Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-26
NEW DISTRICT COMMISSIONER.
COL. LUDLOW BELIEVED.
Major Raymond Detailed as Engineer
COmmissioner Of the District Of Co.
l0nbia,

lanhia.
Among the Army orders issued to-day was one
relieving Maj. VIM. Ludlow, Engineer Corps from
his duties as Engineer Commissioner OF the
District and detailing Mai. Charles W.
Raymond, Engineer corps, 70 that position
This created considerable surprise among the on
GERS At the War Department, who. although there
were suspicious afioat among them, had no idea
that the explosion was so near at hand.
Major Raymond is connected " tn the once OF
work Of the fortihcatons branch Of thai ONCE He
Is considered by officers as an efficient engineer.
ana Is Wen known as genial. pleasant gentleman
THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS SURPRISED.
Col Ludlow was not at his ONCE this afternoon.
He went out In his sleigh this morning and had
not returned at a late hour. The two
civilian Commissioners, Messrs. wheatley and
WeoD. were informed by a STAR reporter that
COL Ludlow had been relieved when they re-
turned from their lunch about g O'Clock. They
no news to impart Mi. Webo said he
relieved or not He had not heard him or his
friends speak OF IT. Mr.. Wheatley said that he
had not heard Col Ludlow say anything about it,
sioners' Office was
THAT COL LUDLOW WOULD BIZ SURPRISED
oy the order. 1t was not known there that he
had asked to be relieved. When Major Ly-
decker was relieved he had no notice OF
II Tvv Whatever lever until he read the order In
made and It was thought Col. Ludlow knew noth-
ing OF the order issued to-day one OF the offcials
would DE glad TO be relieved OF the duties OF the
once but would have preferred going out In
another way.
SKETCH OF THE NEW COMMISSIONER
Major Chas. W. Raymond is a native OF Con-
nectfcut, but was appointed to the United states
Military Academy from New York, in 1851 He
graduated at the head Of his class In 1865 and was
promoted to be first lieutenant, Engineer Corps,
june - OF that year. He served as assistant 10 the
special board OF engineers for improving the fori-
ncations In the vicinity OF Boston IN 1866 80,
ana on several other important works In 1867
ne was promoted to be captain. In 1872
ne was appointed principal assistant professor
OF natural and experimental philosophy at the
academy. He commanded the United states ex-
serve the trsnst o. Venus a and In ,ss
was designated as Instructor OF practical
military engineering, military signalling
degree of Ph. D. was Conferred on him In
1875 by Lafayette College Pennsylvania, and he is
the author OF various mathematical papers on
subjects connected with terrestrial magnetism. lie
was born January ii, 1872, and is therefore but a
few days over ty-six years OF age.
Since 1873 he has been engaged In various works
OF Importance, as the improvement OF Boston har-
Dor and the work on the fourth district OF the Mis-
sisslppi River Improvements at New Orleans, from
which city he was ordered 70 Washington De-
cember Z, 1856, TO relieve Col Jno. NJ. Wilson,
assistant TO the chief OF engineers, and the CON-
missioner OF public buildings and grounds. whose
double duties required relief.
INTERVIEWED TIE NEW COMMISSIONER.
A STAR reporter found Major Raymound this
afternoon at work in his once in the winder
building 1.-THE appointment is an en-
alernSoh the chief Of sang Engineers u0'd IN.
this mornnE A' that tine oTdsr would
f have mad tron any y9 one aS Sof
dent except aVe the never ocla i ' Teoep rs
know Commissioner Webb slightly, but
have never met Mr.. Wheatley. 1 will perform
my ao ai am once noe Better sTe informed sr cd
about District matters than any Intelligent resi-
dent should be, as have been too closely confined
matters. / cannot make any promises about
what will do until know what my duties are In
detail'
Major Raymond is Of rather slight build and
somewhat below the average in height. He is
quite bald and his face is adorned by small
black mustache. Lis face Is particularly pleas
ing one.
Gen. Duane, the chief Of the engineers,
says he has not considered the mat
TO duty, nor or the selection of a successor TO
Major Raymond in the office OF the Chief Of Engi-
neers.
WHAT CAPT. sYMoNs SAYS.
Capt. Symons, assistant to the Engineer Com.
missioner, said he knew Nal. Raymond
be likely TO give satisfaction as Commissioner.
The Engineer Commissioner does not have to give
a bond, as a civil Commissioner does, so he could
enter upon his duties at any time.
STRAINED RELATIONS.
For some time the Official relations be.
tween the civilian Commissioners and Col
Ludlow have been strained. and there
has been but little commune tion
between them beyond the requirements
OF rather Scant Official courtesy.
For this reason Mr.. Wheatley thought
that Col. Ludlow might not have told them, even
II he had asked TO be relieved, or knew that he
TO be relieved.
Lately the civilian Commissioners, forming ma
Jority Of the board, have made orders restricting
Somewhat the powers OF The Engineer Commits
sioner.