A Minute Survey Made

1904

A high official of the War Department tells of an amusing report once made by General McKibben, of the Engineer Corps, who had been sent west to examine the course and condition of a certain road. The general's instructions especially directed him to report whence and whither the road led.

Most carefully did the officer follow orders; and when the final report was rendered it was seen that the road about which the War Department hungered for information eventually made its way up a certain hill, and climbed a tree at the top.

"Don't you think we had better omit that part?" inquired the commanding officer, when the report was laid before him. "You see, this report is to go through the regular military channel, and will be filed. Really, you know, a road wouldn't go up a tree!"

"That's where this road went," insisted General McKibben. "It got fainter and fainter; then up that hill it wound and climbed into the tree, just as I have shown in the report. There was, sir, not the least evidence of a trail beyond the tree, but it was blazed far up toward the top, and that was the end of the trail. I think the report should stand as it is, sir; I am prepared to substantiate every word of it!"

The report is so recorded in the archives of the War Office.