Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-25
COLONEL BLACK DETACHED
Engineer Commissioner Ordered to Report
for Duty at Ghickamaugua.
Capt. Lansing III. Beach Detailed to
Serve ~ District COmmissioner-
Effect of the Change.

An oroer was issued by Major General
Miles today detaching Col William NJ
Black, Corps of Engineers. recently ap-
Pointed lieutenant colonel of engineers in
the volunteer army, from duty as Engi-
neer Commissioner of the District of CO.
iumbia. and assigning him to duty on the
staff of Major General Wade. command
ing the Sd Army Corps at Chickamauga
Ga. Colonel Black will be chief engineer
OF that corps. Another order issued to-
Gay assigned Captain L. II. Beach, Corps
OF Engineer. as Engineer Commissioner of
the District Of Columbia, to act in the alb
sence of Colonel Black. Captain Beach is
at present assistant to the Engineer Com
missioner
The news of the detachment of Colonel
6iack and the detailing of Capt Lansing
n. Beach to serve in his stead was first
lace known to them today by Star re-
Porter: me fact quickly spread through
the District building. and while there was
an expression of general regret that Colonel
Black had been ordered away. yet there
Mas Mas on inc other hand general satisfac-
ucn mat his assistant, Capt. Beach, is to
act as Engineer Commissioner during his
absence. ~
Col. Blacks Service.
Colonel Black. for hs was promoted to
such rank in the engineer corps Of the
army several days ago. was detailed as
engineer Commissioner of the District
March L. 1897. relieving Major Charles F..
Powell.
lie entered upon his duties enthusiastical
~, and his efforts as Engineer Commission
er, particularly In the matter of highway
extensions and building operations have
earned for him the respect and admiratio,
OF the people of the District His efforts in
anoener hne that of paving the way for an
agreement between the District and the
railroad companies for the abolition Of
grade crossings. have also been particular-
~ noteworthy and suco essful. Col Black
VIII leave the District building with not
only sincere regret on the part of his ASSOC
ciates on the board of Commissioners but
also on the part of the employees Of the Dis
tr1ct government. the hope being gener,l
tnaI ne Will be able to resume his duties ct
no distant day.
His Successor.
Captain La nsing H. Beach. who will act
as Engineer Commissioner meantime, was
detailed as an assistant to the Engineer
commissioner. October 80, 1894, and has
proved himself a most intelligent and cam
aoie omcer. In his attempt to perform the
duties OF the office of Engineer Commits
sioner. Col. Black believes, and SO ex-
pressed himself to a Star reporter. that
captain Beach will perform them to the
entire satisfaction of the people of the
OiSuic.- captain Beach is regarded by
ana Wight as a man of great ability. and
they are much pleased that he has been
detained to perform the duties of Engineer
Commissioner
Much will depend upon the wording of
the orders issued by the President detach-
Ing Col Black and detailing Captain
Beach as Engineer Commissioner The law
PROVIDES that upon change in the person
mel or the board of Commissioners ali funds
must De turned into the treasury and new
accounts opened upon the organization of
the new board of Commissioners To do
an that requires several days. but it is un-
derstood that the orders issued merely di-
rect that Captain Beach shall act as Enein
Ger Commissioner during the absence of
Col. Black. The law provides that the
assistant to the Engineer Commissioner
may act as said Commissioner during the
absence or the Commissioner, and in that
event no surrender of funds and opening
OF new accounts are necessary.
Specific Detail
1t was stated at the District building late
this afternoon that the orders specifically
detail Captain Beach as Engineer Commits
sioner of the District, and that they shall
take effect June first. The effct of this, il
was stated, will prevent any confusion of
accoun meantime. and will at the same
time not prevent Major Black from relin-
gushing the duties of the office of Engineer
Commissioner, which he is expected to do.
Whether there will be any change in the
present organization of the board of Com
missioners upon Captain Beach assuming
the duties of Engineer Commissioner is not
OF course, yet definitely known 1t is be-
heyed, however. that Mr.. Ross will be con-
tinued as president of the board, and that
the various departments over which the
three Commissioners now have immediate
charge will not be changed.