The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-18
PREPARING TO GO HIGHER.
Capt. Symons Talks of His Transfer
and His Coast Work.

dIh his IA
Capt. T. W. syrons, of the United
states corps Of engineers, who came up
from Portland Sunday. and who has been
up at Everett, returne 10 Seattle yester-
day. and was seen N the Office OF E. Rick
seeker. where ne was looking over the
maps OF the North canal. which are now
completed and ready 10 be filed perma-
nently in his Office at Portland.
This IS as fine a piece OF work as was
ever done" he said. as he swept his hand
caresslngly over the maps. THAT is a
sweeping statement, but II IS true and
just. And il is meant 10 include both the
field work of surveying and the mechani-
cal execution OF the maps. The copies
which were sent out from the original
tracings showed up finely"
Capt. Symons smiled when Mr.. Rickseck-
er was called upon TO explain how il was
possible for copies 10 be sent out before
the original had been completed. and
seemed satisfied with the engineers state
ment that the original had first been
traced in pencil only and that copies had
been made at once and placed IN Capt.
SymJns' possession TO expedite the work.
after which the original draft had been
finished IN ink.
Capt. Symons spoke pleasantly of his So
journ of six years on the Coast, and re-
gretfully Of the sundering OF the pleasant
associations here ndered necessary by
his transfer 10 the East. He leaves next
week TO assume charge OF the government
engineering work at Buffalo. Dunkirk.
Erie. and in general along the western end
or Lake Ontario and the eastern end OF
Lake Erie. The district 10 which he goes
IS coveted by members Of the corps, and s
usually regarded as ranking second only
10 the Washington City district in point
Of desirah.lity. His appointment 10 thai
field IS rendered all the more conspicuous
from the fact that he Will be the only cap
tan OF engineers in charge Of a lake dis
tr.ct, all the others being majors and coll
oneis.
"Oh, well" said Mr. Ricksecker. as that
fact was noted yesterday afternoon, you
VIII not ave that distinction Ions" which
intimation of the captains xarly promo
ton was not denied.
When asked 10 make some statement
about the work that had been done dur
ing his term OF SIX years OF service in this
district. Capt. Symons at first demuTred.
because II would he impracticable 70 give
n thing like a full review of the work IN
short space, but finally sad: cot course
q large amount of work has been under
taken during hat time. Work has been
begun at Everett, Olympia, Gray's Har-
hoT, Wilapa Harbor and river. Swinom!sh
slough, North river, and the upper Column
h.a. All this has been lone in Washing
ton, besides the work done in Oregon.
Most Of this work has either been com
pleted. or IS now well under way. Besides
this, Of course a large amount of work has
been done IN the way Of surVeys examina-
tons, looking after bridges, and the Ike.
The largest single piece of work under
taken during my term Of service is that at
Coos bay, where 500. 600 has been expend-
ed. | may say that the net results there
have been very remarkable. The jctty has
increased The depth of water on the bar
at low tide from nine feet to from eighteen
to twenty feet. and the latter average has
been uniformly maintained for two years
a result which ! do not know of as hav-
ing been accomplished any where else"
Speaking of his successor in the work
here. Mai. +. II. Ruffner. Capt. Symons
said: He is a most competent officer. and
one who viii give entire satisfaction IN his
work. The appointments made simply ex-
change our positions. He has been at
Buffalo. | had expected 20 be transferred
last year, and at one time had made all
my arrangements for moving. but the ap-
po:ntment was delayed. Of course | re-
greet breaking up the pleasant ties that
have been formed during my work on the
Coast, but still l approve the policy Of the
war department in changing its men. and
think that such change is pr0motive of
the best interests Of the work"