Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-02-13
Wanton Waste of 1918
Burning National Issue.

w men tlfe dTIllstiCt CHUNG Vic WOiih
war was signed. North Carolina had
three completed army cantonments, up
on each Of which approximately five
millions dollars had been expended.
The improvements included complete
watery sewage and lighting systems,
many permanent buildings, paved
streets and improved highways. These
three camps are now about to be "sal-
vaged," with probable return to the
government of one million dollars of the
fifteen million expended, while fifteen
millions more are to be spent on the
new camp at Fayetteville. NJ c.. con-
structing there just such improvements
on hundred acre site, as are to be de-
stroyed at three other North Carolina
camps Camp Sewer, at Greenville,
Camp Greene, at Charlotte and Camp
Wadsworth, at Spartansburg.
The answer made by the war depart
ment to complaints concerning this out
rageous waste is that it is really eco
nomizing. because it was originally in
tended TO spend thirty million dollars at
Fayetteville, and now only fifteen mil
lions will be spent, "a net saving Of
fifteen millions
This permanent camp is being built
at Fayetteville, in violation of the ex-
pressed will of Congress, at a time
when administration partisans are pro-
claiming that President Wilson expects
to end the necessity of war preparations
at the Paris peace table The Senate
Military affairs committee, after hear
ing refused to appropriate money for
the purchase of the cantonment site at
Fayetteville. expressing a preference
for the lease of the tract After the
Senate had rejected the proposal of
purchase the war department proceeded
to buy hundred thousand acre tract
anyway This site is almost entirely
waste land Only seven per cent of it is
under cultivation. Much Of it has been
game preserve Most of it is said to
have been bought by the owners from
whom the government is acquiring i,
at one dollar an acre The average price
being paid by the war department is
said by North Carolina papers to be ter
dollars an acre. Upon this million dollar
site. marked up from something like q
hundred thousand dollars. two and q
half million dollars in permanent road
ways are being built The contract fol
these roads was let after the armisticC
was signed
Some of these days the whole truif
will con, ut as t. the procedure il
connection with the construction OF
these environments. Idose in Nortl
Carolina are said to have cost, undei
the cost plus system, fully twice tn,
amount that would have been neces
sary under system of direct govern
ment construction or competitive bids
II is a rather remarkable fact tina
while the administration has been de
manding the right TO operate direct The
railways, telephone and telegraph line
and other industries, it refused to built
direct. through the utili2 tinn of il
trained army experts, the militar!
camps and other great construction pro
jects undertaken in its own behalf
The explanation seems to be that il
both instances the methods adopted
meant the highest possible degree o
that extravaganza and waste for which
the present national administration ha
become notorious.
North Carolina is, of course, not tn,
only state in which such extravaganza,
and waste has been carried on at I
time when the people generally wer,
making great sacrifices in order thai
the money might be provided to carry
on this orgy, not yet by any mean;
stopped. The people Of this country,
the every day, working people, too, not
merely the rich, as the demagoEues con
tend, will be carrying the burden OF
this colossal carnival Of wicked waste
upon their hacks for years, The next
year will serve to bring to the light of
day the full proportions Of this unpre-
cedented public profigacy, despite the
natural effort Of the politicians in pow
er to change the subject. National
Republican.
just suppose you had to quit your
job and go to work.