Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-19

through the resultant cessation of in
dustrial activity, in munition towns
born OF the war. / recently paid a
visit to the district and had the good
fortune to be met in Petersburg by
Charles A. Turner. probably the best
known and most active man in Hone
well today. who is greeted by practi-
cally every man and woman and
child as Charlie" lie is chairman
OF the Red Cross Chapter. vice-presi-'
dent of the Chamber OF Commerce.
president OF the Day Nursery Associa-
ton. president OF the Volunteer Fire
mems Association. which ne organ
ized in 1917: and probation officer for
the city and county. ]; dcvo!vcs upon
him TO great degree to look after
the welfare Of the inhabitants.
When the armistice came and the
orders arrived to discharge the more
than $4,000 employees AZ the plant
the Red Cross was chosen to look af-
ter the welfare OF 700 families com
pr!s!ng approximately $500 women
and children. They had been left
behind by husband or father. who
had been forced to seek employment
elsewhere. Many Of these families
were self-supporting. but there were
200 OF them. eventually deserted By
the breadwinner. for whom the Red
Cross had to provide and secure trans
portation TO their homes. The du
pont corporation gave these women
and children rent free on recommen-
dalton of the Red Cross until March.
1919. In the meantime the chapter
had to take care OF them, FURNISH them
with food and the other necessities
or life. crate their furniture and
| ship same prepaid, furnish transpor-
tation to their homes and give them
sufficient money to pay one months
rent. get their furniture hauled to
the new home and still have enough
left TO feed themselves for period
Of two weeks. Altogether there were
LOIS deserted women and children
who were thus taken care Of.
Through it all Turner was the out
standing figure.
The ride by auto from Petersburg
Is along one of the best concrete roads
in Virginia and have travelled many
OF them. 1t was built jointly by
the State, county and du Pont Com
pany and TO the credit OF all three
Is an excellent piece of work. 1t is
not until Camp Lee, midway en- route.
Is reached that one gains an idea of
the ravages of peace. Stretching in
all directions to the east, as far as
the eye could see, were blocks upon
blocks OF deserted barracks, ware
houses. administration and hospital
buildings awaiting the hands of the
salvager or decay through the march
of time.
During the war 10000 troops were
stationed there. but at present there
are only 1900. and this number Is so
small in comparison to the vast size
OF the post that it is not sufficient TO
give the first signs of animation TO
the cantonment. The department of
military relief. Potomac Division.
valuable service to the enlisted per-
sonnet. both able bodied and those in
the hospital, under Field Director Is.
Carter Taylor. OF Richmond. Va. and
his assistant, who Is also his wife.
DesoIntion and Depression.
Approaching Hopewell the first sign
tof disaster is forcibly impressed
upon the visitor by four story, par
TALLY completed. brick apartment
house standing alone on n grass COW
cred eTinence about two or three
hundred yards from the roadway.
The workmen had put up the four
walls and had installed the floor when
word came TO them to cease their
bors Its lonesome and unfinished
appearance reminded ME OF the old
song, when the clock struck SIX
they threw down their bricks. they
wouldn't work another minute
longer"
But the full force of the disastrous
effects of the armistice appeared q
moment later when we reached one
of the workmen's villages on the out
skirts Of the city proper. 1t seemed
as II a plague had hit it. Doors and
windows were boarded up. real estate
signs offered the houses for sale,
lawns were overgrown with weeds,
neglect and indifference were every
where apparent. Some OF the houses
still retained their furniture, now
mouldy with age; others were as bare
as Mother Hubbard's cupboard. And
! yet one could visualize the happiness
that once rcigned within and around
these little homes. Nearly all were of
the bungalow type of higher grade
OF architecture than the average
workman's dwelling seen about per-
manent plants. Pine trees grew In
| abundance recalling the deserted vii
lage OF "Allaire." near Lakewood,
y. J.
AS we approached still closer to tho
conGcsted center of the new district
1t was easy to sense n feeling of desc
lation. Now we were passing stores
with their windows covered with
sheets of tin and their entrances
barred by heavy planks or boards
nailed across the door lambs. There