Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-26
WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT
Major John G. D. Knight to Succeed Col
Elliot in Charge.
He Has Been on Duty Here for Five
Years and is Perfectly Familiar
With His New Duties.

Gen. Casey, chief of engineers, with the
sanction of the Secretary of War, today
ordered Maj John G. D. knight of the
corps of engineers to relieve Col G. H.
Elliot corps of engineers, of all the duties
now in his charge, except the Dalecarlia
receiving reservoir improvement, which lat
ter Col. Elliot is detailed to complete by
special provision of Congress, despite his
retirement. This order takes effect on the
Both instant, and will place Maj. knight in
charge of the Washington aqueduct, in
creasing the water supply of the city of
Washington, and of the disbursement Of
the funds pertaining to the erection of the
fishways at the Great Falls of the Poto-
mac: The assignment also includes the
work of raising the height of the dam at
Great Falls, Strengthening the conduit and
testing the tunnel conduit, in accordance
with the legislation of the last Congress.
Maj. knights Career.
Maj knight is well known in this city,
having served for five years as an assist
ant to Gen. T. L. Casey, chief of engineers.
He is a member of the board of officers
to test range and position finders and is
also a member of the board on geographic
names. He is a native of New York, but
was appointed to the army from Missouri.
He entered the Military Academy Septem-
Der l, 1864, and graduated June 10, 1S6S,
ed a second lieutenant, corps of engineers,
and was assigned to duty with the engi-
neer battalion at Willets Point, where he
remained until August o. 1870, when he
was made assistant engineer on the de-
fenses of the eastern entrance to New
York harbor.
He reached the grade of first lieutenant
in January, 1870. His next service was
chief engineer of the division of the Pa
cific, from March 1G to August II, 1874,
and he was principal assistant professor of
mathematics at the Military Academy from
August 30, 1874, to August 2S, 1881. Sub
sequently he was dsbursing officer of the
Mississippi river commission, and was in
charge of levees and improvements from
Cairo to Island No 40 from September =.
1852, to April 20, 1855. He was appointed
captain June Il, 1882. From May, 1885, to
November 1887. he was in command of an
engineer company at Willetts Point, after
which he was successfully in charge of
Fort Schuyler, Y, on detached service
with the New York National Guard and as
Instructor in engineering in the School of
Application, Fort Leavenworth.
Transferred to Washington.
He held this last-named assignment from
December, 1887, to June, 1890, when he
was transferred to Washington for duty in
the office of the chief of engineers In the
performance of his office duties he was re-
quired to revise the reports of the officer
in charge of the Washington aQueduct, and
in that way, as well as by personal OBJ
servation, he has made himself thoroughly
familiar with the character and progress of
that work.
He was associated with Col. Elliot in the
investigation of the water power of the
Potomac river, with respect to its utility
for electric lighting purposes in the Dis
trict of Columbia. Although the junior
major of engineers, he stands exceptionally
high in the corps Gen. Casey said today
that Capt Knight was selected for this de-
tail simply because he was regarded as the
best man for the place.
Promotions to Follow.
Col. Elliot retires by operation of law on
the 3lst instant, when he will reach the
age of sixty-four years. AS that date falls
on Sunday, the actual transfer of the office
to Major Knight will be made on the 30th
Instant Col. Elliots retirement will result
in the following promotions in the corps of
engineers: Lieutenant Colonel j. NJ. Wilson,
to be colonel; Major o. H. Ernest to be
lieutenant colonel: Capt Richard l.. HoXie,
TO be major First Lieutenant w. c. Lang
fit, to be captain; Second Lieutenant Rob-
Additional Second Lieutenant James B.
Cavanaugh, to be second lieutenant
Col. Eliot's service in the army dates
from 1855. He first entered the artillery,
but in 1857 was transferred to the engineer
CORPS and he has been regarded as one of
the most brilliant and efficient officers of
that corps. He has been deeply interested
in his work in charge of the Washington
aqueduct, and has done much to bring
about an improvement of the water service
of the capital.