Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-28
ARLINGTON BRIDGE.
Quartermaster General Batchelder
Recommends One in His Report.
FORT MYERS WATER SUPPLY.
Urgent Necessity for a Building
Here for Army Files.
EQUIPMENT OF SOLDIERS.

The quartermaster general Of the army,
Brig Gen. X. N. Batchelder, has submitted
his annual report to the Secretary of War.
The report shows that during the year there
was expended by his department the sum of
a. 1927 1872, leaving balance Of s, ,2N, ,ls1 from
the appropriation. OF the amount expended.
sS,o6o was expended for clothing and equpage
for the National Guard of the District of
Columbia.
preliminary steps have been taken says
the report, to change the present style of
footwear for enlisted men. There has been
general dissatisfaction expressed with the
boots and shoes now issued, and after
careful study of the matter It Is believed
that the new article will be thoroughly sat
isfactory.
No considerable number Of rubber blankets
have been purchased by the government for
the army since the close of the civil war.
The stock on hand then has lasted up to the
present time. but having now become ex-
hausted, arrangements are being made to
secure new supply. The new waterproof
will be CAPE or "talma." which will
answer the purposes of both blanket and
coat.
The horses purchased for the use of the
cavalry and artillery during the year have
been of unusually good quality. From all
information that can be obtained the opinion
Is deduced that in the matter Of its mounts
our army Is now better of than the army of
any other nation.
Fort Myers Water.
The estimates submitted for last year
contained an item appropriating the funds
necessary for carrying a suitable water
supply to Fort Myer by making connections
at Georgetown with the large main Of the
Washington aqueduct. Congress. however,
failed to give the project its approval and
the necessity for an increase In the water
supply at the garrison being Imperative, the
Secretary of War directed that water be
taken from the Potomac river at the south
end Of the Aqueduct bridge, whence 1t is
forced through six-inch iron pipes into
tanks at the post. This arrangement is
not entirely satisfactory, and 1t is hoped
that Congress will authorize a connection
with the large main of the aque-
duct, in accordance with the orig
inal plan. This met the full ap-
proval Of the chief of engineers and was
| strongly urged by the surgeon general OF
the army. The daily consumption of water
by the two hundred and fifty officers and
| soldiers of the garrison. probably within
10000 gallons. would be relatively so small
as to be insignificant so far as regards the
demands 1t would make upon the aqueduct.
been practically impossible to secure a sup
ply of pure water in any other manner,
every other known method. after trial, hav
ing been exhausted.
Bridge to Arlington. '-t
Very large sums have been appropriated
by Congress, says the report, for the con-
struction of roads to cemeteries. more or
less unimportant, in various parts Of the
country. but like generous care has not
been bestowed upon Arlington. the most
important of all.
The Arlington Heights grounds cover
LOO acres, with a frontage Of about one
mile on the Potomac. They constitute ono
of the grandest and most beautiful parks
in the country. the national cemetery oc-
cupying about one-flfth of the inclosure.
In addition to its historical associa tions
the park abounds in rare natural beauty
and has been most carefully kept up and
improved. Few cities have so fine a park
contiguous to their borders. Arlington cem-
etery, where so many heroes lie buried has.
In large measure. become, like Great
Britain's Westminster Abbey. the nations
"Walhalla."
Consecrated as it is to our illustrious
ments commemorative Of the deeds of
patriots, its hallowed associations and its
lessons appeal strongly to all visitors to
the nations capital.
But the journey thither. by rounda-
bout way over roads controlled by local
authorities which are rough at all times
and sometimes well nigh impossible, is not
only tedious and uncomfortable. but in
wolves expenditure of time and money
which deters great numbers from under
taking It.
A bedge over the Potomac at or about
the terminus of New York avenue near
Observatory Hill. would furnish a short and
would in fact bring them to our very doors.
But the park and cemetery are not alone
to be considered. AS a means of rapid and
direct communication between the capital
and the important military post of Fort
Myer. which adjoins the park on the north,
the value, In a military sense, of a bridge
at this point cannot he overestimated.
Such bridge would also practically join
this grand park to the large area of re-
| claimed lands on the river, all of which is
to form one grand park.
Plans for such bridge have been pre-
pared by the engineer department, and it's
construction is urged a necessity. 1t is
respectfully recommended that Congress be
requested to make an appropriation there
for.
Gettysburg Monuments.
Under the acts of Congress approved
March 3. 1887, October 2, 1885, and March 2,
1889. authorizing and directing the acquire
ment of land for sites for monuments or
tablets to mark the positions occupied by
organization of the regular army on the
Gettysburg battlefield, a survey of the field
has been made. the positions Of the various
organizations designated on the ground and
the title papers for the purchase of the
sites are now nearly perfected These sites
are generally about twenty-five feet square
WIN an approach thereto from the nearest
public highway. Contracts have been made
Tor furnishing and putting in place forty
| cast iron tablets. with suitable inscriptions
and twenty-five iron gun carriages to mark
these positions. The work is now in pro-
gress.
A Building for Files.
In conclusion the report says that for
many years several of the heads of de-
partments have made earnest recommenda-
tions to Congress to provide for the erec-
ton of a suitable fire-proof building In this
city, wherein could be filed the greater
portion of the vast accumuIa ton of youch-
ers and other valuable papers
These files. aggregating an enormous mass
or papers cucumber the department build
ings, occupying valuable space costing mil
lions of dollars that ought to be available
for office purposes, and besides in several
| of the buildings where stored, their great
weight is constant menace to the safety
| of the structures and to the lives of the en-
ployes.
In 1880 Gen. Meigs, then quartermaster
general. urgently presented the necessity
| fo- such building, and submitted a COM
plete plan for a suitable structure to cost
100000. The plan is on file in this depart
ment.
The crowded condition of the executive
departments, especially of the War Depart
ment, where large number of costly rooms
| are choked with vouchers and other valu-
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