The Apache sentinel., 1944-09-15

"A crew rrOm that office be
the cantonment construction
VIXEN that area was covered
with mesquite and sage brush
and occupied by a few deer,
some rattlesnakes and an oc-
casional coyote.
AFTER that part of the can
tonment was built and originally oc-
cupied by the 25th and 368th Infan-
try Regiments, a utilities and engi-
neerlng section was organized I'M
der the Post Quartermaster, later
to become part of the U. S. Engi-
neering Department, under two
Army officers. 1t then grew into
a department served by four Off
GERS and approximately $40 civilian
employees. At the present time the
department consists of three officers
aha 201 civilians.
Convert Desert to City
AS the Post expanded and the
thousands of troops arrived for
training it became the duty of the
post engineers to see that the vast
physical plant functioned SO that
the men could be adequately housed
and training could proceed
The Artillery area, some As square
miles in extent, with number of
structures to be maintained, the old
military reservation with its 70
square miles and hundreds of struc-
lures must be kept in order and
sSme out stations at neighboring
cities be built and kept in repair
as well as the Hereford Air Base
for a time
Millions of gallons of water had
to be pumped, chlorinated and dis
tributed through miles of pipe lines
to it's points of use and these pump
ing plants and pipe lines kept in re-
pair. Plumbing facilities, with their
sewer connections, must be looked
after and miles of sewer lines and
two disposal plants kept in repair
and operating. Garbage had to be
destroyed or burned in two inciner-
ating plants. Gas must be distrib-
uted for cooking and heating pur-
poses, which meant the maintenance
of miles of pipe lines, with meter
ing equipment and hundreds of fur
naceS and stoves.
Plant Must Be Maintained
Light and power must be avail
able at all times, which meant the
operation of a large diesel plant
and many transformer stations and
miles of power and lighting lines.
Not only must there be buildings
lighted, but power for the pumping
plants, for the many pieces OF elec-
trical equipment found in the mod
ern hoSpital And also in the. many
mess halls. Power lines are shot
down or lightning strikes, then
comes another call for the cleo
trician.
dirt roads must be maintained so
traffic can keep moving, drainage
bitches must be kept open. The
many acres of open ground around
the post must be kept moved, and
isrigation water must be conveyed
to it's many points of use. Flood
damage has to receive prompt at
tention. All this means continuous
maintenance by capable road
crew. 1t is also the duty of this
crew to keep the mileage of spur
tracks serving the warehouse area
in shape that the many train loads
of supplies needed for equipping,
training and caring for the troops
may reach their unloading points.
Buildings must be kept in liveable
condition and this job keeps many
building mechanics from this de-
partment busy. Carpenters must
repair roofs, floors, doors, windows
and screens Broken window paneS
must be replaced; bolts in the heavy
timber trusses must be kept tight
ened; closets and shelving must be
kept in condition for use and any
needed additions built. There is also
work for the mason and plasterer in
many buildings, especially those
of the old post.
Direction Finding Implemented
While painting for beautificationS
has been tabooed, painting for
sanitation and preservation is still
a big item, especially in keeping
food storage and preparation rooms
in a sanitary condition. Another big
item for the painter is that of sign
painting. Building Identification and
street and direction signs being a