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For camps designed for occupancy in winter weather a slope to 
the southward, with trees to break the force of the wind, is the most 
suitable location, but for hot-weather sites it is advisable to select 
high ground shaded by trees. 
A side-hill site or one at the foot of a hill may be improved greatly 
by digging an intercepting ditch on the uphill side of the site to receive 
the surface water from the higher ground and carry it around the 
site. A similar expedient usually is adopted for the protection of 
tents. In this case, instead of a single ditch a number of small 
ditches are dug, one immediately around each tent. 
The grouping of trees should not be so close nor their foliage so 
dense as to exclude the rays of the sun completely, for under these 
conditions the ground may remain moist and the buildings may be- 
come damp and unhealthful. Underbrush should be cleared away 
thoroughly because, in the presence of moisture, it affords breeding 
places for mosquitoes and also gives them protection in their flights. 
Closely cut grass on the camp grounds offers many advantages. It 
prevents the washing of the soil by rains, does not reflect the heat 
and glare of the sun, and aids in the prevention of mud and dust. 
The most suitable soils for camping purposes are gravel and sand, 
as rainwater sinks into them quickly and the surface dries rapidly. 
Loams, so-called top soils, and sandy clays, while not so good as sand 
or gravel, are usually satisfactory. Clay is least desirable for the 
reason that it absorbs and holds a great deal of moisture which is 
given up but slowly by evaporation, and is especially disagreeable 
after a rain. 
The site should be selected with a view to the disposal of the sewage, 
animal, and kitchen wastes of the camp; and a good site will afford 
a suitable location for the burial of this refuse or for a cesspool or 
other arrangement not less than 100 yards from the prospective 
location of the buildings, and in such position as to avoid the pollu- 
tion of the water supplies of men and animals. 
All of the sanitary conditions of a prospective site proving satisfac- 
tory, it should be examined with respect to its suitability for the ac- 
commodation of the necessary buildings, roads, and walks. It should 
afford a level or slightly sloping area of sufficient size to permit the 
convenient grouping of all buildings or structures without crowding. 
It is important from the standpoints of economy and cleanliness that 
grading for the reception of buildings be avoided. The sod should be 
preserved intact, particularly on a clay soil, to prevent the forma- 
tion of mud and dust. Large or important structures should be sepa- 
rated by a distance of at least 30 feet to minimize the risk of spreading 
fire. Furthermore, the conformation of the site should permit the 
arrangement of the sleeping quarters, kitchen, and mess buildings of 
convicts and officers so as to admit as much sunlight as possible. To 
