Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-26
COL. GEO. TRUESDELL
Selected by the President to Be Dis
trict Commissioner.
GENERAL APPROVAL OF THE CHOICE
Expressions of Qualification by a
Number of Business Men.
THE NEW OFFICIALS CAREER

The question of the District commission
ership was settled by President Cleveland
yesterday, and was the last matter acted
upon by him prior to his departure on the
light house tender Violet He had made Up
his mind that Mr.. Truesder was the best
man for the place, and that he would send
In his nomination, provided he could be as
sured that such action would be agreeable
to Mr.. Truesdell. Word was accordingly
sent to Mr.. Truesdells house that the Pres
ident would like to have him call at his
earliest convenience before he left the city
Mr.. Truesdell responded promptly, and
on giving his name to the doorkeeper at
the White House was at once ushered into
the presence of the President. The Presi-
dent explained the situation, and asked
Mr.. Truesdell If he would accept the ap-
pointment. Mr.. Truesdell thanked the
President for the proposed compliment and
the great consideration shown him and ex-
pressed his Willingness to accept the ap-
pointment. The nomination Of Col Trues-
dell, with others, was sent to the Senate
today, but reached there after the Senate
had adjourned.
The Selected Commixsioner.
Col George Truesdell is one of the best
known citizens of the national capital. He
is little over fifty years old and is gen.
orally regarded as man of fine personal
appearance. He is a native of Onondaga
county, N. Y. As a youth he attended the
Michigan University and there studied civil
engineering. When the call for troops was
issued by President Lincoln he enlisted as
private in the twelfth New York volun-
teers in April, 1861. and served with dis
tinction. He was promoted successfully to
the post of lieutenant and captain. At the
battle of Gaines Mill In June 1862, he was
badly wounded and laid up for several
months His regiment was a two years
regiment. and at the expiration Of its term
of service Capt. Truesdell was appointed
paymaster, with the rank of major. He
served the government in this capacity I'M
til February. 1859. when he was mustered
out, being one of the last nine paymasters
appointed from the volunteer army to be
mustered out of service.
After the war he was located here in the
paymaster generals office, and was en-
gagged in paying the additional bounties
authorized by the act of July 2S 1865. He
was in charge of all claims filed from the
state of Illinois. He received the brevet
rank of lieutenant colonel for meritorious
services during the war; Since quitting the
army Col. Truesdell resided continuously
in Washington, excepting during a period
of two years, when he was following his
profession of civil engineer in New Jersey.
He entered the real estate business in
Washington and carried it on successfully.
For the last twelve or fifteen years he has
been engaged, not a real estate agent,
but in developing and improving his own
property. His efforts have been directed
to building up Washington Heights and
lexington, and the existence of those two
places is due chiefly to the enterprise and
energy which he devoted to them. He or
ganized the lexington Railroad Company.
and as president built the railroad and
carried it on successfully for several
years.
That company has sold out its interests
to the Widener syndicate. and Col. Trues-
having remained in the directory of the
road until the reorganization can be COM
peted. He is director of the Columbia
National Bank and of the Washington
Loan and Trust Company and connected
with number of other local enterprises.
He has been an active member of the board
of trade, and as chairman of the commit
tee on streets and avenues has rendered
the District important service in drafting,
in connection with Mr.. WorthingtOE as at
torney. the bill for the extension Of streets
and avenues and in pushing the measure
through Congress: Col IrnesdelIs resi-.
Washington. He lives on Washington
Heights. He married the daughter OF Rev.
DR.. Cyrus Prindle In Syracuse, NY. in
December, 1854, ana MS nome mas always
been a happy one.
He has a son now twenty-one years DID,
who is a junior at Yale College. Col. Trues
Epiphany P. f. parish and an active MEM
her of that church. He wears the button
of the Loyal Legion and is member OF the
Army and Navy Club. Col. Truesdell is
just finishing his service In two important
public trusts. When arrangements were be-
ing made for the Moody meetings Col.
Truesdell was at once chosen to act as
chairman of the finance committee. and upon
him has devolved chiefly the burden of Sc
curing the funds to pay the cost of the
meetings. About the same time, he was ap-
pointed as chairman of the citizens COM
mittee to canvass for funds to relieve the
| lf.,sr fv, ho nft md ha
acquitted himself of this task with much
credit.
Talk with Col. Trucsdell.
Col. Truesdell was first apprised of the
fact that his nomination as District Com
missioner had been made out by a reporter
of The STAR who found the colonel in his
office in the Washington Loan and Trust
building Col. Truesdell was somewhat dis
inclined to talk about the matter until it
was officially announced that the nominal
ton had gone to the Senate, and there was
no longer any doubt about it, He said that
the matter had been preached to him by a
number Of prominent citizens, but he had
not been inclined to take the office and had
positively refused to accept 1t II any dele
cation went to the White House to urge It,,
or the appointment came in any other way
than directly from the President uninflu-
enced by his own personal friends.
Since his name had been published in the
newspapers as one of those who was talked
| of as possible commissioners, quite a num-
| Der of others had been to him kindly offer
! ing to go to the President in his behalf but
| he had asserted that If they did so and his
| appointment followed, he would decline AS
| it was, the conditions were such that he
would accept the office. II will take it,"
| said Col Truesdel. because / believe that
| there are a number of projects for the pub
| lie welfare which l might help along. There
| is the matter of extending the Streets the
carrying out of the plans of the sewer COM
mission the securing Of a new bridge and
other important public works to be done in
the future the accomplishment OF which I
| hope / may help" Col. Truesdell said that
| he regretted, as he believed all citizens did,
| the circumstances that compelled the retire
| ment of Mr.. Parker from the office of Com
missioner. for in his Judgement Mr.. Parker
was admirably equipped for the office.
| II will" he said. "enter the office per-
schemes or private projects that will in
fiuence my action as a Commissioner and
am under no obligations to any one for Sc
curing my appoin tment In a way that could
| trammel my official conduct" When The
Star reporter suggested that he might be
regarded as a trolley man, Col. Truesdell
stated that he had but little financial III
! terests now in the lexington railroad and
| If he had large interest, 1t would not in
| fuence his official acts. He felt that he
| was in the position of an unprejudiced jul
ror in respect to the trolley and could
weigh the evidence regarding it with i'm.
Partially.
Commissioners Ross and Powell Salts.
| fed.
| Tn Writ IT.