Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-12-12

whom the idea of combining two great
conservation projects. the conservation
Of Wisconsin men and of Wisconsin
forests, originated. 1t is but one Of his
many contributions to the constructive
program which has made Wisconsin q
leader among the states along many
lines of work. The original idea.
which grew out OF Mr. Hutchins' inter
est and active participation in the
anti-tuberculosis movement In the
state from the time of it's inception to
his death. was to employ men con-
valescing from tuberculosis or in
danger of breaking down with it to
take care of nursery stock for replac-
ing pine trees which had been or would
be cut down to meet the demands Of
industry and commerce.
How the Men Are Hardened.
The abandonment of the states re-
forestration program changed the nat
ure of the camps hardening process
but not the basic idea, which is to sup
ply graded system of outdoor work
for the building up Of physical
strength. Each newcomer at the camp
starts his training with an hours work
a day and this schedule is continued
usually for month The time is in
creased gradually month by month
until the man is able to work seven or
eight hours a day without rise in
temperature or some other warning
sign that he is OVERRIDING. The work
is all done under the supervision of
Mr.. Reich, who works with the men as
one of the gang and who keeps daily
record of each mans physical condi-
ton. The forest around the camp is
virgin forest and camp life, in spite Of
modern conyeniences in the buildings,
has much of the flavor Of pioneering.
This was especially true in the first
years of the camps existence
And then the joy Of the life out in
the open-for it is not all work and
rest at Tomahawk Lake. The camp
lies right in the heart of one of the
most beautiful and popular summer
resort regions in the state, and there
are picnics and fishing parties, hunt
ing, shooting and tobogganing in
abundance.
The social life Of the camp centers
largely around Mrs. Reich, the loyal
partner who has stood steadfastly by
her husband all through his own fight
for life, through the discouraging days
when the camp was still an expert.
ment, and through all the ups and
downs of institutional management.
She it is who, as matron of the camp,
makes it real home for both patients
and employees.
More Room Needed.
The service Tomahawk Lake Camp
renders the state is limited only by it's
capacity. It can accommodate but
twenty patients. It has a waiting list
and would have much larger one If
the chance of getting in didn't look so
hopeless. The legislature of 1867
passed an appropriation for a new pa
tents cottage and refectory, increas-
ing the capacity of the camp to sixty
patients. Cessation of building activ-
tiles during the war has been followed
by increased cost of construction and
the appropriation is not large enough
to cover any bids that the state has
received on the proposed buildings, so
work is at standstill.
The situation is the same with the
much needed infirmary for the state
sanatorium and with the proposed new
state sanatorium for the northern part
of the state. Costly delays, all of them,
in human lives, no matter how many
dollars may ostensibly be saved.