58 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [vol. xv, 



Following this indorsement, and in accordance with the general plan which had been 

 approved, the Division of Psychology completed a detailed plan and description of the proposed 

 psychological building. The plans were submitted to the Division of Hospitals, Office of the 

 Surgeon General, which prepared and forwarded to the Office of the Quartermaster General, 

 construction department, the necessary blueprints. While this work was in progress Maj. 

 Yerkes proceeded in accordance with authorization of the hospitals division to secure tentative 

 designation of location for building in each camp. To this end the following letter was dispatched 



to division surgeons: 



January 24, 1918. 

 From: The Surgeon General, U. S. Army. 



To: The Division Surgeon, Camp . 



Subject: Location of psychology building. 



1. The War Department has approved plans for the psychological examining of company officers and all newly 

 drafted and enlisted men in indorsements copies of which are attached. 



2. In order that these examinations may De properly conducted a special building is to be provided by the 

 Quartermaster General in each divisional training camp. The proposed building will be 120 feet long, 30 feet wide, 

 two-story, as per rough sketch inclosed. [Plans for this building are shown in the Examiners' Guide, pp. 197 ff. of 

 this volume.] 



3. Psychological examining will be conducted under direction of the division surgeon. The results will be 

 reported to him, to division headquarters, and, as desirable, to the commanding officer of the base hospital. 



4. In the opinion of this office it is important that the building for psychology be located near division head- 

 quarters, and if possible between division headquarters and the base hospital. Where there is no available space 

 close to division headquarters it will probably be preferable to seek a location near the base hospital. 



5. You are requested, in consultation with the commanding general of the division and the camp quartermaster, 

 to select what would appear to be a suitable site for the proposed building and to advise this office at the earliest 

 possible moment, attention Maj. Yerkes, Division of Psychology, concerning decision. 



6. It is desired that the site selected be so designated that satisfactory directions may be given to the con- 

 structing quartermaster from this office. 



7. If additional information is desired or uncertainties develop you will address the Division of Psychology, 

 this office. 



By direction of the Surgeon General: 



Robert M. Yerkes. 

 Major, Sanitary Corps. 



As a result of this letter suitable location was selected and designated by the command- 

 ing general in almost all of the camps and cantonments, but before this information could be 

 used action by the General Staff, reported below, rendered it irrelevant. 



In order to expedite preparation of plans, estimates, and all necessary preliminaries to 

 construction, Maj. Yerkes kept in touch with the Division of Hospitals of the Office of the 

 Surgeon General and with the construction department of the Office of the Quartermaster 

 General. With everything in readiness for construction, the Acting Quartermaster General on 

 February 5, 1918, addressed the following memorandum to the Chief of Staff: 



February 5, 1918. 

 Memorandum: 



From: The Acting Quartermaster General. 

 To: The Chief of Staff. 

 Subject: Psychological buildings for National Army cantonments and National Guard camps. 



1. Attached hereto is request from the Surgeon General of the Army requesting the construction of a psycho- 

 logical building at each National Army cantonment and each National Guard camp. 



2. The following instructions in reference thereto have been given by the Secretary of War to the Quartermaster 

 General: 



You will establish at each cantonment a bmlding for the use of the psychological examining board and furnish 

 the necessary benches, tables, etc., in accordance with plans submitted by the Surgeon General. The estimated cost 

 of each building, including furniture is $12,000, and funds for this purpose will be charged to the deficiency authorized 

 by the Assistant Secretary of War. 



3. Later advice from the Surgeon General is that one of these buildings is desired at each divisional camp. 



4. It is estimated that the cost of this construction for 16 cantonments and 16 National Army camps will be: 

 Construction and repair of hospitals, $3GS,000; supplies, services, and transportation, $16,000. Funds are not avail- 

 able under the appropriation "Construction and repair of hospitals," but this amount has been included in the 

 deficiency estimate submitted to Congress for inclusion in the urgent deficiency bill now pending. Funds reqmred 

 under "Supplies, services, and transportation" can be charged to the amount authorized as a deficiency by the 

 Assistant Secretary of War on December 14, 1917. 



