The Portland daily press., 1898-04-09
ENGINEER OFFICERS SAVING WOOD
They Are Saying Little But Are Preparing
For the Worst.


When the government officers settle
down to work and begin active prepa-
rations to put the country on a firm
foundation for defense, they don't COM
mence operations by hiring brass band.
What they do is done quietly, but it is
done quickly and effectively. The Off
GERS of the United States engineers in this
city do not cover themselves with brass
buttons and gold lace or emulate in any
manner the ''tin soldiers" of the milk
White Flag organizations. Just now
these officers are up to their ears in work.
On them rests the safety of the Maine
coast and they have q great deal to do to
put this coast in state of defense. Ms-
jor Hoxie and the other officers associated
with him are hustlers, to use "west-
ern'' term, and If all they have done in
the past four or five weeks could be print
ed it would make some interesting read
ing. But Major Hoxie and his associates
are not seeking notoriety. They are simp-
ly doing their duty and making little fuss
about it. To Newspaper men Major
Hoxie and the officials in his office are
courteous and kind, but they have moth
ing to say. They do not want some of
the things they are doing to become pub
lie and are frank to say so, but in max
ing this plain to newspaper callers they
are so mild of manner ard SO kind about
it that a newspaper man feels little
guilty to think he should ever dare to IN
trude upon them just at this time when
their every moment in precious.
Maine is fortunate IN having such an
experienced officer as Ma or Hoxie here
to superintend its defenses i'll a case OF
Ha has n sCIncta1 M MART of the
Maine coast and in that quiet business
like manner he is going ahead and put
ting our towns and cities in condition
for defense without the people who re-
side in them knowing what is being
done.
In Portland there has been an immense
amount of work done in the past few
DAYS in quiet way. The other night
ten experienced men from the engineer
corps arrived here to aid the government
officers in mining the harbor. These men
have not been idle during the past few
days, but what they have accomplished 1t
is difficult to learn. Major Hoxie's emer-
gency corps, comprising men in this city
who are ready to go to work In the aid OF
the government at a moments warning,
is now fully organized and may be called
upon at any time. G. W. L. Cooling.
manager of the Casco Bay line, is the
head of the marine department of this
corps. He has enlisted so men who are
experienced in the handling Of boats OF
all KINGS and who know the bottom OF
the harbor and its approaches like a
book. He has at his command every tow
boat, steamboat and lighter in the harbor
and knows Just where to get them in the
least possible time when they are need
ed. In half an hour he is prepared to
place at the service of the United States
engineers lighter, a tow boat and seven
all rlvv ma a
equipped for putting down mines in the
channels of the harbor. Everything is in
readiness for quick and effective work
and the men who have signed the dOcu
ments which place them at the disposal
of the government in this trying time are
volunteers who promise to serve With
out pay.
Mr. Abner Raymond of the CONSOLIDATE
ed Electric Light company is the head
Of the electrical division of this corps.
For the last three days he has been at
work with two experienced linesinen at
Portland Head His division is fully or
ganized and ready for business anywhere
they may be needed. When it comes to
mining the harbor, Mr. Raymond will
have great deal to do with it and his
division will be of the greatest service to
the government.
Mr.. Frederick J. Ilsley has secured for
the engineer division of this emergency
corps, contractors, bridge builders, engi-
neers, masons, carpenters and all manner
of men and appliances which may be use
full il they are required. In half an hours
time Mr.. Ilsley could have an effective
force of men at hand to build earth
works. railroads, bridges or wharves or
anything which might be required of
them.
The mechanical division has also been
thoroughly well organized, but it is not
known who is in charge of it.