New-York tribune., 1907-06-24

of the New York barge canal. Uncle Sam has
merely loaned Colonel Symons 10 the Empire State
and as soon the S01, 100000 improvement is COM
pleted will order him back into the regular mill
tary service Colonel Symons's career has been
identified with the West almost as much as with
the East. He born at Keesevfle. y. Y. Feb
ruary I. 1919: appointed to West Point from Mich
iRan, where his parents had moved IN 1870, ana
was graduated at the head of his class four years
later. Arthur Murray. now General Murray. chief
of artillery. fought young Symons for first honors
in the class throughout the course. and graduated
with him close second. When young Symons
was appointed to the corps of engineers the goal
that all West Pointers strive for. he was first sta
toned at the torpedo school. Whets Point now
Fort Totten He was then detailed successfully
upon Western survey work. in Oregon Washing
ton. California. Nevada and Utah. as chief OF
engineers of the Department of the Columbia. on
the Mississippi. and the task of tracing the
Mexican boundary from FL Paso to San Diego. He
officially thanked for this work by the Secre-
tary of State. and then detailed upon the con
strtlction OF improvements for the Washington
water supply out West he went again in 1889.
where he remained for six years. with Portland as
his headquarters. At the expiration of this period
the East demanded his services again, and he went
Buffalo where he remained for seven years III
charge of river and harbor work ana 'he cotStruC-
ton of lighthouses Lakes Erie and Ontario.
While in Buffalo he built the longest breakwater
IN tba world which In design and certain pecuari-
ties of construction has become model to be
copied by engineers both IN and out of the mill
tary service here and abroad 1t was while he
was stationed at Buffalo that Colonei Symons be-
came interested in the study of canal work and
his writings and reports on the scheme which is
now being carved across the map of New YORK
State first brought the matter prominently before
tho public Governor Roosevelt appointed an ad-
visory board of citizens canal matters. and
recommended to the state the plan OF enarging the
avtetinr canals to a size adequate 10 accommodate
barpes of 1000 tons. II only natural therefore
that the Governor and the canal interests should
want Colonel Symons to supervise the work when
the scheme was finally adopted and the money
appropriated to carry the great work on. In order
10 secure Colonel Symons's services for the canal
1t was necessary to have special bill introduced
and passed by Congress allowing him leave or
absence from the army while he accepted service
under the state. AT the time the friends or the
barpe canal were attempting to borrow Colonel
Svmons from the army he was occupying the con-
reria1 berth of Superintendent of Public buildings
and Grounds in Washington While In this posi-
ton Colonel Symons was military aid to the Presi-
dent and his right hand man at all social and
official functions
IMPORTANT NAVAL CONIMANDS-Some i'm
portant designations for naval command ahoat
have been Indicated it is understood by the Pres-
dent Captain Richard Wainwright-menber of
the naval general board and army and navy joint
board and at present president of the special board
detailed revise the course OF studies al the Naval
Academy-win assume command of the United
States ship louisiana The three scouts which are
under construction will be commanded by officers
at present on duty in Washington, who OF course.
will not be able to assume those duties afOat for
time. the first assignment being TO duty as
general Inspector of the scout cruiser In each case
The Salem will be commanded by Lieutenant Com
mander Albert l. Key, who is on duty in connec-
ton with the naval general board. and who is the
naval aid to the President and valuable adviser
of the Chief Executive. The other scout cruisers
will be commanded by Lieutenant Commander s.
s. Wood. also duty in connection with the gen
eral board and the aid to the admiral of the navy
and Lieutenant Commander w. 5. Simms, the in
spector of target practice in the An assign
ment 10 duty of Importance just made Is that OF
Captain Charles F. Fox. who has been on waiting
orders in Washington, and who will command the
South Dakota
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST sOLDIERs.-The
War Department has decided 10 adopt the suggeS-
ton of a number of army officers who have fire.
quently recommended that extra duty pay be pro-
vided for enlisted who on duty In the
Philippines and in Alaska Men OF this class now
receive 20 per cent additional pay on account OF
their foreign service, but they do not get the pay
for extra duty such as is received by soldiers In
this country. The foreign service pay amounts 10
about So in each case, while the extra DUTY pay
would be five times that much. Ii is considered
that men who are foreign duty suffer the hard
ships OF climate and when they are required TO do
extra duty there is all the more reason why they
should get the extra duty pay received by soldiers