at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., shall be enlarged and developed into a general service and staff college, and shall be a school of instruction for all arms of the service, to which shall be sent officers who have been recommended for proficiency attained in the officers' schools conducted in the various posts."
The reorganized school opened on Sept. 1, 1902, with Gen. J. Franklin Bell as commandant, and Col. A. L. Wagner, who had been connected with the old school, as assistant. By General Orders No. 115, series of 1904, three separate schools were established: 1st, The infantry and cavalry school; 2nd, The signal school; 3d, The staff college. Other changes followed, and by General Orders No. 211, of 1907, the infantry and cavalry school was designated "The Army School of the Line," and the method of selecting student officers was changed so that none could be admitted of a lower grade than captain, with not less than five years' service.
Circular No. 13, issued by the war department in 1908, set forth the function of the service schools to be the promotion of the best interests of the service, and while it might be desirable to afford equal opportunity to all officers, it was impossible to do so and adhere to the purpose for which such schools were established, viz.: to promote the best interests of the service by affording the most promising officers the opportunity for instruction in the highest duties of the soldiers' profession.
The course of study in the infantry and cavalry school embraces military art, engineering, law and languages; that of the signal school includes field signaling, signal engineering, topography and languages; that of the staff college includes military art, engineering, law, languages and the care of troops.
The commandants of the school at Fort Leavenworth since its organization have been Cols. Elwell S. Otis, Thomas H. Ruger, A. D. McCook, E. F. Townsend, H. S. Hawkins, Charles W. Miner, J. Franklin Bell, Charles B. Hall, and Brig.-Gen. Frederick Funston, the last named having assumed the duties of the position on Aug. 14. 1908. Although the service school at Fort Leavenworth is a national institution, maintained by the general government, it is located on Kansas soil, and is an institution in which the progressive citizens of the state feel a deep interest, and of which they are justly proud.
Arnold, a money order postoffice of Ness county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R., in Ohio township, about 15 miles north-west of Ness City. the county seat. It has an express office and is a shipping and supply point for that part of the county in which it is located. In 1910 it had a population of 75.
Arrington, a village of Atchison county, is situated in the southwest corner on the Leavenworth, Kansas & Western railroad, about 25 miles southwest of Atchison. It is the supply and shipping point for a considerable territory, has a money order postoffice, express and telegraph facilities, several general stores, a school, and in 1910 had a population of 210.
