Evening star., 1901-12-20
FOR A GREAT SCHOOL
Improvements Planned at the Wash
ington Barracks.
APPROVED BY SECRETARY OF WAR
The Cost VIII Be Nearly
100000.
DETAILS OF THE PROJ JECT


received the report of the board of officers
appointed to consider the subject Of adapt
ing the existing reservation at Washington
barracks to the needs of a permanent en-
gineer school and post for engineer troops.
The board was composed of Major James
L. Lusk, Major Frederick V. Abbot and
Capt Mason NJ. Patrick, all on duty in the
, Office Of the chief of engineers. In its re-
port the board says that part of the area
included in the reservation is very low and
subject to overflow at high stages in the
river; that the James creek canal on the
east is an open sewer, certainly offensive
and possibly injurious to the health of the
garrison; that the buildings surrounding
the quadrangle near the south end of the
post and now occupied as quarters by the
officers are old and badly designed; that the
buildings used as barracks We're originally
storehouses and not intended for occupan-
cy by troops. The board says that the
buildings Of the post seem to have been
added one by one,in a haphazard way, with
out reference to any comprehensive plan
and certainly without regard to the uses
now contemplated
Attention is called TO report made by
General Brooke, commanding the depart
ment of the east, dated April -, 1891, say
ing that the post at Washington barracks
should be reconstructed on modern and i'm
proved plans, and that the barracks should
be torn down and replaced by modern
structures suitable to the changed condi-
tion of the army and to the situation of the
post at the capital of the nation
Improvement Of the Site
After careful study and personal inspec-
tion of the reservation the engineer board
is Of the opinion that it can be well adapted
to the uses to which it is to be put, by the
judicious outlay of a sufficient sum of
money, and that it's size and location fully
Justify the necessary expenditures With re-
gard to the site, the board finds that inde-
pendent OF any arrangement of buildings
the site needs considerable Improvement
before it can be judged favorable from a
sanitary point of view.
The James creek (seWeC canal" says
the board, will have its offensive character
removed by the completion and putting into
operation of the works of ST wage disposal
now under construction by the District of
Columbia; this is expected to take not less
than three years In this study it is as
Sumed that the Objectionable features of
this canal will be eliminated within the
period taken to rebuild and rearrange the
post as described below. A strip of shall
low water borders the reservation along its
southern end and western side. Wherever
the depth is slight as to permit the
growth of eel grass and other aquatic vege-
tatlon, bad sanitary conditions are bound
to ensue To obviate this evil sea wall
should be constructed and the inclosed area
filled to suitable height. This is estiniat-
ed to cost about 100000, and would result in
ADDING to the post an area of about seven
acres, which, in time, would be of consider
able value. To properly reconstruct the
sewerage of the reservation and to provide
for pumping the sewage into the municpal
drainage system, including a small pump
Ing station, Is estimated to cost about 500
600.
TO put in additional water mains, five
hydrants, and other means Of protection
against FIRE, considered necessary because
axyi, ..l-r:-
tlre-engine station, is estimated to cost
about 5000. The needful roads, sidewalks,
cutters and surface drains are estimated
to cost about $4,000. The total expenditure
upon the site, irrespective of buildings is
thus estimated at about s143,OOO. Certain
loW-lylng portions of the existing reserya-
tion must be raised and graded. but for this
work an allotment has already been made
The Proposed buildings.
The board has made a careful study Of
the question Of buildings, ETC., and has con-
suited with the present post commander.
Major w. NJ. Black. Corps of Engineers.
as to the needed buildings and estimates OF
cost; on the tracing are shown the build
ings which it believes should be proyided
The locations Of the proposed buildings are
approximate and subject to change In
general the barracks and other bu ldings
intended for administrative purposes and
for the enlisted men are located along the
east side of the reservation: the quarters
to be occupied by the officers along the
west side. This plan involves the replace
ment OF most of the existing structures, the
alteration of others, the moving to new
sites of some which can be modified and
utilized, and the removal of some of the
trees Some of the latter are now old and
snow Signs OF decay; others are Of undesir-
able species, while still others have so far
suffered from overcrOwding that their orua-
mental value is impaired beyond remedy.
IL is proposed to retain, as far as practica-
a fip,n ,,ft II
OF the reservation. and other groups where
possible. 1t is believed that the judicious
planting Of suitable young trees IN proper
locations, under competent advice, would in
lew years. result in a combination of
follage and greensward the effect of which
would be greatly superior to that now
existing.
College at the North End.
I'm formulating this plan, and in the alb
sence of specific information as to the
needs Of the War College, which it is under
stood may be located at Washington bar
racks, 1t was considered best to reserve for
the college definite area al the north end
or the reservation.
"A feature common to the War College
and the post will be the large campus and
maneuverfng ground, which Is believed to
be sufficient for all purposes of instruction
and drill, including the outlining and dem
ohstration of tactical problems. If need
should arise this ground would afford ample
infantry at war strength.
'1t is estimated that the cost of this
plan will be about $500 900; this sum in
cludes the $1f3 600 which should be ex-
pended in improving the site. While this
cost Is high, the board is of the opinion
that 1t Is not more than the importan nee of
the post and engineer school and the loca-
tion Of the War College on the same reser-
walton Will justify, and that the carving
out of such plan will solve the problem in
thorough manner for a long series of
years.
Reason for Large Estimates.
THE board is awars that the estimates
of cost given appeaf large. This is due
to the unsatisfactory location. as well as
to the general inadequacy and unsuitability
for required purposes of most of the build
tngs now upon the reservation. and to the
desfrability. If not absolute necessity of
providing freproof buildings for the quar-
tering Of enlisted men and for the storing
of valuable instruments, equipment and
records. Furthermore. 1t is thought that
this reservation will practically be an ad-