Evening star., 1909-01-24

made to recognize that the budding now
ers in .springtiMe, the silvery musical
tinkle Of the splashing fountains, nave
made their influence felt within the soul
of the jealous guardian OF the parks ol
the nations capital.
Here In Washington. too. is scnooi lor
army engineers, where they are initiated
into the mysteries of their PROFESSION ana
instructed in all its branches, even cleo
trical engineering. This school, which is
not, as is sometimes supposed, connected
in any way with the new Army var Col
lege is in charge of Col. William lamp
bell Langtitt whose numerous and varied
employments are typical of that or the
average engineer officer. For 1t must not
be ina gined that, because these omcers
duties in Washington are apparently
easeful. therefore the army engineers
employment belongs essentially to peace
ful industry Even Col. BromWell mas
looked forth for the appearance or
hostile Spanish armade and mas set eN
plosve mines in the waters or Savanhah
harbor when a descent of a powerful ar
mazda upon the coasts of this country
seemed imminent. That was back in the
stirring times of '9S, and the cnahse ol
occupation which the engineer ofhcer mas
met so gracefully and efficiently Is only
another proof of the varied talents and
activities of the military engineer
Mai. Langfitt has had an exciting ana
varied career and his present post as pre-
ceptor and instructor of the art ana
after tempest when contrasted with the
stirring episdoes in which he mas inquired
in the past Born in Virginia, MAJ: Lang
fit graduated from west foihl III 1000
uo served in 1890 at Galveston, Tex, as
assistant officer in charge OF river ana
ha rbor works. He joined an eXpeoluon
to the Philippine Islands during the span
jsh-American war, and was mace nIdJoi
of the I'd United States Volunteer f1nsl-
naers in 1895 organizing the Sd Battalion
of that regiment at San francisco. he
has seen service in Honolulu, ha"dhdh
Islands having been stationed there uuf
mo the war and was latterly in command
Of the entire military forces of this coun-
trv in the islands While occupying THIS
last responsible post Maj. Langfitt super
intended a number of important engineer
ing works in the HaWallan lsiahos, IN
Guiding fortifications and river and mar
bor improvements. He was, before as
suming his present duties. in charge OF
the fortification and river and harbor
work on the Columbia river
Mai. Langftt has two assistants as
military engineer instructors, Maj. Robert
r. Raymond and Lieut.. w. S. Rose, both
able and efficient officers
Capt. Boggs. the purchasing agent Of
the Panama canal. is a busy man these
days. and has already awarded contracts
amounting TO many millions of dollars.
The responsibility of this post is very
great, and the tests imposed on the
material purchased must be of the most
rigid nature. All the contracts for ma
teral needed in the construction of the
canal are given out by Capt Boggs from
his office in this city.
But perhaps of all the governments
engineers the citizen of Washington s In
terest lies most nearly and frequently
with the Engineer Commissioner of the
District. For it is this functionary who
has charge OF all those municipal Inn
provements adjoining or in connection
with the citizens own personal and