Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-28
CAPT. BURR's NEW DUTIES.
Will Be in Charge of the WnshinEtoI
Agueduct,

Aqueduct.
An important change was made today in
the assignment of officers of the engineer
corps stationed in the District Of Column
bia. At the request of Brigadier General
F. Wade, commanding the army di-
vision at Tampa, Fla. Captain David Du
B. Gailard, Corps of Engineers, now In
charge of Washington aqueduct, is relieved
from that duty and ordered to Tampa, Fla,
for duty on his staff in charge Of the en-
cheering operations of that division. Cap
tain Edward Burr, Corps of Engineers
principal assistant to the Engineer Com
missioner of the District Of Columbia, has
been detached from that duty and ordered
tc relieve Captain Gaillard Of charge Of
the Washington aqueduct.
General Wilson, CHIEF Of engineers. says
that these changes are only temporary
and are necessitated by the state of war
existing between the United States and
Spain. This state OF affairs naturally
called upon the engineer department of the
army for considerable extra service, and
necessitated doubling up the duties of nearly
all of it's officers throughout the country,
in connection with the building of en-
placements for batteries and the establish
ment of fields of mines and torpedoes in
the principal harbors exposed to attack by
the enemy. He added that the orders to
Captains Burr and Gaillard were the only
ones so far issued affecting officers station
ed in Washington. but that it was pos
sible that the exigencies of the situation
might require the relief of other officers of
the corps now on duty in this city.
The relief of Captain Burr will neces-
sarily increase the duties of Captains Black
and Beach at the District buildings. 1t IS
believed. however, that they will be able
by doubling up to administer the important
affairs of the department in their charge
without loss or embarrassment to the in
terests of the District. Engineer Commits
sioner Black has filed an application at
fhn nnvND ~, fnr I've dI1fH In
the army in the field, and 1t is possible
that his request may be granted by his
assignment to the staff of one of the corps
or division commanders of the army Sc
lected to drive the Spaniards out of Cuba
In that event 1t Is probable that Captain
Beach will be left in solitary control Of the
affairs of the engineer department and
that some means will be taken to give him
pOfntment of q suitable number Of civil
engineers If found to be possible under the
law.
The news Of the assignment Of Captain
Burr to the Washington adueduct was
received at the District building with great
regret not only by the District Commits
sioners. hut also by all the employees of
the District government nv whom he is
Known. CAPTAIN Burr has been at the
District building for three and n half years
having been detailed there In November
1894. He is the senior assistant to the
Engineer Commissioner Captain VIM NJ
Black. and has charge OF the water. light
ine and plumbing departments.
CAPTAIN Burr learned Of his detail from
Star reporter. to whom he stated that
he would part from his associates in the
District building and the employees gener-
allv with much regret. for his relations
with all have always been Of the most
pleasant nature.
It is said that an effort will be made
to induce the War Department or the chief
of engineers to permit Cantain Burr to re-
VAIN at the District building and con-
true his connection with the District gov
eminent When the matter was mentioned
to Captain Burr. he declined TO say any
thing whatever beyond the simple state
n,ant that whatever duties might he as
SIGNED to him he would endeavor to per-
form to the best Of his ability.