Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-13
A VACANCY TO OCCUR
A New Superintendent of the State. War
and Navy Building.

The Office of superintendent of the State.
War and Navy Departments building will
| become vacant on the 9Th proximo by the
compulsory retirement of the incumbent,
Chief Engineer Thorn Williamson, who will
on that date reach the age of sixty-two
years. He is the ranking officer of his
corps, and has held his present assign
| nent since August !, 1857, nearly eight
years ago. He entered the naval service
| from Virginia May 81, 1853 and reached
the grade of chief engineer with the rela-
tive rank of captain August 8. 1861. He
served throughout the war with credit.
His last sea service terminated In january,
1887.
The appointment of his successor as
superintendent OF the big white bullying
on 18th street Is vested in the Secretaries
of State War and Navy. Any officer OF
the engineer corps of the army or navy
is eligible for the office. Since its Great ton,
however, 1t has been filled continuously by
naval engineers.
Owing to this fact, there is an impress
sion in some quarters that the next assign
ment Will go to an army engineer but at
resent there are no Indications of a pur-
pose on the part of the authorities TO make
selection from the army. So far as
known there are no candidates for the
Office from that branch Of the service.
Two Candidates.
Ihere are, however, two open candidates
from the navy. both of them in the highest
grade of the engineer department These
are Chief Engineers David Smith and G.
w. Baird, and it is said that the appoint
ment lies between them.
Mr. Smith has returned to San Francisco
on the Philadelphia, from a cruise to the
Hawaiian Islands. He has just completed
his regular tour of sea service, and is now
entitled to shore duty. He. entered the
naval service from Massachusetts in Au-
gust, 1859. and reached his present grade
of chief engineer, with the relative rank of
captain, in March. 1871. Since November,
1873, he has served as fleet engineer of the
Pacific, station. 1t is said that Secretary
Olney is interested in his preferment.
Chef Engineer Baird is better known in
TINS city, from his service in this vicinity,
nrst as assistant sur erintendent of the
state, War andNavy Departments building
ana then on the Dolphin, which visits here SO
often; he was appointed to the navy from
the District of Columbia in SeDtember
lS2, and reached his present grade in J1ne
lS:e Since that date he has been attached
TO the Dolphin. He is row en- waiting or
gers. secretary Herbert is said to desire
DIS appointment rs superintendent If IT ia
true, as reported, that Secretaries Olnev
ana Herbert are pledged in the manner in
di:ated, 1t is likely that the decision of the
question will be left to Secretary lamont
who is said to have no preferences i'm the
matter. 1t is expected that the matter will
De settled soon after the latter returns to
the city early next week.
Promotions in the ENGINEER Corn.
The retirement of Chief Engineer WIN.
hanson will result in the following nrono.
ions In the engineer corps: George r
hutz becomes the ranking officer; David
Smith, to be chief engineer, with the rank
OF captain; John A. Scot, to be chief en-
gineer. with the rank of commander. Pass
ca Assistant Engineer A b Canaga. TO he
chiei engineer, with the rank of lieutenant
ana Assistant Engineer w. c. Herbert to
pc passed assistant engineer, with the rank