Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-22
HOLD-UP ON ME|6S STATUE
CHICAGOAN'S OFFER NEGLECT.
ED By COMMITTEE.
Distinguished Soldier Built Cabin
John Bridge and the
Aqueduct.

Richard T.. Crane the wealthy Chi
cagoan, who has offered to erect in this
city a statue of Gen. Montgomery c.
Meigs. quartermaster general during the
civil war, is still anxious to secure per-
mission from Congress to erect the me-
mortal Last year Senator Hopkins OF
Illinois introduced a joint resolution the
purpose OF which was to grant this per-
mission and to appropriate $4,000 for
building foundation.
This resolution was referred in due
course to the committee on the library
and there it died a natural death, and was
lost sight Of Mr.. Hopkins believes with
Mr.. Crane that Gen. Meigs, although he
was not actively engaged in the field. was
one Of the worthiest and most to be hon.
ored men of the trying period Of the civil
war. Mr.. Crane insists that an officer
who was able under such conditions to
conduct the vast business of the quarter
partment without criticism and to the
credit of himself and the department Is
a man whom the nation should delight to
honor in the manner proposed.
Built Washington Aqueduct.
Senator Hopkins told a representative of
The Star this morning that on account OF
the treatment his resolution had received
at the hands of the library committee last
session he had not reintroduced the
measure at this session. IT, however
Senator Wetmore. chairman of the COM
nittee. should change his mind about the
proposition and any chance of favorable
report upon 1t should appear. Mr.. Hop
kins would again press the matter.
w identified
the National capital. He was famous
engineer and his name is upon many note
worthy public works. He built the WASH
ing aqueduct from Great Falls to this
city.
Gen. Montgomery Cunningham Meigs
was born in Georgia in 1915. He was
educated in the University Of Pennsylva-
mia and the United States Military Acad-
He was appointed second lieutenant of
artillery at once, but relinquished this
commission to be transferred to the En-
gineer Corps as brevet second lieutenant.
BY 1853 he was captain OF engineers.
From 1886 to 1871 he was mainly engaged
in the construction of the Delaware
breakwater. of Fort Delaware, and in
the improvement of Delaware bay and
river He was in charge Of the construc-
ton of Fort Wayne. Mich. and Forts
1S49. and of Fort Montgomery. n. Y,
from 1850 to 1852.
Gen. Meigs entered upon the work OF
supplying the National CAPITAL with Po-
tomac river water in 1852. and in 1850
he concluded.
Builder of Cabin John Bridge.
He designed the aqueduct system and
gave the work his personal attention. The
building of Cabin John bridge, for years
the longest sinsle-span stone bridge i'm
the world. was his greatest feat in this
work He also. during this time. con-
Quoted the erection of the iron dome of
the Capitol and OF the Capitoi wings.
He aided greatly in putting various forts
into war trim during the early period OF
the war.
The day following his appointment. May
H. 1861, as colonel of the 18th Infantry
of the United States Army. he was ap-
pointed quartermaster general with the
rank of brigadier general. He visited and
inspected the various armies In the field.
During the threat of attack on this city
by Early and Breckenridge he took hur-
ried command of a force of War De-
partment employees.
Gen Meigs continued his valuable gov
eminent service until his retirement In
1882. He was sent to Europe in 1873 to
inspect the staff departments. especially
the quartermaster's. of European armies.
He died at his home in this city in
o6..t Ia 81 Of Tpn