Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-04-27

which was system supplying 100000 gallons
of water per day; receiving, storing and Issuing
3250.000 tons Of engineer supplies.
The famous epltaph of Sir Christopher Wren.
builder OF st. Paul's cathedral. might we'll be
paraphrased for the corps OF engineers and the
visitor to the National Capital might well be
told If you would see their monument, look
around you" The City of Washington was laid
out by Major LEnfant of the French engineers,
but 1t was surveyed by Andrew Elllcott, pro-
lessor Of mathematics at West Point and the
development OF the city plan was continued
thereafter by army engineers. One of them was
T. L. Casey, who In 1867 found the Washington
monument 1855 feet high and unfinished By civil
ians In charge. He put new foundation under
the existing m0nument-an intricate and diff
fcult job albeit-and finished 1t to It's full height
OF 555 feet But the Washington monument Ii
not the only work OF the army engineers In
Washington. The public buildings there which
they constructed include the Capitol the Library
of Congress, the Government Printing office,
the State, War and Navy building, the Post Of
flee building and the Lincoln memorial More
over the water supply Of Washington 1.-THE Wash
ington aqueduct was built and is now being
operated under the direction OF army engineers.
In the vicinity of Washington are three bridges
which are outstanding engineering accomplish
ments, all built by this corps. They are the
Cabin John bridge. completed In 1855, by Meigs
which was the longest masonry arch bridge In
the world (single span, 228 feet) for nearly 30
years; the Francis Scott Key bridge, built In
1920 by Tyler to replace the old AQueduct
bridge connecting Georgetown with Virginia, and
the Arlington Memorial bridge, which il being
constructed under the direction OF Mehafrey,
which is to cost s150O0,OOO and which will con-
meet the Mall with the Virginia side leading to
the Arlington memorial
The imprint OF the army engineers Is strong
upon both the highway and railway systems
OF the country. The famous old Cumberland
road from Cumberland, Nd, to st. Louis, the
first national highway, was constructed and
maintained by officers Of the corps of engineers,
from 1924 to 1870. The Alaska road commission.
consisting of three army officers has constructedQ
and maintained LOO miles Of wagon roads, 900
miles OF sled roads and 400 miles of trails.
Mention OF river and harbor work at the be-
ginning OF this article recalls the fact that this
work was begun by the corps Of engineers In
1924, when West Point was the only engineer
Ing school In the country. On this account and
also because there was then no continuing civil
service and because fertilization construction
was already an organized service of the army.
these works were put under the charge Of army
engineers From that time to this they have
been In charge OF the development of this work
and up to the present time the investment OF
the government In these projects Is over 1000
0OOOoO; their upkeep requiring $200O00O0
year. the corps Of engineers now has charge
OF 2oO harbors, POI rivers and b3 canals.
70 BY Western Newspaper union.)