Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04

Engineers and municipalities all over the
world are watching with interest for the publ
| cation OF the report Of the committee ap
pointed last October by the President in pur
suance to an act Of Congress regarding the
best systems Of underground conduits and sub
ways. This committee is composed Of three
members--Andrew Rosewater, Prof. Henry A.
Rowland and Lieut.. Francis Rawn Skunk Of
the engineer corps, U. s. A.
Although appointed in October. 1890, on &C.
count of the other professional engagements Of
the commissioners no meeting was held until
January 4, 1891. At this meeting Mr. Andrew
Rosewater was elected president and Lieut.
Skunk secretary.
THE PLAN OF WORK.
A plan OF campaign was then adopted as fol-
lows:
To inquire into the practicability Of putting
all kinds Of electric wires underground.
To ascertain the existing state of affairs in
Washington; the location of underground and
overhead wires; the franchises of the various
companies; systems used by them; working of
these systems, &c.
In this connection it was necessary to investi-
gate many collateral subjects, such as street
railways. sewers, &c.
To ascertain the existing state Of things in
other cities, their experience as to systems used
and regulations found necessary.
Then again to examine the various projects
DC, now in the market and to select the best.
GETTING INFORMATION.
As the subject is comparatively new these in
vestigations involved great deal of work. The
board thus far has obtained the opinions of the
best electrical authorities in Europe and Amer
lea, and has corresponded with. the govern
ments of the leading cities.
In Prof. Rowland the board Is fortunate
enough to possess one Of the highest authori-
ties on all electrical matters.
At the present time the correspondence Is
practically finished. There is a vast amount
OF information to be classified. condensed and
dlgested. This is already partially done, and
the board has formed q general idea Of the best
system for the city. This will probably re-
qulre great deal of modification and adius; .
ment before 1t is mt in every particular.
THE BOARDS REPORT.
The board will then proceed to write its
report. There will be maps embodied in the
report and a draughtsman has been employed
several months on this work.
The utmost harmony prevails amongst the
members of the board. Apart from the DELHI
erative and judicial functions which are equally
shared each revolves i'll his own peculiar
orbit.
Prof Rowland, the electrician Of the Johns
holhius uOluS n1gn rank In mis- pro-
fession. What he does not know about cleo
tries is considered as absolutely not worth
knowing.
Mr.. Rosewater. municipal engineer of much
experience, is supposed to think in terms of
slopes. concrete, cost of brick work. &c. Being
executive officer Of the board he presideslat all
meetings.
The military member of the commission,
Lieut.. skunk. is by no means the least impor-
tant OF the board, even though he is the junior
member. He is thorough electrician and has
marvellous faculty Of evoking order out of
chaos. Under his magic fnge;5 an incompre-
hensible mass of papers marshais itself in sets
Of fours-companies and battalions He can
solve the most difficult problems in mathe-
mates and fully sustains his third of the board.
Below will be found portraits of the mem
bers OF the commission, with a brief biographi-
cal sketch of each.
Mr.. Andrew Rosewater was born October 81
ls4s. and was educated in the public schools Of
Cleveland. In April, 1864, he secured en-