Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-30
PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMISSION
MAKES REPORT
Some Camp Conditions Are
Commended and Some
Are Condemned.
Declares Useless Sickness at
Camp Pike Can be
Reduced.

st. Paul. Mimi. Jan. 30.-The Min
nesota state public safety onn
sion's committee sent to investigate
conditions in training camps at which
soldiers from this state are in train
ing found some things to condemn
and some to commend. In a report
submitted today by the committee,
conditions at Camp Cody, Deming. N.
NJ. occupy the largest space. as it
was concerning Camp Cody that n
men that resulted in determination to
make an investigation.
At Camp Cody, hospital conditions
failed to meet the approval OF the
! Minnesota investigators: the dust was
found a, serious fault: the social atti-
tude of some officers criticised: the
class of officers and physicians found
high: the food good.
Compared to the other camps visit
ed-kearney, Winfield Scott. Lewis,
Pike. jefferson Barracks N Dodge
the report says the authorities at
Dcming have neglected the hospital
and equipment. Because the physi-
clans are engaged in administrative
duties in addition to their regular
number Of sick is not as large as
would be the case were the doctors
to devote their time solely to the hos
pital work, the report says. There is
a great need of more graduate nurses
at the camp
Deficient Sewerage.
The Cody hospital was found def
cient as to sewerage II plumbing.
including baths, but there was little
complaint from Minnesota men as to
their diet and their treatment in the
hospital. Figures were adduced to
show that the total lumber of deaths
from all causes since the camp OPEN
ed was SO, a ratio of eight per thou
sand per year., there being 24,S67 men
i'll the camp.
Subsistence was very adequate. the
report finds No complaints were made
as to the meals in the mess house at
Cody, the men. for the most part hav-
ing sufficient uniforms and Is per cent
of them were furnished with rifles and
other equipment. The Minnesota ar
tillery men have heen provided with
sufficient field artillery equipment.
While commencing the command
sofa committee found that certain Of
icers at Cody were "Manifesting 4
spirit of eXclusiveness which tended
to create a, dissatisfied feeling on the
part of those in the ranks"
Such attitude on the part Of Off
GERS should be eliminated" the com
mittee thinks. This is 4. poor time
loi SIlo"ltS huIOCI dLII SklIIL.
Climate Effective.
Comparing the different localities,
the report says it is apparent that
contagious disease conditions are
found in about the samc proportion
in each. when, however, one consid-
crs that such serious illness as pneu-
monia, acute otitis, inf1alnmatory
rheumatism and erySipelas, the O
p~arison between the camps of the Pa
cific slope and Camp Cody, Camt
Pike and Camp Dodge, make it APP
pear that climatic and other condi-
tons have some effect in causing these
particular Diseases" the report says
At Camp Pike the number of pneu-
monia cases was larger by far h al
any other camp. Their are three times
as many cases of pneumonia at Camp
Cody as at any of the sites on the
Pacific coast. the committee finds.
Some complaint as to climatic con-
ditions were heard at all camps ex-
cept Camp kearney, At Deming it was
dust; at Scott. fOgs: at Lewis. rain
at Pike, slush, at Dodge, snow and
cold.
\ Should Have Best.
Winding up it's report. the commit
tee says: Our soldiers who are will.
ing to make the supreme sacrifice are
entitled to the best location that car
uc ONIlu IL IcluSG W SCIeCL ~ proper
and healthy site for their training o,
to fail to keep the established camps
in a sanitary condition would be Grim.
inal negligence meriting the severes,
punishment possible"
1t then recommends that unles:
sickness at Camp Pike can be reduced
and unless something can be done a
Camp Cody to eliminate the dust b,
the adequate oiling of all the streets
and open ground or relieve in som,
other way the serious conditions re-
ferred to, the Troops should he NOV
cd from those places to Camp Kear
ney," where there are ample facili
ties for locating Il new camp:
The report is signed by C;overnol
Burnquist, Charles II. March OF n,
commission, Attorney. General Lyn
don Smith, Adjutant General Rhi
neOW AND DR.. O. w. Holcamh of St