit Of thirty-three heavy army
motor trucks manned by seasoned driv-
ers direct from the Mexican border and
under command OF Captain G.. w.
Schleiser and one United States SAINT.
tation squad. Under this organization
comes the rank and file of workmen
who are directed by Mr.. Lenahan and
his foremen.
Following a Chamber Of Commerce
campaign four miles Of new cement
road is crawling toward the camp 70
make up two excellent transportation
arteries and a new bridge has been Or.
Comfort stations and a recreation audi
torium 10 seat tiVe thousand people are
being constructed by the city and AL
preparations made to handle the s5,.
00O,Ve0 monthly business increase thas
authorities estimate will pour into Rock
ford with camp establishment.
Chief Of Police A. r. Bargen has COM
pleted his system to insure city morals
by the establishment Of ten.mile NOR
en- thirty additional men and police wo-
men to help the city clean for Illinois
boys in training The entire city has
entered into the moral and Development
drive and is enjoying the first fruits
OF a military boom unequaled in It's
history.
Kansas Let OFF Easy.