Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-18

Soldiers Home and also of river and har-
Dor improvements in this vicinity, including
the improvement of navigation at Washing
ton and the construction of the highway
bridge across the Potomac.
Colonel Leach is now stationed at Fort
Leavenworth, Kan. in command of the LIST
Battalion of Engineers. The recommended
ton for his transfer to Washington was
submitted to Lieutenant General Chaffee,
chief of staff today and approved. Since
the death of Colonel Miller, September IA
last the affairs of his late office have been
temporarily in charge of Capt. William +.
Wooten, Corps of Engineers, who was MS
chief assistant. 1t is expected that Colonel
Leach will assume his new duties In this
city about the middle of next month. He
is now in this city in consultation with the
officials of the War Department.
Bears a High Reputation.
The people of the District are to be con-
graduated on securing the services of Col
Leach in carrying on the important gov
eminent engineering projects now in pro-
gress in this vicinity as 1t is admitted by
all his military associates that he Is one or
the ablest officers of the Corps of Engineers
A native of Indiana, he was appointed to
the Military Academy in July, 1871, and
four years later was graduated at the head
of his class AS star graduate ne was
assigned to the Corps of Engineers, with the
rank of second lieutenant. After short
service with the Engineer Battalion at VIII
let's Point, n. Y, he was sent to Ph1ladel-
phia in 1915 for duty at the centennial ex-
position. When that exposition closed he re-
turned to Willets' Point and remained there
until July, 1878, when he was assigned TO
duty as recorder of the board of engineers
engaged in the improvement of the low
water navigation of the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers. He prepared the informal
ton collected by the board in the form OF
a report to the Mississippi river commission.
Assistant to Engineer Commissioner.
Colonel Leach also served as secretary
and disbursing officer of the commission
and when he reached the grade of captain
in September, 1884, he was placed in charge
of improvements of the second district of
the Mississippi river from Island No 40 to
the White river and remained on that duty
| until March, 1888, when he was transferred
to Washington for temporary duty as as
sistant to the Engineer Commissioner of
the District.
His service in that capacity was brief,
| however. for in the following June it was
found necessary to send him to Memphis,
Tenn, to continue the supervision of engi-
neering works in that vicinity, including
the construction of a bridge across the
Mississippi at that point. From 1890 to
1892 he served assistant to the officer In
charge of the defenses of Boston harbor
and from 1892 to July, 1896, he was in
charge of river and harbor improvements
on Lake Champlain and the ST. Lawrence
river and of Fort Montgomery, N. Y.
While on that station in making a survey
of the st. Lawrence. he originated novel
and successful methods for locating con-
cealed rocks and other distractions.
In Charge Of Long Island Defenses.
His next service was in charge of the de-
lenses of Long Island sound and Of the
river and harbor works in Connecticut, on
which station he remained until January,
1902, when he was ordered to Fort Leaven-
worth, Kan, and placed in command of the
1st Battalion of Engineers at that post.
He brought that command into high state
Of efficiency, and was officially commended
therefor. While at Fort Leavenworth his
engineering skill was awaited of in securing
an Improvement in the water supply sys-
TEN. He reached the grade of major in
February, 1897 and became a lieutenant
colonel on the 14th instant. He is a very
popular officer, and one of his superior Of
fcers once said of him: His manners are
winning and he reflects credit upon the
service by his affabiity toward all whom
he meets, socially and officially He is a
most excellent officer. capable, energetic
| and intensely devoted to the works placed
| in his charge