"Marvellous Progress by Unemployment Camps," Kingston Whig-Standard. May 15, 1934. Page 3. --- Project 42 a Revelation - One of Wisest Moves on the Part of the Federal Government. ---- One of the wisest and most thoughtful measures which the Federal Government has taken in connection with the unemployment problem, which has faced Canada during the past few years, was the establishment at strategic paints of unemployment camps for single men. Two of these camps have been established just outside of Kingston, and on Monday morning the publishers of The Whig-Standard had the pleasure of being shown over Project No. 42 by the officer in charge, Brigadier W. B. Anderson, CMG, DSO, D.O.C. Military District No. 3. This project was established Just one year ago, and the progress which has been made in twelve months is nothing short of marvel.
The camp is located on what will eventually be the headquarters of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, which is at present established as Camp Borden, and all the work is being done with a view to a permanent establishment in its new location.
Naturally, the first work undertaken was the building of temporary quarters for the men. Seven dormitories were erected and each dormitory holds sixty-three men. They are well equipped with comfortable beds and attached to each dormitory is a large wash-room.
Model of Cleanliness The dining-room for the men is large, airy and comfortable and a model of cleanliness. Everything has been done to make the men happy and comfortable. There is a lending library of books, a small gymnasium and a shower bathroom. The shower bathroom is unique in that the water is mixed to a proper temperature in the boiler-room before it goes to the baths, making it unnecessary to have more than one valve for each shower. A record is kept and each man must take at least one bath a week. As a result of this careful system of inspection there has been no vermin in the camp. The men are given regular issues of clothing and shoes from the stores. Their shoes are kept in good condition in the shoe repairing department.
Camp Self-contained A very interesting feature of the camp life is its self-containment. It has its own waterworks; the water is pumped up from the River St. Lawrence, is chlorinated and filtered and tested periodically. A plentiful supply of pure water is always available and there has been very little sickness in the camp all through the winter.
The camp has its own laundry. Each man's garments are numbered and his laundry work treated individually. Nine hundred pieces a day are handled and the work is all done by a staff selected from the men in the camp.
The spirit of the camp is excellent. There is no military discipline and the very best feeling exists. The work hours are from eight to twelve and from one to five. After five o'clock, the men are free to do just as they please and are under no restriction, They are also free to leave permanently at any time. It is Interesting to note in this connection that the camp is not at present up to strength. It will maintain five hundred men and this has been the number taken care of during the winter. At the present time the total strength is only four hundred and seventy, how- ever, and Brigadier Anderson stated that at the present time neither Kingston, Ottawa, nor Oshawa had any more men available for the camp.
Excellent Meals The men are clothed, well-housed and well fed. Excellent meals are provided. The men were just about to sit down to dinner as the representatives of The Whig-Standard were leaving on Monday, and the food which was being served out was most appetizing The menu for Mon day was as follows:
Breakfast: Rolled oats, pancakes and syrup, bacon, bread, butter and
Dinner: Soup, beef, potatoes, fresh vegetables, pudding, cake, bread, butter and tea
Supper: Stew of hash, potatoes, apple sauce, cake, bread, butter and tea.
Meals equally as good are served every day and in looking over the menus for one week, it was noted that the diet is not only a most nourishing one but is varied from day to day. During the winter the men were given a treat when the Dominion Government sent down over twelve tons of buffalo meat from Wainwright Park, Alta.
The Permanent Work The most important feature of the work of Project No. 42 is, of course, the permanent work which is being done in connection with the establishment here of the Canadian Signal Corps. An excellent metal road way has been built. A waterworks plant and a sewage disposal plant are in the course of construction The latter will be built along most modern lines and all the sewage will be treated and purified before it empties into the river. In connection with the waterworks system a fire protection tank has also been, erected in which is continually stored five or six thous and gallons of water.
The permanent buildings of the Canadian Corps of signals will be most delightfully situated. The officers' mess and the permanent quarters of the officers will be erected on the sloping bank of the St. Lawrence River and will command a magnificent view. At the present time work is being concentrated upon one of the barracks which is being built in the shape of an H. Each of the wings of the letter H will contain dormitories, while the centre bar will have rooms for the sergeants, bathrooms and other conveniences. This bar- racks la being built of reinforced concrete and is completed up to the first floor. The work has practically all been done by unskilled men and is a testimony to the conscientious enthusiasm which they must have put into it. The "forms" are now erected for the second storey which will be built of cement blocks, all of which have been made on the premises. A heating plant will be put in which will arrive all the buildings.
In connection with the work twenty-four horses have been used all winter. These horses have been rented from farmers of the district at relief rates of 400 a day. They have been well fed, well stabled and well treated and have had veterinary attention under Col. Tamblyn and his staff. As the work progresses, of course, it is expected that skilled in labor will have to be employed and already quite a number of Kingston mechanics are on the job. The open stretch of land alongside the permanent roadway will be the parade ground, and at one end will be the permanent offices of the Signal Corps.
12,000 Trees Planted A feature which we would like to mention, which is due to the thoughtfulness of Brigadier Anderson, is the planting of 12,000 trees on each side of highway No. 2 from the end of the "Barriefield cut" clear through to the Brooks and McLelland farms. Cedar, pine and Carolina poplars have been planted under the supervision of the Ontario Department of Forestry, and in a few years these will form a fine avenue of trees which will become at one and the same time a delightful approach both to the headquarters of the Canadian Corps of Signals and to the city of Kingston.
The operation of Project No. 42 and the work that has been done is one upon which we feel Brigadier Anderson should be heartily congratulated. These projects are a moment to the humanitarian attitude with which the Federal Government approached the problem of the single unemployed man. The success of the two Kingston camps No. 42, under the direction of Brigadier Anderson, and No. 37 under the direction of Brigadier Elkins, D.8.0, are a testimony to the wise, sympathetic and understanding manner in which these distinguished military men have administered them.