The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-11-13
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1917
Construction at Camp Dix

Construction at Camp Dix
Fortified with many complaints that
have come to him about the deplorable
conditions existing at Camp Dix,
Wrghtstown, Congressman Bacharach
has taken the matter up with the sec
ertary of war, with view to having
these conditions remedied at the earl
lest possible moment. Mr.. Baker was
pleased to have Mr.. Bacharach's re-
port on the conditions at the camp,
and he has promised to give the mat
ter immediate attention
Mr.. Bacharach stated to the secre-
tary of war that he had had numerous
complaints from the parents and rela-
tives of the boys now at Camp Dix,
with reference to the delay on the
part of the contractors in completing
the living quarters as to make them
habitable during the cold weather.
The contracts for building these
environments called for the buildings
to be ready for the soldiers by Sep
tember 1st, but the work at the pres
ent time is so far behind that at the
time Mr.. Bacharach first took the
matter up with the war department,
about two weeks ago, there was NO
heat installed in the living quarters
and during the severe rain storm
which visited the camp at that time
the roofs of the barracks leaked to
such an extent as to make their quar-
tiers almost unbearable.
Because of the failure of the con.
tractors to complete the buildings al
Camp Dix, the remainder of the boys
from New Jersey called out in the frs
draft are still at their homes, not
withstanding the fact that they hav,
been obliged to give up their employ
ment, with the result that many O.
them are feeling the financial drain
because of their enforced idleness, TO
they are obliged to maintain them
selves at their own expense until the
enter the camps, and this condition il
having a bad effect upon the moral,
of these drafted men.
Mr.. Bacharach, in commentdg upol
the conditions sxieef29 ~ Camp DIX
slated tfAe NAsp o was 6sst dses1@
aned that q training camp would be 10
Gated there, several local contractor
eRdeavored to secure the contract fol
the work, and they were aided in theil
efforts to the fullest extent of his abil
ity. Contracts were awarded through
the Council of National Defense, wht
stated that in considering the award
ing of contracts for the erection o.
these environments, the selections wert
made from list of accredited con
tractors Chased upon the confidential
QUESTIONABLE addressed to the leading
architects and engineers of the coun
try) after very careful NATIONWIDE,
canvas Of the situation by the com
mittee having the work in charge. Mr.
Bacharach believed that there wer,
many contractors in the state of New
Jersey who were in every way equip
ped, both as to finances and the nee
essary machinery, to do the work a;
well and as promptly as any contrac
tor from outside of the state and h,
insisted that the contract should b,
awarded to one of the local firms, a:
they were familiar with the local sit
uation, the labor market and sucl
other conditions as enter into the con
sideration of so large a proposition
The committees final decision was t,
the effect that "there is no reason
why contract should not have beef
given to a contractor in the state
provided that there had been one VIII,
was available; in all cases, the mos
serious attention has been given t,
the question of local interest, Blu
when the problem is involved of an ex
penditure of some three million dol
lars in the approximate time of tire,
months, it would be exceedingly un
wise to favor local contractor at tn,
sacrifice of the experience gained b,
an outside firm who had been accus
TONED to the building of big oper
ations."
The war department concurring il
the suggestions of the Committee OF
Emergency Construction of the Coun
Gil Of National Defense, the contrac
for the Wrightstown camp was award
ed to firm of Philadelphia contrac
tors, and so far as it has been determ
med, the experience of these contrac
tors was principally in the erection O
hotels, bank buildings and other SKY
scrapers" in large cities, a line O
work entirely foreign to that met witt
In the rough construction work of
cantonment, all of which was pointe,
out to the committee at the time tn
cantract was under consideration.
As a result of the experience game,
by the contractors who were aWarde,
the job, the work at Camp Dix is ia
from completed, almost two month
after the time in which the camp wa
to have been completed and ready fo
the reception of all the soldiers Gale,
out in the first draft, while the build
ings that have been completed ar
without heat and other accessories an,
the work that has been done is s,
crude in workmanship that in in
clement weather the occupants ar,
subjected to the rigors of the ele
ments.
Mr.. Bacharach stated that he full,
realized what an enormous task con
fronted the war department in tn,
present emergency, and that his crit
cism is not intended for that depart.
ment, but he hoped that the matter
would be given strenuous attention By
the secretary of war, and that he will
see to 1T that the contractors in charge
OF the work make every effort to speed
up the army of mechanics under Their
direction so that the job will be com.
pleted and the accommodations for the
boys put in such condition as to make
them as comfortable as it is possible
to make them.
The Congressman has made num-
Der of visits to the camp at Wrights-
town SO that he might investigate con-
ditions for himself, and he shall be
glad to hear from fha relatives and
families of those who have boys in
camp at any time.
Nothing is too good for those SOL
der boys, and the congress of the
United States is determined to back
them up, not only at the front, but in
the camps while training, to the full
est extent possible"-is the way Mr..
Bacharach sums up his opinion of the
consideration which should be given to
the soldier boys now in training.
A Year of Cheer