Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-23
THE ENGINEER CORPS
Its Partial Reorganization Decided on by
Secretary Lamont
Major Davis Succeeded In Charge of
the Local Water Works by Major
Allen-Other Changes.

The Secretary of War, after consultation
with Gen. Craighill chief Of engineers. has
arranged for a partial reorganization Of the
engineer department of the army, the de-
tails Of which were announced today. A
general arrangement Of the duties of the
higher officers of the corps was necessitated
by the retirement of Col. George H. Men
dell in October last, an has ever since been
the subject on serious consideration be-
tween the Secretary Of War and Gen. Craig
hill.
Although all the changes Of stations and
duties ordered are of an important charac-
ter the changes of principal interest to the
residents of Washington are those involving
the detachment of Maj. C. e. l.. B. Davis
from further duty in charge of the Wash
inSton aqueduct, and The river and harbor
works in the District Of Columbia and Nir-
glnla, and his succession by Maj. Charles j.
Allen, now stationed d st. Louis, NO. Maj.
Allen succeeds to all the duties heretofore
performed by Maj. Davis dncludng the
reconstruction Of the Long bridge, the con-
struction of a bridge across the Potomac at
the Three SisterS) except those relating to
the care of the Washington aqueduct. which
duty has been separately assigned to Capt.
ID. b. Gaillard. now Maj Davis chief assist
ant in that branch Of his work. Maj. Davis
has been stationed in this vicinity since jan
uary %, 1892, and has made a most credit
able record His work in connection with
the deepening of the channels of the Poto-
mac and the reclamation of the flats has
been, highly satisfactory to his superior Off
GERS as well as to the citizens of the Dis
trict. He has been transferred to duty at
San Francisco, and will carry the best
wishes of our people with him.
Major Allen is regarded as one of the
ahlest officers of the corps. He is the
senior major and is a member of the Missis-
Sipp1 and Missouri river commissions He
mas also exercised supervision over the
construction of bridges across the Missis-
supp! river at st. Louis and at Alton, ILL.,
he is native of New York. and was
graduated from the Military Academy in
June, 18Th He served creditably in the
war TO It's close. with the rank of brevet
major, and since then has had charge of
important engineering works in the vicin-
ny or st. Paul. Galveston and ST. Louis.
he mas been stationed at the laSt-named
city since February, 1892.
The most important assignment made to-
day is that of Col. Charles r. Suffer-
member of the Mississippi river commits
sion, to duty as division engineer of the
Paclhc division with headquarters at San
francisco, relieving Col Mendell, retired.
He VIII be succeeded al ST. Louis by Lieut.
MISSISSIPPI river commission. in special
charge of the works in vicinity of Cincin-
natl 8
Maj William H. Heuer, in charge of the
improvements at Humboldt bay and in the
vicinity Of Sacramento, Cal, has been trans
ft1red to Cincinnati as the relief of Lieut.
Col Stickney. Major Davis on duty in
ashlngton. succeeds to the duties vacated
by Major Heuer Major Thomas H. Hand
bury, in charge of the works in Florida is
ordered to take station at st. Louis as the
relief of Maj. Allen, and Lieut. Col w H.
H. Benyaurd, now engaged in various duties
al san francisco. is ordered to the relief of
MAJOR Handbury at st. Augustine, Fla.