Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-07-11
SIDE LIGHTS FROM
WASHINGTON
IN. TIME OF PEACE.

VI 1LEhSIs
Washington, July 11-Wars being
few and far between, the ability and
versatility of the engineer corps of
the army have been employed in
many spheres of government action.
Only forty-nine Of the full force of
1873 are on duty with the engineer
corps. Inc engineer corps now has
charge of 1902 fertilization en-
placements. The engineers have
charge OF 1908 projects relating to
public works, having no connection
with the military or defensive works.
Lights n fog signals to the extent
of 1878 In the sixteen lighthouse
districts are supervised by the engi-
neers.
An army engineer, Captain H. M.
Gh1ttenden, made the first investiga-
ton of the west, to report on the
possibility and advisability for build
Ing great reservoirs for irrigation
purposes. Some of the varied duties
and achievements of the corps in
clude the following:
Field service with troops, as staff
o11cers and in high command. The
corps of engineers supplied many
general officers to both armies. dur
ing the civil war, including Meade.
Mcclellan, and Rosecrans to the I'm
ion Army, and Lee, Johnston and
Beauregard to the confederate army.
Construction of ~seacoast and field
Notifications.
Supervision and construction of
waterways improvements through
out the entire period that they have
been carried on by the United States.
Including canals, rivers and harbors.
on the seaboard and on the Great
Lakes.
The Panama Canal and the reloca-
ton of the Panama railroad.
The erection and maintenance of
the system of supplying and iltering
water for the city of Washington.
The constructions and supervision
by the engineer commissioner and
his assistants, of public works In the
city Of Washington, including
streets, roads, bridges, sewers, wa
ter, lighting and buildings.
The supervision of public works
during United States occupation of
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip
pines, including roads, Notifications.
bridges, harbors, lighthouses and
municipal improvements.
luz ~uCllOu OF various pub
lie buildings, including the wings
and the dome of the capitol, Wash
ington monument, state, war and
navy building, extension, pension Of
fee, library of congress, agricultural
building, District of Columbia build
ing, government printing office, and
numerous other buildings erected In
the first half of the last century for
the treasury department, involving
difficult questions of construction.
The construction of roads and
bridges in Alaska and In the Yellow
stone National Park.
The location and construction of
national highways and of roads for
several states during the first halt
of the last century.
The location and construction OF
canals for and under corporations
prior to 1850.
AS pioneer engineers on railroad
construction, furnishing engineers
that located and built the first and
many other railroads in the United
States, and In foreign countries, in
Guiding Mexico, Cuba and Russia.
The survey of the Great Lakes,
still in their charge.
II AS COI1A ltoSlOHOtS Cu6aSSQ III tLG
surveys Of the northeastern, north
ern Mexican, and Alaskan bounda-
ries of the United States and of the
boundaries between many states.
The surveys for routes for a rail
road to the Pacific in the %fifties,
which routes have since been fol
flowed by transcontinental railroads.
Military reconnoissances. surveys
along and beyond the western from
tier.
The first systematic Typographical
survey of Its territory by the United
States. known as the Wheeler sur
vey.
A former engineer officer, Baehe
accomplished the scientific organiza-
ton OF the Coast and Geodetie Sur.
vey and had numerous officers as as
sistants.
Military surveys In the United
States and Typographical surveys oil
Cuba and the Philippines.
LEnfant. an ex-engineer Of tbs
revolution. surveyed and planned
the city or Washington under Presl
dent Washington.
psad IA NEWS every aay.