davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

Niagara a cable starting ana terminal
ing on the Canadian side, but passing
through the air over the American
waters, the department had to approve
the plan to allow it's erection
All the functions of this non military
authority of the War Department are
exercised by the Secretary through the
Engineer Corps, and since the govern
ment has already expended more than
$500. 900. 900. and the appropriation last
year was a little more than 33.OoO.ooo tor
this branch of the service. IL WI pe seen
that some heavy work must be cone.
Last wears appropriations We're fnaue
in bulk to be expended under the OIL
rection of the Secretary in contlnuins
the work already begun and TO main
tain that which has been completed
The allotments were to be made by the
Secretary OF War upon the recommen,
dation of the chief of engineers, ana
SO far very few complains haNe teei
made as to their manner OF doing II.
The great value of the Engineer
Corps for war or for peace, for nsh1.
ing or for commerce. Is as bo"S VI
highly trained men welded together
1t is not claimed that the officers are
peniuses no" do they pretend to be III
is the team work which characterlZes
the organization which has caused It's
success
CORPS
go officers of whom 103 are not under
the direct orders of the chlet OF en-
gineers. eiGhty-nine being engaged on
military duty and fourteen on civil
duty Under his direct or parttal con,
troll are 1o3. variously engaged IN civil
or civil and military duties, or as IN
structors in the various military and
engineering schools.
The chief of engineers is appointed
from that body by the President and
confirmed by the Senate. To the edu-
cation of professional soldier and an
engineer must be added the compre-
hensiveness of mind which takes In
the greatest business projects, and the
personality which can deal successfully
with men of all sorts under all condl-
lions before the ideal man for the posi-
ton can be found. The same rules
which govern army promotions apply
to the engineers.
X
On duty in the office of the chief of
engineers are his seven military assist
ants. men generally selected for their
ability and experience, who exercise
broad supervision over the work done
by the field officers. Engineer officers,
especially division engineers, are often
called upon to serve on advisory boards
where matters of national Importance
or unique conditions, such as the pres
ervation of Niagara Falls, the lakes to
the gulf and intracoaStal waterways,
the raising of the Maine. advising the
Secretary of the Interior as to the pos .
valley are involved. The report of this
board is handed to the chief for his as
sistance, and with his recommendation
submitted to the Secretary for final de-
cision.
The United States is divided into nine
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05
TIE RcoRP1N roR AT ST m

instruction of student officers or cadets,
Notifications construction, river and
,harbor Improvement, bridge or dam
construction, pontoon construction and
duty with engineer troops are some of
the activities, in any one of which an
engineer may expect to be engaged.
1t was such all-round training and
experience that made Abbott and
Humphrey, in addition to their mill
tary plishment. able to take up
the laying out of railroads. the solving
of the hydraulic problems for main
tanning the channel of the Mississippi,
and to act on the board of advisory en-
gineers to both the French and the
canal.
1t was this varied training which f1t-
ted Goethals, Sibert, Gaillard and
Hodges to overcome every obstacle and
force a way through the mountains, the
flowing sands and the morasses from
the Atlantic to the Pacific. There were
on the Panama work other engineers
of professional capacity of the first
order but it was the habitual dealing
with matters of all sorts In the gov
ernmental way, the knowledge of what
machinery, contractors and men, when
used on an unlimited scale, can accom-
plish, which led the way to success.
That these men had opportunity TO
familiarize. themselves with big work
is evident from the fact that the ma
tional government has expended $780,
$4,000 on rivers and harbors, all
through the engineers; that 1t Is now
supervising 700 contracts and conduct
ing 500 direct projects for the improve
ment of the waterways. besides main
tanning in order all the channels and
canals now opened.
One of the great projects now under
charge of this corps is the canalization
OF the Ohio river. which. although not
very broad at Pittsburgh. widens to a
mile or more before it flows into the
Mississippi at Cairo, distance of $50
miles. In the summer it becomes too
low for navigation by the many steam
ers and barges which can use it when
there is nine feet of water To convert
this great river into canal when the
water is low and still let it remain an
unobstructed river when the water is
high was the problem which had to
be solved, and this is the solution
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

short distance beyond. Very pleasant,
I assure you. We finished the meal ana
were ready. A short distance from the
kitchen, to my great surprise, we en-
tered the famous trenches.
Here we were at last. l wish l could
express my feelings when l realized
where l was 1t was simply the con-
Meeting trench which allowed the men
from the line trenches to proceed to the
kitchen and get the meals. The Ger
mans have a disagreeable habit of
Smelling these trenches at mealtime
and quite few accidents have oc-
Cured in them.
They are about five feet deep and very
narrow. The earth is thrown up on
both sides, so they are quite deep. They
curve in horrible fashion, and 1t was
not long before 1 was quite dizzy
Meanwhile, an occasional shell went
merrily by They are so narrow that
it is difficult for two men to pass. We
continued on and passed the entrance
to the second line. After a while we
stopped. We were at last actually in
the first line of trenches.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

which the engineer corps found Fifty
three movable dams are to be thrown
across the river at selected places, Gre
ating many different water levels.
each connected with the other by means
of locks placed at the side of the river.
A movable dam seems almost to be
paradox, but the American engineers
have elaborated Il French idea and
carried il OCT on a grand scale. Ea CHI
dam consists of a naVigablc pass about
700 feet long, one or two bear traps
about l2o fest long and Il weir long
enough to close the remainder of the
river. The navigable pass and weir
each have heavy concrete foundations
on which are set Chanoine wicket A
Chanoine wicket is built of oak tim
bers hinged to an iron frame which in
turn is hinged to the concrete founda-
ton. The wickets are about three feet
wide, foot thick and eighteen feet
long for the navigable pass and twelve
for the weir They are raised and low
cred by a derrick boat. When down
they lie fiat on their concrete founda-
ton SO that the vessels can pass over
them.
The bear traps consist of two great
iron leaves hinged to concrete founda-
ton so that they can be raised and
lowered with water pressure under
n.
leaf bears against the lower face of
the upstream leaf. When the trap is
down the upstream leaf lies over the
downstream leaf. When up the Tree
ends of both leaves are near together.
forming a structure like a great "A
tent. The bear traps are used to main
tain uniform height of water in the
pools by permitting more or less water
to pass through them.
This work was begun in 1909;
la
completed, and fifteen are under con-
struction. The estimated cost of the
entire project is s63,0oo,oo0.
The greatest shipping city of the
United States is New York, and when
sailing ships were in use the largest
could come to it's wharves through the
fifteen. feet of water in the channel.
but steel steamships increased in size
and draft until they no longer could
enter the harbor through the outer
bay, although they waited for the high
est turn of the tide.
To improve this state of AFFAIRS IN
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

engineer divisions, each in charge of an
engineer officer not below the rank Of
lieutenant colonel, whose duty is to ex-
ercise general administrative and tech
meal supervision over engineer work
in his division.
Next in Importance to the division en-
gineers are the district engineers in
charge of all the f1fty-eight districts
into which the country is divided. A
vast responsibility is placed upon these
officers, for the principle of decentraliza-
ton is in force in the engineering de-
partment. Every district engineer must
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

rely upon himself When he is directed
to perform a piece of work he is ex-
pccted to do it; to report it when it is
done satisfactorily, and not to bother
the divisional engineers or the chief
about details. The latter. however,
keep themselves informed as to the dis
trict officers work, and if anything
should not be up to the mark the dis
trict officer promptly hears from them.
Another practice is the frequent in
terchange of officers stations, SO that
by taking up different phases of the
work they will not grow rusty in any.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

~EAR DAD-We left town the other
~ night for the third line of defense.
Here are the usual huts dug into the
side of a slight terrace supporting the
canal They are about four feet high
and six feet wide, and long enough to
accommodate the squad of sixteen men.
They have been in use since the begin
ming of the war, and fresh straw has
been put into them at Intervals me
old straw. however, has not peen re-
moved. and when the men change quar-
tiers they leave behind them all ois-
carded junk, SO you can imagine lne
condition they are in. When L nrst ar
rived here l tried to clean up, but the
deeper I got into the straw the strohs g
err the philosophy impressed Itself on
me that what one doesn't know won I
hurt one" so l put back the stra" anu
let it go at that.
During the night. nevertheless, l
awoke several times. imagining tnat
was being carried bodily away: Since
then I do not go on any more hunting
expeditions There are great numper
of rats and mice in the huts, ana the
first night an energetic rat loosened a
mass of earth above my head, ana IL
fell directly upon me. 1t gave me
great start as my first thoughts pic
tured a company of Germans Oh US.
These rodents are a great nuisance
ON account of their large numbers, ana
7 often wished there was Pied Piper
among us There is one man IN tne
company who does not share my 1eel-
ings. He is an Italian who IS used 70
a strange diet. Every morning aoou.
O o'clock he sits down and spreads out
his victims of the night: they generaliy
number five or six. He skins these'
and as he is friend of the COOK they
are roasted for him. NOT only does nc
eat them but he actually enjoys the
,ats There is no question of his liking
for them. because we always have more
than enough to eat. 1 nave seen man
strange things over here, but the cold
bloodedness of this falriE tufhs NY
stomach. , have
No regular schedule is pursued mere,
but they always manage TO Keep US
busy During the second day faVeiha
Joined us from the hoSpital. NJ
made the number six. rms 1eiioW Is
very handy, and volunteered TO ma he
rs a base ball. For the center OF the
bal he used the business end OF car.
ridge, and on this wound worstsa am, ,,t
thread alternately. For cover ne cut
I'M a leather puttee and sewed II on the
hall, The complete article was really
very good, and it rivaled an oHeial
league ball.
able for it for exhibition purposes, put
he will never get it. Momentum heo
Seaman, the heavy hitter. drove II INTO
the canal, and we lost it. He also prohe
nm the game, much to the chagrln OF
the entire company. who had gathered
around to see US play we hao lui
while it lasted, and we intend to MAKE
another one when we go back TO the
canal.
m EAR DAD: On our first repose mere
W. in town we were treated to bath
1t was great event A soldier hoids
a hose with a sprinkler arrangement on
the end and two others man the pump
First we are allowed a little water to
get up a lather with. then the master
of ceremonies at the hose bellows
command and the boys at the pump
bend to their work with a will, with
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

Corps Engineers
Highest Standing
States
4aseat Now Under Consideration Division
Done in Vicinity of the Capital.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

legionnaire I was glad to see 1t, be-
cause the little fellow needs beating.
there, but he did not like the uneven
ness of the fight, SO interfered Ihe
big brigand then came up and hit the
little 1egionnaire beaut. knocking
him across the yard. the llttie reno"
got up just in time to be knocked back
across the yard. and the big fellow was
going to repeat the performance when
Weeks interfered again
BY this time we were all out in the
yard enjoying the fun. The argument
got hot and finally, as usual, the
peacemaker got wallop in the Jaw.
The American section acted as if they
were all hit, and. in fact, they were II
one of them was hit. In about sec
was ever in or hope to be in. We bat
tied around the yard to a fare-you-
well, and in no time the guard was on
the scene with fixed bayonets, but we
still kept on.
In iull in the action 7 happened to
look around in time to see the villain
ous-looking bandit picking up brick.
] made a Decline for him and received
a good clout on my bean for my trou-
BILE. The guards eventually separated
us. but we carried the day.
landed at the infirInary and had my
head bandaged. They locked Pavelka
up, but he should have come with me.
as friend Of the bandits hit him on
ed bandaging and was sent back i'm
medately. We all shook hands and
called if square.
The next day we marched to the rail
road and came north 1t was wretch
ed trip. as we were overcrowded. We
disembarked at town called Aubigny,
but located in another town. AT night
we used to march down to the trenches
and work. 1t was very dangerous.
one night the third fellow from me
was nit in the stomach. 1t is good to
work when in those conditions, as
work takes the mind from the bullets.
Inaction under fire is d terrible strain
on the nerves.
Champagne district is not a circum-
stance to this: the outposts here are
only fifty yards apart and at night we
go out on the field and lie down. four
hours at stretch. to guard against
surprise.
We went back to Il small town. ar
irving there at 10 am. At l O'Clock the
Following morning we were routed out !;
at sunlight we reached the third line
OF trenches and at ) am. the lombard
ment commenced.
You remember in my letter from
Lyons l spoke about three brothers
from Argentina and how inseparable
they were. Well. they are inseparable
even in death. as they were killed side
by side. Our regiment, the LIST lost
heavily in killed and wounded. not
more than half coming back One of
the Belgian legionnaires and the little
Italian kid ! spoke about were too
frightened to leave our trenches
A1ter leaving our trenches and cross
ing the Germans, which were battered
10 pieces by the parchment, our first
stop was in the shelter of road Here
the good looking bandit. the fellow
VINO hit me with the brick became
reckless and tried to survey the land
scape; he was killed instantly by II
bullet through the heart No convul-
sive tossing Of the arms one reads
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

1899 what is known as Ambrose chan
mel was projected; and that was to
dredge out the bottom of the bay to
a depth of forty feet and a width of
1t was estimated that 42.50o,000 yards
of derdging must be done at cost of
100000.
Unfortunately. the contractor did not
take into consideration that his dredg-
ing fleet must work in location ex-
posed to the full sweep of the Atlantic.
The waves interfered so with the
working of his plant that the govern
ment had to take over the work. which
was completed in the spring of 1914.
100000 yards. the increase being due
to the constant filling of the channel
during construction, and the total cost
was $5,200,000.
When the government took over the
work 1t built three seagoing dredges.
which in appearance were like large
steamers They were each provided
with two twenty-inch pumps. which
sucked the mud through long iron
pipes lowered to the bottom and into
the bins. the mud settling to the bot
tom and the water running off until
the bins were filled. Then the dredger
steamed to sea and opened the bin
bottoms until they were all emptied.
when it returned for another load AS
the government has the dredges, which
cost 100000 apiece. their present value
is to be deducted from the total cost of
the work. If the contractor had built
them in the first instance he would
not have lost out. This work was con-
Quoted under the direction of Gen.
Marshall, who subsequently became
chief of engineers and is now retired.
Between Lake Superior and Lake
Huron is a fall Of twenty feet. and yet
annually there pass through the Sault
100000 tons of freight, valued at $780,
100000. 1t consists of iron. grain, lum-
Der and other products of the great
northwest and the coal sent in return.
This passage from lake. to lake is &C
complished by means of four locks on
the American, and one on the Canadian
side-three completed and one. under
construction. The third lock. which
was completed last season. is l,3oo reet
long and 100 feet wide. which is long
er than the locks of the Panama canai
The fourth lock now under construc-
.tion will be the same size. The cost OF
this undertaking. when completed, Will
be about s15.500.000.
About Washington the most lmpor-
tant harbor work of civil nature re-
Gently done under the direction Of the
army engineers has been the reciama-
ton of the Anacostia flats, when IN
yolved the construction of a deep chan-
mel to the navy yard and a shallow one
up the Anacostia to Benning, and the
filing of the flats. which incidentally
brought the destruction OF MOSQUITO
breeding places similar project for
the Improvement of the Potomac river
practically made the grounds for 70
tomac Park.
When the people of a community
think the Improvement of a waterway
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05
VERZENAY.

W tBouZy) at 6:45 by the town clock
and finally arrived at what was once a
town l say once, because as town 1t
ceases to exist. 1t contained, | should
say. about two or three hundred houses.
While in New York l had read of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

E@1HERE is one division in the War
Department as busy in times Of
peace as it is indispensable in
q time of war-the Corps of En-
sineers.
To it falls not only the prepara-
ton of our forts and coast defenses.
but the care of all the national water
ways and harbors. If Podunk wants
its creek converted into a raging ship
canal Podunk must secure the approval
of the district engineer and the CHIEF
of engineers before Congress Will APP
propriate from the Treasury the money
to pay for the operation.
When numerous promoters and some
citizens planned to throw a bridge
over the Hudson river from the Pali-
sades to Greater New York they were
Informed by the War Department that
no plans which interfered with the
free navigation of that stream in any
way or for any purpose would be toll
Grated. The bridge has not been be-
gun.
The engineers. said Gen. Dan C.
kingman. who was appointed chief of
the corps October Il. 1913. ARE usually
selected from men of highest standing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

Of France. but we are not allowed to
tell our location. Dad was always
good at puzzles. / wonder does the
Sunday funny section contain them any
more?
Does he remember this one?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

about or sees in the movies; he just
sank down and it was all over.
Soon after we left this position the
other bandit was shot through the leg.
There was absolutely no ill feeling
between us on account of our scrap.
We advanced by sections; when the
order comes we jump up. and, carrying
the sack as a shield, run about 100
feet. and, talk about Ty Cobb sliding
into second base. it isn't circum-
stance to the way ! hit the grit and
what strain it was to the nerves
waiting for our turn to advance again,
fellows all around being hit. In
couple of cases I have seen men al
most lifted from the ground. SO hard
were they hit.
One fellow, very near me, got hit and
began to squeal; almost Immediately
second bullet hit him and he made for
the rear on all tours, crying like a
baby.
The field was full of such sights. But
compared to the shells the bullets are
nothing. Give me most anything but
an artillery bomba rdment. Shortly
after gained the crest Of the hill
their artillery came up and began FIR
ing on us. 1t was terrible.
The way those shells would tear by
and dig hole five feet deep Was
niRhtfall we intrenched. but were on
the watch all night. The next day the
artillery opened on us again and their
infantry started an attack, but we
stood firm and smeared them. We were
relieved that night and returned to
Mont st. Eloi; this town. however. was
in range and the Germans shelled us at
intervals, but with no material damage.
tThe above refers to the battle at La
Targette, May ., 1879
BOCZY
tn EAR MOTHER-I am carrying IA
W talisman in the form of a key,
which belongs to the front door lock
of the apartment in I'D street. ] have
become greatly attached to it and would
feel it's loss keenly. On the brace sup
porting the teeth is the word "Secur-
ity" A person with lively imagina-
ton might read some hidden meaning
in this, like Pavelka th.e sailor) did,
but as Hack the superstition bred by
the sea. l can only discern the manu-
facturer's faculty for detail
Pavelka is sure some institution. He
is constantly having dreams which he
interprets to u.s. We take no stock
in them, because nearly every morning
he tells l am going to get the pack
age during the day. By the way, the
package has become a national specu-
lation now. He also entertains us Cor
rather IT was ENTERTAINMENT every
night with tales of his trip on the good
ship Derigo from Seattle to England
via Cape Horn. Jack London made the
same voyage on its previous trip. 1t
took Pavelka 159 days to make the
trip. After supper, when the "bull' is
being thrown, he usually starts off
with. Now. fellows. when / was on the
ship Derigo Off
He only gets that far, because. like
most sailors. he is very voluble. and
his tales of the sea have become so
monotonous that we dare not give him
the floor. We are congenial quartet
however, and are getting along finely
together.
l see that Dad has q complete map
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

The words given form an anagram,
which the censor didn't realize be-
trayed the forbidden name of town
BouZy.