Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-13
GEN. CASEY'S RETIREMENT.
.,...~ved That Col. Crnighill Will Be
His Successor.

His Successor.
The next army retirement of general
interest is that of Brigadier Genera! Thorn
as l.. Casey, chief of engineers, which
occurs in May next, and speculation is al
ready rife in regard to his successor. The
officers next below him in rank are Colonel
George H. Mendell and Colonel H. l.. Abb
bott. but the promotion of either one of
these is regarded as very unlikely. for
the reason that they both retire from
active service in the early fall of next
year. Colonel Mendell is stationed at San
Francisco president OF the California
debris commission. Colonel Abbott is in
charge of the river and harbor improve
ments at New York. The officer next in
rank is Colonel w. p. Craighill. in charge
of public works at Baltimore and vicinity.
He is the president of the American Asso-
citation of Civil Engineers, and he will
not retire from the army until July, 1897.
Following him ir order of seniority are
Colonel c. b. Comstock, president of the
Mississippi river commission, who retireS In
February next; Colonel o. NJ Poe, station
ed at Detroit, who retircs in March, 1896;
Colonel George H Elliot, in charge of the
Washington aqueduct, who retires March
81 next; Lieutenant Colonel II. Nj. Robert,
formerly Engineer Commissioner of the
District, and now stationed at New York,
who does not retire until May, 1901, and
Lieutenant Colonel John NJ. Wilson, COM
missioner of public buildings and grounds,
who retIres October 3, 1901. OF the above
named officers Colonels Abbott, Comstock
and Poe We're brevetted brigadier generals
for distinguished services during the war.
The general impression in military Cir
cles is that Colonel Craighill will be the
next chief of engineers. With the excep-
ton of Colonel Robert and Colonel Wilson
all the ether officers will retire from active
service within one year after the vacancy
occurs. Colonel Poe, who retires in March,
96. having the longest period to serve.
he vi s,N.y, of thare ,nti
cally leaves only Colonel Craighill and
Lieutenant Colonies Robert and Wilson
eligible for the appointment.
Colonel Craighill'S seniority of service
and the further fact that he would still
have over two years to serve are consd
cred strong elements in favor of his selec-
ton over his more youthful associates.
Although General Casey will go on the
retired list in May next 1t is likely that he
will continue to render active service for
the government for several years beyond
that month. He is specially charged by
Congress with the construction of the
Congressional Library and will be engaged
in that important work for at least two
years to come. His retirement will not
affect his connection with that work, in
asmuch as he was intruSted with it in his
capacity as an individual rather than as
chief OF engineers of the army. There is
also strong probability in case Congress
ever authorizes new building for the
government printing office that General
Casey will be placed in charge of the work
of its construction. 1t has even been sug-
gested that General Casey De charged with
the completion of the work on the new
city post Office, and it is said that the
proposition is still seriously considered by
several Congressman dissatisfied with the
past and present rate of progress on that
building. These things show the high
standing of the present chief of engineers
and also indicate that the community is
not likely to lose his valuable services
for some time to come simply because he
is fast approaching the limit of age fixed
by law for service on the active list of the
army.