The New York herald., 1873-07-09
DEPARTMENT OF DOCKS.

Meeting OF the Dock Comm issloners Yes
serdey-Appotntmen OF Onicers-A Fes-
tive Gathering NJ Delm0nfoo's Last
Night-New York Compared TO Water
woven Ventce-The Crown OF Conn
merce.
About eight weeks ago General George B. McClel.
Ian, Engineer in Chief OF the Department OF Docks,
resigned his position under the belief that gen.
eral change might be Inaugurated by the new Com
mssioners who we're shortly to be appointed by
the provisions OF the new charter lately
passed at Albany. His resignation was
accepted with regret by the old Board.
noteworthy fact OF General 4cClellanSadminis-
tration, which lasted little over two years, was
his voluntarily reducing his salary from twenty
thousand to ten thousand per aDnum. 1t Is be-
leved that If larger funds had been at General
McClean's disposition or rather at the Dock Com
missoners', more practical results would have
been Witnessed in the present deplorable condition
OF wharves and pier than are now TO be seen.
ACLELLAN's SUCCESSOR
Yesterday afternoon meeting OF the Dock Com
missioners was held at their Offices, Mr.. Jacob
A. Westervelt presiding. and all the Commissioners
preaeht. Upon the motion Of Commissioner VIII
liam Budd srsery Of the United States Navy Il
ham be the Engineer IN Chief OF the Department OF
Decks, in place OF General George b. Mcclellan re-
signed. He said that IL was unnecessary tor HIM to
attempt any eulogum of such well known soldier
and engineer as General Granam, as his endorse
ments were before them. The vote was at once
taken, and General Graham was unanimously con-
frmed as engineer In CHIEF OF the Department.
President Westervelt moved that J0nn Mechan
be first assistant engineer, and John d Van Buren
second assistant engineer, which motions, upon
being put to the vote, were unanimously carried.
The Commissioners then adjourned.
WHO GENERAL GRAHAM IS.
General Granam born the CITY OF New
York in 1894 and at an early age entered the navy
as midshlpman Oh board the Columbus, on winch
he made a trip round tine world returning 10 this
city In 1S43. Shortly alter the vessel mad been
paid or he resigned his position IN the navy and
pursued his new vocation with enthusiasm. In 1857,
after having completed his studies he was appointed
BY order OF Secretary Isaac Toncey, Constructing
Colonel J. McClOud Murphy. In this position he
remained tall the breaking ont OF the war In 1851.
when he resigned and aided General ID. f. Sickles
In the organization Of the Excelsior brigade.
HIS WAR CAREER.
The organization OF the Excelsior brigade being
now completed he went to the front with the bri.
gade. which numbered 5000 men (hve regments)
and served as Colonel UP to the battle OF Gettys.
burg where he was wounded and made prisoner,
and taken to LIBBY prison, wnere ne renamed
tor three months. At the expiration OF that time
he was exchanged and returned to the naval bri.
gade under General Butler, operating IN the James
River At the attack OF Bermuda Hundreds he
was brevetted for gallant services by President
Lincoln as brigadier general. He commanded the
gunboat hOtilla on that occasion and successfully
captured Bermuda Hundreds, taking ali the reDel
flags, breaking up all the signal stations and held
the station till the army and navy came up. He
was subsequently brevetted major general for his
bravery, and fought with the Army OF the Potomac
till 1865, being engaged in all the principal battles,
including the seven days hight In the Wilderness,
ana excepting only Williamsburg. In 1865 he was
detailed to the defence OF Norfolk and Portsmouth,
remaining in command till the conclusion OF the
war, when he returned to this city, where he has
successfully practlsed his profession OF civil en-
gineering till he was selected by the Department
OF Public Docks to be the Engineer in Chief