The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1918-07-11

In all camps to cleaning up spots
where mosquitoes and flies breed. In
some cases it has been necessary to
dig channels in streams, drain swamps,
and put in elaborate ditching systems
TO clean up stagnant pools and streams.
In cases where 1t has been impossible
or impracticable to drain swamps and
do similar work, there has been in
stalled system for keeping slow-mov-
ing streams and still bodies of water
covered with oil. At all points within
the camp where there is the slightest
possibility of mosquitoes or flies breed
ing daily spraying of oil Is done.
Arrangements have been completed
with the federal public health service
territories adjacent to the camps. The
health service has agreed TO fill boys,
open streams, and drain swamps, and
continue the oil spraying for dis
lance of l mile around each camp.
Special precautions have been taken
to prevent the spread of diseases by
flies. Instructions were given on the
disposal of materials that were likely
to become breeding spots. Arrange
ments were made to protect all food
from flies. With this end in view, all
buildings in which food is prepared or
stored were screened. Entrances to
the buildings have been vestibuled.
An average of 5000 fiytraps have been
placed in each camp. More than o.
100000 square feet of screening has
been placed in all camps.
To assist In meeting the present
shortage in unskilled labor restrictions
have been temporarily removed on the
importation of Mexican labor to be
used in certain occupations. This step
supplements the order by which the
department of labor has arranged to
bring Porto Rican laborers into this
country for work on government con-
tracts. 1t is estimated that $4,000 is
lan3srs can be brought Ia while trans
portation Is available.
New regulations on the subject Of
Mexican labor contain rigid provisions
to prevent any attempt at exploitation
on the part of prospective employers.
Wage rates current for similar labor
In the localities in which the admitted
en- Is to be employed are assured.
as well as good housing and sanitation
conditions.
The Quartermaster's department is
now supplying gas-proof food contain
ers to the soldiers in the zone OF op-
erations In France. These containers
prevent seepage Of gas into the con-
tainers and guard against contamina-
ton of the food. The men carry their
emergency rations in the containers
and all food brought up to the
trenches is carried in the new tins.
After the food is packed in the con-
tainers they are Theoretically sealed.
It is planned to use paraffin for seal
ing. as it settles in the crevices In
such a way that it must be cut before
he lids can be taken off. 1t can be
applied by running the containers
through paraffin bath.
Because the supply Of tin is limited
and there may not be enough to sup
ply the needs of the army the quarter
masters department is experimenting
with the wax paper box. Tests made
how that these boxes meet all condi-
tons satisfactorily. The tins ana
boxes both are vermin and water
proof.
There are now AZ theaters, which
cost over 100000, in operation In
camps and environments throughout
the country. Nearly 100 vaudeville
acts have been brought from the large
circuits to play in these theaters only;
about so acts have been secured from
Chautauqua and lyceum bureaus; 80
comedy companies are playing In these
theaters exclusively. Some or these
are original New York companies.
playing the summer season only. win
expenses reduced about two-thirds.
The camps have been divided into
two circuits. In one the Liberty the-
alters seat 1900, In the other the
houses are smaller, having q capacity
of about 1000 each. 1t takes from IA
70 % weeks for a production to be
staged In each house of either circuit.
"Smileage" books, sold throughout
the country under the direction OF the
commission on training camp activi-
ties. contain coupons good for ad-
mission to all attractions In camp the
aters.
Forty-six societies representing %
nationalities of fOreign-born citizens
are planning monster celebrations. pa
geants. parades and speech-making in
the principal cities OF the united
States for July 4. Represented in the
groups are Armenians, Assyrians, Bel
gians, Chinese, CZecho-Slavs, Danes,
Dutch. Firms, French, French-Canadi-
ans, Germans, Greeks, Hungarians,
Italians, japanese, Lithuanians, Nor
wegians, Poles, Portuguese, Russians,
Roumanians, South Slavs. Swedes and
Swiss. In May these societies ap-
pealed to President Wilson TO issue
n proclamation calling upon all native
Americans to unite with the foreign
born in observing the national holi-
day, and plans for the many celebra-
tons developed after the proclamation
was issued.
Three temporary Office buildings,
providing working space for $3.50 per-
sons, have been built in ten weeks in
Washington, D. c., by the construction
division of the army, without the en-