before Congress, carried an appropriation of $78,000,000, of which $6,000,000 was for building training camps and new barracks at various Army posts.

An estimate prepared on March 13, 1917, based on the experience in housing the National Guard on the Mexican border in 1916, showed

a cost at the rate of $72.229 per man. This estimate did not include sewerage systems or any water-supply systems except facilities for distributing water to certain points among the buildings, nor many other items which were later supplied. The estimates for barracks and quarters provided in general for housing the men under canvas

In making the foregoing estimates no allowance was made for the fact that in 1916 the guardsmen did most of the work of flooring tents, building latrines, etc., that no adequate record had been kept of labor and material, and that several of the items included as construction costs were properly chargeable to service and maintenance.

An estimate prepared on May 26, 1917, based on then current costs and covering apparently adequate facilities for the housing, water supply, sewerage, lighting, roads, hospitals, and other items of a cantonment showed a cost of $174.35 per man.

The following table gives a comparison of the estimates of March 13, 1917, and May 26, 1917:

It is clear, from the foregoing, that the appropriation of $78,000,000 could not provide for housing the then contemplated Army and that according to the estimate of May 26, 1917, $192,000,000 was needed.

As the construction of all 32 cantonments and camps at one time would apparently cause a great strain on the material and labor resources and transportation facilities of the country, the Secretary of War decided, May 29, 1917, that the construction of cantonments with wooden barracks be then commenced at 16 National Army sites only and that the estimate of May 26, 1917, be approved except that— fly screens (except for kitchen and mess halls), refrigerating and ice plants be omitted, and that hospitals be reduced to provide accommodations for the sick on a 3 per cent basis instead of on a 5 per cent basis as recommended by the Medical Department.

Other economies where practicable were to be made.

On June 15, 1917, the appropriation bill became a law. It should be noted that, until this bill became effective, the Cantonment Division, on account of lack of funds, had to rely almost entirely on voluntary civilian aid.

On June 28 the department commanders were notified of the cancellation of previous orders to the effect that "National Guard divisions in the North would not be sent South this summer," and were directed to complete leases for National Guard camp sites already selected.

On July 13 The Adjutant General of the Army was notified by the Acting Chief of Staff that the Secretary of War directed the department commanders to expedite the leasing of National Guard divisional training camp sites and that all construction necessary for occupancy be carried forward as soon as possible.

The preparation of these National Guard camps was, by this order of July 13, to consist of clearing ground, laying out camps, establishing such roads and railroad sidings as might be necessary for the reception of the troops and for carrying out the building program outlined, namely, installing the necessary water, sewerage, and drainage systems; building the required storehouses, kitchens, mess shelters, latrines, and shower baths; constructing the auxiliary remount depots called for in the approved plan; and issuing to the organization of the National Guard the additional tentage necessary to equip them completely for their authorized strength.

On May 31 the sites for two of the 16 National Army cantonments were approved. The remainder of these sites were approved between that date and June 22. The first three contracts for construction were executed on June 11, and the last three on June 23, 1917.

The dates of approval of sites, execution of contracts, and commencement of actual work at the National Army cantonments and National Guard camps are given in the section on "Progress of cantonment and camp construction."

PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS.

CANTONMENT AND CAMP PLANS.

The engineering division was handicapped in the preparation of the needed cantonment and camp plans by lack of data respecting the sites and by postponement of the decision as to the ultimate size of the standard company unit. These company units in the United States Army were then quite different from those of the European armies. The sizes of the multiples of the standard company unit to form battalions, regiments, brigades, and divisions were also subject to the same uncertainty pending receipt, by the General Staff, of recommendations from Gen. Pershing, who reached Europe on June 15,

1917.

It was, however, essential that these plans be advanced to a point where construction could begin at the earliest possible date and to provide such flexibility therein as would permit of later adjustment to suit the standard Army units when recommended by Gen. Pershing. Typical layouts were made for the different units-i. e., Infantry Cavalry, Artillery, etc.--which could be combined to meet the requirements of any cantonment.

Two standard types of cantonment were laid out--one with its elements lying in a straight line and the other in the shape of the letter "U." Instructions were given to adhere to these layouts and to allow plenty of room for expansion wherever practicable.

BUILDINGS.

Prior to the war the advisory architect of the construction and repair department of the Quartermaster Corps had made a study of various types of barrack buildings. A set of plans for mobilization camps had been completed in April, 1914, using as a unit an infantry regiment of 3 battalions comprising 12 companies of 141 men each. These plans included barracks for housing officers and men, mess buildings, storehouses, administration buildings, guardhouses, post exchanges, hospitals, kitchens, latrines, bathhouses, field bakeries, and shelters for animals and vehicles.

Several groups of various kinds of buildings had been erected at Fort Myer, Va., namely, ready-cut type, sectional wood type, sectional steel type, concrete on wire lath, and one group built in the usual way. Records kept of the cost and time required for construction of these buildings showed that the ordinary type of wooden building, constructed by cutting, framing, and erecting material on the site, was cheaper and could be completed in slightly less time than the other types.

Up to this time all Army barracks had been one-story buildings. Study of the problem, however, showed that a two-story building

would effect economy in land and cost of improvements, such as roads, sewers, water mains, etc.; also that such barracks had proved satisfactory for the housing of troops in Canada. The two-story barrack was thereupon adopted.

A new set of plans was prepared and issued in May, 1917. In these the construction of exterior walls differed for buildings for northern and southern sites. For so-called northern construction the studding of the exterior walls was covered on the outside with one-ply roofing felt and then with drop or novelty siding, and on the inside with tongued and grooved sheathing for a height of about 5 feet from floor, above which the walls were covered with wall board. For so-called southern construction the studding was covered on the outside with sheathing, one-ply roofing felt, and novelty or drop siding, and no covering was used on the inside.

In August, 1917, the new Army organization known as The "Pershing Division" was effected. This changed the company unit from 150 men to 250 men. This created a difficult problem, as many barracks in the various cantonments were alraedy completed on the former basis. It was finally solved by housing two companies, of 250 men each, in three barracks. The barracks built for 150 men each were planned to accommodate 100 men on the second floor and 50 men on the first floor. The other half of the first floor was to be used as a mess hall. By omitting the mess hall in one of the three buildings and placing 100 men on its first floor the three barracks were made to accommodate 500 men or two companies, and a company mess hall was provided in each of the two other buildings.

The Surgeon General's Office then concluded to decrease the possibility of contagion by increasing the cubic space per man and by dividing the men into smaller groups. A 66-man barrack, four of which are necessary to house a company of 250 men and a separate mess hall, was designed which later became the standard barrack. These changes increased the cost of the cantonments but seem to have been made economically and without discommoding the troops. The Board of Review considers it essential to give here the following data relating to the utility services and other facilities provided for the sanitation, health, and comfort of the troops.

WATER SUPPLY.

One important point to be determined in the design of the waterworks system for the National Army cantonments was the volume required. Conditions which affected the problem were the desire to provide an ample supply for every reasonable requirement, including both domestic use and fire protection; the urgent need of haste; the limited appropriations; and the large quantities of material and labor required for the simultaneous construction of 16 cantonments.