Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-27
BY JAMES FREE

A civilian army of 1000 workmen
is busy at Fort Belvoir, Va, today
rushing construction program that
in the next four months will provide
quarters and military training facil-
tiles for more than $4,000 additional
soldiers.
BY the end of March, 1941, the
United States Army Engineering
Corps training center which now
houses LOO men is expected to in
crease its personnel to about $4,000
men. Most of the new men will be
selective service trainees, assigned
there for a three-month course In
basic engineering to prepare them
for service with Army engineer units
in various parts of the nation.
The first contingent of selectees
expected to arrive next Monday Is
to consist of 100 men. Some Of
these probably will be Washington
ians, indicted today and tomorrow
and sent to Fort Meade, Md, for
the intervening few days. Fort
Meade, it was understood, will serve
as sort of pool" from which Army
posts in this general area will draw
men as they are needed for ex-
banding and newly created units.
6S7 New Buildings in Program
The Fort Belvoir building pro-
gram calls for construction of 687
buildings, several miles of roadway
including viaduct over the WASH
ington- Richmond highway, and a
railroad spur track. 1t will cost So
600, 1000. The contractor is the Charles
H. Tompkins Co. Of Washington.
The work began on october % and
Is expected to be completed by
March Is, 1941. This schedule calls
for speed and efficiency, and ap-
proximately one-tifth Of the work
mainly unloading and distributing
supplies-is being done at night.
General plans call for completion
Of four battalion areas" by Janu-
airy 8, seven more such areas BY
January Is and IL additional areas
by March IS.
Each battalion area" roughly,
will consist of II 63-man-barracks
with inside showers and latrines,
five ,2l0-man mess halls, five day
rooms" largely for recreation; five
company administration and supply
buildings. and other facility build
ings such as an inflrmary, q motor
repair shop and guard house.
Worth of Post Headquarters.
Virtually all of these battalion
OF the present post headquarters,
and a majority of them will be on
the north side of the Washington
Richmond highway which runs
through the 6,000-acre Government
reservation.
The roll of construction workers
has increased from 200 at the be-
ginning in late October to 1000 in
mid-November and approximately
1000 today. Last Saturdays pay
roll included approximately 1,417
carpenters, 1890 laborers, 160 plum
bers and so electricians. Equipment
on the spot includes sawmill, five
power shovels, II concrete mixers
and 1872 trucks. Routing Of the 40
carloads of materials. that arrive
daily requires the fun-time services
of traffic manager. Two tele-
phone operators are on duty, day
and night. Even more construction
workers will be employed as the
building pace can be stepped up
efficiently.
Among other projects now in prog
ress at Fort Belvoir, in preparation
for the posts increased activities,
are the dredging and widening of
part of Dogue Greek, to be used
for practice in building pontoon
bridges, and clearing and leveling
of additional target practice ranges.
The former task is being done by
the civilian division of the United
States Engineers Dena rtpept the