New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-01

20 understand at ali events that fine stroke
OF business was going forward. At the close OF
the fiscal year 1895 Major Davis. called to other
duties elsewhere duly reported that his work
wes completed. or practically so. and that no
further appropriation would be required FOR An
tietam There was a buzz o. commentator
around the Department at the expedition with
which the botched Job OF Heth and Stearns had
been brought to a successful close by this mill
tary administrator and the expert historian.
DRAGGING ON THE WORK
On July 1, 1895. In due process of evolution,
Major George B. Davis was relieved from duty
in the War Department and was succeeded In
his various charges and supervisory duties by
Major George w. Davis. another Army officer
with high reputation as an able administrator.
Then the usual thing happened. Major Davis,
No, 2 took hold of the Antietam job merely 20
wind I'D the details, but upon a personal visit
10 the battlefield in the fall of 1895. he discov-
cred. much to his surprise and sorrow, that the
work of Major Davis, No !. was very de-
fective and that his report that the work was
completed was inexact and premature. Mr..
Carman agreed with him that the work was
unfinished, and severely criticised Major Davis
No l. for having reported II finished without
consultation with him.
But Major Davis. No. 2 was confronted by
dilemma his predecessor had reported that no
further appropriations for Antietam improve
ments were required. and however patriotic an
Army officer may be. or energetic in the prose
cution of Government improvements, he will
not work without money. But how cou!d ne go
before Congress and ask for another grant to
finish Job already reported finished? Never
theiess through the influence OF Secretary La
mont. and representations that the WORK was
suffering from storms for lack of few finish
ing touches. another appropriation was obtained
and the work renewed.
In 1896 1t still remained unfinished. and
second and still larger appropriation was pushed
through Congress Additional ground was pur-
chased a new observatory was erected, some
thing not contemplated at all by Congress; his
toric spots were marked by the erection of OBJ
solete cannon; the roads renewed with
macadam. and additional improvements made
Meanwhile other parties of admring statesmen
were taken upon the ground from time 10 time to
note what a vast advance had been made by
Major Davis, No 3 upon the previous abortive
achievements of Major Davis, No l.
ANOTHER APPROPRIATION SECURED.
In 1897 the work was still unfinished; about
the middle of the third fiscal year of this one
year contract this second wonderful conjunction
of military administrative talent with historical
expert assistance exhausted the last appropria-
ton before the great design was finished. But
under the guise of deficiency bill another ap-
preparation was eventually secured TO hnish the
map and with that money the work under Vari-
Gus subterfuges and charges was continued. The
work, which was to have been finished in 1879,
is still in progress. Nevertheless, last year.
when the Spanish war broke out, Major Davis,
No ., having been promoted to be brigadier-
gneral of volunteers. in his turn reported again
without consultation with his civilian colleague
Carman that the work was practically hnlshed,
and turned the whole matter over to the Quar-
.termasters Department. Carman is still walt
Ing for the completion of the map so that he
may mark upon it the positions of the troops
that fought at Antietam
In all commercial concerns it is axiom
that no Individual has qualifications for more
than one or two specific lines he cannot grasp
the threads of too many diverse business details
Yet there is a popular Authorization that these
memorable laws of business do not apply to the
Army officer of the STAFF bureaus who is sup
posed to be infallible in all the walks of life
from importing reindeer for Alaska TO sinking
artesian wells in the staked plains Of Texas, or
incidentally administering the local city gov
eminent of the capital. Such expensive errors
as here recounted, on the part of agents of cor
porations or private firms cost to them their
places.
ARMY OFFICERS PLACE SAFE.
But not so the Army officer; his tenure is in
no wise amenable to the ordinary laws of bust
ness vicissitudes. His tenure is not at all af-
fected by error of judgment which would
ruin the civilian employe. And it may even be
that the individual who set on foot the venture
in Westchester limestone near Spuyten Duyvil
was. like Major Davis. No. J. actually 'compli-
mented at the time for what he made to appear
wonderful foresight and economical enterprise.
And If he fully awaited himself of the feeting
opportunity perhaps. like Major Davis, No. q