Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-30
Today His Last of Active Service in
the Army.
TO Be RELIEVED BY MAJOR KNIGHT
Will Still Have Charge Of the Re-
ceiving Reservoir.
HIS LONG VICE

In obedience to orders of Gen. Casey
chief Of engineers, Major ]. G. D. Knight
today relieved Col. George H. Elliot of
charge of the Washington aqueduct and all
work connected with the proposed increase
of the water supply of the city of Washing
ton. The transfer Of this office is due to
the fact that this is Col Elliots last day
Of active service In the army. He will go
on the retired list tomorrow by operation
Of law in consequence Of reaching the age
of sixty-four years. By special provision
of the District of Columbia appropriation
hill, approved March 2, 1885, Col Elliot
will. however. despite his retirement, con-
tinue in charge of the improvement of the
Dalecarlia or receiving reservoir, the pur-
pose of which Is to prevent the pollution
Of the water entering that basin. The sum
Of $37,5OO was appropriated by Congress
for the completion of this important project
with the special proviso that the work
should be done under the supervision Of
Col. Elliot, and that he should receive the
pay and allowances of officers Of his grade
on the Ictive list until 1T Is completed.
Col. Elliot projected and has practically
completed this work 1t is estimated that
1t will be entirely finished during the COM
Ing summer
Other Work for Maj. Knight.
In addition to the regular duties devolvins
upon him under his new assignment, Maj.
Knight will be responsible for the eXecu-
ton of much important work authorized at
the last session of Congress. This includes
raising the height of the dam at Great
Falls and such other work as may be found
necessary in connection Herewith, includ
ing Strengthening the conduit, and the as
certalnment Of damages on account of
flooding of land. ETC., for which purpose an
appropriation of S125,OOO was made imme-
diately available. The construction of this
dam has been already commenced by Col.
Elliot, and the work on 1t will be contin-
ued under his plans by Maj Knight. Con-
gress also appropriated $4,000 for a test Of
the tunnel conduit to determine the amount
of Its leakage. 1t also provided that there
shall be prepared. upon careful investiga-
tion by the proper officer of the govern
ment having the charge Of the Washington
aQueduct and the water supply of the city
of Washington, q full and detailed report,
which shall be submitted to Congress on
the first Monday in December. 1895, upon
the feasibility and propriety of complet-
ing the tunnel conduit as now projected;
the completion of the new reservoir, in
cluding it's dam or any notifications to the
same deemed necessary; and upon the re-
suits as to the supply of water to the city
when said dam, the raising of the dam at
Great Falls, TIE conduit, and reservoir are
completed. And II such officer and con-
sulting engineer shall conclude that 1t is
lInpracucaDle, or 100 expensive, 10 repair
such tunnel conduit, then they shall report
some plan for bringing increased water
supply from the reservoir in Georgetown to
Washington by pipes or otherwise. Each
separate item of the report shall be ac-
companied by detailed estimate of the
cost Of the work required and the neces-
sary costs, not to exceed $4,000, connect
ed with the inquiries and reports, shall
be betrayed from the appropriation for
increasing the water supply Of Washington:
Provided. that in the preparation of this
report Gen. Thos. L. Casey, U. S. A., shall
be associated with the proper officer of
as consulting engineer, and his signature
shall be appended to said report in said ca
pacity, and said report shall also be ac-
companied with the judgment Of the chief
of engineers, and made to the Secretary of
War. who shall transmit the same to Con-
gress with his views thereon"
Col. Elliots Emciency.
Colonel Elliot has discharged his duties
to the entire satisfaction of his official
superiors and the residents of the District
of Columbia. He has always taken a deep
personal interest In the betterment Of the
water system of the District Of Columbia.
and has accomplished many reforms and
valuable improvements in that direction.
He has been of great service to the District
and has fairly won the gratitude and es-
TEEN of its citizens.
Colonel Elliot Is a native of Massachu-
setts, and was appointed to the United
States Military Academy from that state
July l, 1851. He was graduated and appoint
ed a second lieutenant of the first artillery
July 1, 1858. Many of his classmates have
become distinguished in their military serv-
ice, notably Major General c. B. Comstock
of the engineer corps, who graduated No.
1; Major General Godfrey Weitzel Of the
engineer corps, who graduated No. 2; Col
onel ]. B. Wheeler of the engineer corps,
General ]. w. Turner Of the artillery, Cen
eral g. D. Ruggles, adjutant general; Cen
eral Lewis Merrill of the cavalry, General
A. T. A. Torbert Of the infantry. and Cen
eral A. g. Webb, now president of the Col
lege of the City Of New York.
His Service In the Field.
Col. Elliot had his first service in the
garrison at Fort Columbus, New York, and
in 1856 had frontier duty at Fort Mcintosh,
Texas, during which he engaged in skir-
mish against the Lipan Indians at the
headwaters of the Nueces river. From
1856 to 1857 he was in garrison at Fort Nc
Henry, Maryland. January 26 1857, he
was transferred to the corps of engineers.
and was made assistant engineer in the
construction Of the defenses of San Fran
cisco harbor. He served with credit
throughout the war Of the rebellion, and
was brevetted major March 13, 1865 for
meritorious service In the field. He was
experimenting engineer Of the Notifications
at Fort Point and Alcatraz Island, San
Francisco harbor, and afterward as engi-
neer on the defenses of the Pacific coast.
He became a 1st lieut., corps Of engineers,
August 3. 1851, a captain in March, 1868,
and a major March 7. 1867. From 1867 to
1869 he was In charge Of surveys of, San
Francisco peninsula, and from 1866 to- 1870
he was a member of the Pacific board Of
engineers. In April. 1870, he was trans
ferred to Washington for duty as engineer
secretary of the light house board, and
held that Office until May, 1874, having in
the meantime made an inspection of the
light house systems in Europe.
In Charge of the Aqucduct.
In November. 1870. he was placed in
charge of the Washington aqueduct and
remained on that duty until October, 1871.
In 1874 he was transferred to the War
Department as assistant to the chief of
engineers, an office just vacated by Maj.
Knight, the officer who succeeds him in
charge of the aqueduct. Col Elliot acted
as Gen. Caseys assistant for eight years.
at the expiration Of which time, in 1882,
he was placed in charge of the various
works of defense in Massachusetts and
Rhode Island and also of river and harbor
improvements and the removal Of wrecks