Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

Around the banquet board at the Snore-
ham last night were gathered forty men
Of corps Of f1fty-two whose daily an
mails make interesting stories in the life
Of the nation. They were the topog-
raphers of the geological survey who
have seen at least twenty years of serv-
ice for the government. Some of them
have seen a great many more.
Not Formal Meeting.
The meeting was not a formal one.
There was no elaborate. program of en-
tertainment. Nor were there distinguished
orators from the forums of the nation to
electrffy and thrill with their eloquence.
The gathering was simply an annual re-
union Of the tried men of the service,
who ate and drank and recounted their
various adventures In the ordinary pur-
suit of their professions. There were no
outsiders. No man, however prominent in
other fields, was permitted to be present
because of his prominence. 1t was simply
a social gathering Of the boys OF the
field service" as they call themselves.
yet many of them bear the whitening
locks of years, and all are considered
experts in their work.
A section of the United States Marine
Band enlivened the intervals with its
music, and the >"twenty-year- to-
pographers" just dined and had a good
time generally. The affair was ar
ranged by Glenn S. Smith. the only
elective officer of the organization. and
Robert H. Chapman, the eldest men,
Der in point of service and therefore
under the rules of the organization, its
president, was POSTMASTER. The men
serve in rotation. according to service,
as president, and no campaigning or
electioneering is necessary to secure
the position.
Organization of the Survey.
Thirty years ago the scientists of the
government reached the conclusion
that there should be a consolidation of
several surveying bureaus which had
sprung up from time to time in various
branches Of the government to meet
special needs. This consolidation was
given the name Of the United States
geological survey, and through it Con-
gress made provision for carrying on
the work of systematically mapping
out the entire territory of the United
States.
This required a trained corps of to-
pographers. men who had to be versa
tile, capable and nerved to stand hard
ship. There were times when these
same men had to know the art of
making biscuits in frying pan. and
amateur cooks from the realms of
science. Often the work of the survey
was dangerous and casualties occurred
These men then had to turn their at
tention from the culinary department
and often perform surgical operations
are not a rarity in the service, and
the unfortunate one is always depend
ent upon his comrades to minister to
his needs. Inasmuch as the surveys
lead the topographers far beyond the
reach Of civilization. over difficult and
dangerous roads, up mountain sides.
across stormy torrents and into many
hazardous situations, the men must be
of a mold to meet emergencies. to load
and handle a pack train. to ride a
horse, swim a stream or climb almost
inaccessible places.
Brotherhood Formed.
These various duties and dangers in
course of time, 1t was seen, seemed to bind
the men of the corps In brotherhood
unlike anything of its kind in the world.
In large force there were naturally all
sorts of temperaments. all sorts of dis
positions, all sorts of weaknesses and fall
ings and yet the record of the corps as
a whole is one Of the glories of the gov
eminent service. Companionship In soil
tude and danger strengthened the weak,
broadened the narrow minded and built
up sturdy character. The topographer
had to be pretty general all-around
man to meet the requirements of his job.
and it Is not to be wondered at that the
ties of friendship ripened into those OF
brotherhood, strong enduring and almost
stoical in it's sacrifices for its individual
elements.
The Annual Reunion.
This is what brought the forty topog-
raphers together at the Shoreham last
evening, and that brings them together in
similar way once every year at least.
The absent are not forgotten, nor do they
forget The reunion is described by one
of the men as "a time when we bare our
hearts to each other. glory in the success
Of the fortunate and let fall the tear of
sympathy if necessary, for the unhappy"
Last nights feast was the second annual
dinner Of this unique organization. 1t
was formally organized a year ago.
Among the incidents Of the dinner was
the recital of stories of desperate, daring
and loyal service. Incidents were told
where topographers Of the corps, regard
less of life and personal safety, have
entered burning buildings to rescue sur
vey maps. One man who was called upon
to swim a turbulent and treacherous
stream is known to have carefully de-
posted his field maps In a place Of safety
on the banks before attempting to plunge
into the dangerous flood, remarking that