The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1897-08-17
4 new DISTRICT SURVEYOR
Mr.. Forsyth Resigns After Sery-
ing Nearly Fifty Years.
HENRY B. LOCKER APPOINTED
Infirmities of Age the Sole Reason
for the Veterans Retirement
Has Seen Washington Grow From
village and Planned Many Great
Public improvements.

William Forsyth, surveyor OF the Dis
trict with the exception OF Ii small in
rendered his resignation TO the Commits
sioners. 1t was accepted, but only on ac-
count Of the physical infirInities w hich
render 1t desirable that he should retire
from the active and arduous duties Of the
office.
Mr. Henry B. LOCKER, who was assistant
surveyor, was appointed surveyor, and
Charles P Calvert. draughtsrnan and COM
puter, was made assistant surveyor to fill
the place left vacant by the promotion OF
Mr.. Locker. The salary Of the office Of
surveyor Is $4,000 per annuIn.
The resignation Of Mr. Forsyth witbdraws
from The Government service a man VINO
has seen Washington grow from a mere
hamlet to the beautiful city which it now
| is, and one who has done no little to
assist the growth.
An the extended improy einents and
changes in the citys topography which
were made under the regime of Gov.
Shepherd, and which have resulted in the
| great gro WITH aud beauty of Washington,
| Were made in accordance with plans drawn
| by Mr. Forsyth and under his personal di-
| rection.
| Mr.. Forsyth is now seventy-seyen years
OF age, but he is still in the possession
| OF all his Faculties, and up to few
! months ago participated in all the fati-
| guingoutdoor work OF the surveyor office.
| He reads without glasses and has mar
| vicious memory, being able to recall with
! eXacti.ude dates and incidents far back
| in his hoyioed's days. He was at one
time employed III assisting George Steven
! son, the inventor OF the steam engine
! in laying out railroads, and has many
| pleasant memories OF that famous man.
| His mind Is storehouse OF rerae.nbraces
of the early days OF this city, and there
is hardly a corner in it which he has
not planned, and OF which he has no0
| some anecdote 10 tell.
| Mr.. Forsyth was born August 8. 1890,
| in Ke,les, situated In Tie Western part OF
| Meath county, Ireland, about { W ent y miles
| from Dublin. He was educated In the
| public schools and then studied survey
/ ing. He SOON shovel remark I'll ef fiSipIrcy
| and when still scarcely more than a boy
| was chosen by George Stevenson To go
| with him 20 Belgium to lay ont railroads
There they ran lines from Rruses to Brus-
sells and between other places. In the
year 1915 Mr.. FORSYTH made surveys CT
the city OF Brighton and laid out many
| OF the most beautiful parks in London.
! Eleven years OF his life were spent In
the employ OF Great Britain, making SUI.
Iveys of the three singdous.
In June, 1850, he came to this coun,
| try, landing in New York and settled
| IN Washington in the November Follow
| ing. Early in 1851 he went into the
| office OF the commissioner of public build
ings and grounds, 3. B French and later
was appointed deputy surveyor OF the
county OF Washington. In 1857 he was
made surveyor Of the city of Washington
| 10y popular election. With the exception
OF four years. from 1867 to 1871, he has
/ held this office ever since.
In 1870, by special act of Congress-
he was appointed to establish new grades
for the city. During the same year, I'M
der his supervision, atwood paTements
were laid on Pennsylvania aud Louisiana
| avenues
lie was again appointed to the office
OF surveyor Of Washington by Gov Fl. ID.
| Cooke, in 1871. He established all grades
| for city improvements up TO 1877, and
levied all special taxes assessed during
Gov. Shepherds administration.
he had charge OF all work and located
/ all reservations along the line of Penns VI.
yania avenue from Seventeenth street to
Rock Creek He laid out Washington Circle
in 1854. and during the same year, under
mis- direction, the grounds around the Capt.
toll took practically the form in which
they now stand. In this year, also, he
made extensive changes in the reservation
back of the Executive Mansion, including
the planning of the large oval, which still
exists. BY special act OF Congress, which
directed the establishment of new grades
around the Capitol, the Baltimore and
Ohio rails Were sunk seven or Ell ght feet, in
accordance with plans drawn by him.
&c made all the surveys for the arsena al
as now laid out. In 1851 or 1852 he
dredged the canal which formerly ran
| through The arsenal and built the sea wall
Mr.. Forsyth las retained active charge
OF all the work inside and outside OF his
office mp 10 about three months ago, but
at That time he found that the strain of the
outside work proved too great for his fail
| ing strength He still, however, directs all
the work done inside the office
When seen at his home, No. 1424 Ninth
street northwest, he asked to be excused
from saving anything with regard to his
resignation, as he had bad cold.
Henry B. LOCKER who succeeds Mr.
Forsyth, was appointed assistant sur
veyor in March, 1895. He is the son Of
Paymaster LOCKER, U. 8. a.
Mr.. Calvert, who becomes assistant sur.
veyor, has been in the service eight years