The Washington herald., 1918-06-30

coo officers and civilians was built
up. which included in its number the
ablest construction engineers, pur-
chasing agents. and other building
construction experts.
A form of contract was prepared
by the emergency building committee
of the Council of National Defense.
1t was the aim of the council to
avoid England's adverse experience.
to utilize live and well-establlshed or
CARNATIONS. rather than build up,
new, and that a system should be
adopted for contracting and COM
pensating construction work and
services. such as would not cripple
or destroy existing organizations. fol-
lowing the suggestion of Mr.. B8lfour.
To obtain the most competent and
responsible contractors, inquiries
were sent to the leading architectural
firms, engineers OF government naval
stations, engineers of the leading
railway lines, and a selected list of
the members of American Society of
Civil Engineers, for recommendation,
and in addition the committee used
every other available means of OBJ
tanning information that would assist
them in selecting contractors.
Anu Will at WIS as TO Ine
| amount of work the government could
require. 1t was a reimbursement
contract. with compensation to the
contractors on a cost plus basis, the
maximum fee being per cent il the
cost ofthe cantonment exceeded
$4,000, and in all events, no fee
should exceed $50. co.
None of the environments cost less
than A,5ao.oo0 and in some instances.
owing to locations. the inadequacy
or facilities, clearing. building of
roads, supplying of water and doing
the work Of putting the site in habi-
table shape. the cost ran over $780,
QUO. In such cases. the compensa-
ton to the contractor ran less than
per cent. Out of this fee, the con-
tractor had to pay his entire over
head expenses and interest charges
on money invested. As payrolls and
purchases often exceeded $500. 900
per week, 1t will be seen that the
investment required before reimburs-
| ments could be made, was no in
considerable item.
The Cost Plus Contract.
The form OF contract adopted
was the only one possible at the
time, when the variety and the ex-
tent of the work was indefinite,
and even the plans and general
character Of the buildings were not
finally determined. The wooden
building idea was the development
or several years experience, and
particularly the result of the Next
can service.
The life Of tentage had proved
to be three or four months, requir-
ing three sets of tents yearly, at
a cost Of S12.50 per man. More du-
rability and more, adequate protec-
ton and facilities made 1t impera-
tive that the old tentage idea be
abandoned and the wood construc-
ton adopted.
Building plans were formulated
by a board of eminent architects,
In the North the design was for
double construction and tar paper.
In the South. a lighter construction.
Cantonment sites ranging from 1000
70 S.ooO acres, were selected by a
board Of army officers, under the
direction Of the department COM
manders. The sites were laid out
upon the principle Of city blocks
and streets. and arranged SO that
tactical units could be kept to-
gether with locations named and
numbered.
Contractors were selected and
contracts let for the sixteen can
comments between the dates of June
II and June %. In addition to
these. contracts were let for two
emparkation cantonments and six
teen National Guard camps. At the
National Guard camps, tentare
quarters for the men were provided,
but wooden storehouses, kitchens.
mess shelters, lavatories and shower
baths, base hospitals and remount
depots complete were built. and
water, sewerage, heating and light
ing systems installed at a total cost
Of approximately s1.50o.ooo each.
A Typical One.
A typical cantonment city viii
house 10000 men. Each barrack
] building will house $50 men and