The times., 1899-09-12

Capt David DUB. Gaillard, Of the Corps
of Engineers, United States Army, who
was assigned to duty as assistant to En-
gnser Commissioner Beach during the lat
ter part Of July, reported for duty at the
District Building yesterday and was as
signed to the desk reserved for him in the
room adjoining Captain Beachs Office,
The arrival of Captain Gaiilard win relieve
the Engineer Commissioner of much work,
the duties of his Office being very heavy.
Ever since the retirement of Engineer
Commissioner Black, at the beginning of
the war with Spain to enter active service
in the field Captain Beach has been with
out assistants. For many months Captain
Beach accomplished his work unaided. but
the War Department finally detailed Capt.
William T. Craighill, Corps Of Engineers,
10 assist him. Although Captain CraighiD
proved TO be a valuable acquisition, the
work was yet too heavy for the officers in
cha. ge. Consequently the War Department
assigned Captain Gaillard to serve as an
other assistant Under the law the Dis
trict Engineer Commissioner is entitled to
three assistants, and although the full
quota is seldom supplied, there have gen.
orally been two assistants assigned.
Captain Gaillard is regarded as one of
the brightest and most progressive of the
young officers in the Engineer Corps. He
was in charge of the Washington Aqeduct
for several years prior 10 April. 1898, when
he applied to the War Department for as
signment in the field during the war with
Spain Re was succeeded by Col. A. NJ.
Miller, who is now in charge of the aque-
duct. His long connection with the water
department made him thoroughly familiar
with the great problem OF increasing the
local water supply, and he is familiar with
all the shortcomings and needs of the Dis
triet in this regard. He was born in South
Carolina, and graduated from the Military
Academy on June 10, 1884 He stood high
in his class, and was assigned 10 the Engi-
neer Corps of the Army, serving with the
battalion of engineers until 1887. For eight
years he served with Captain Black on river
and harbor duty in Florida. He was a mem
Der of the International Boundary Commis-
sion for locating and marking the boundary
between this country and Mexico from No
vember. 1891, until November 1896. He
served at Fort Monroe a brief period, and
then came to Washington, in December,
1895. to assume charge of the Washington
Aqueduct- In October Of the same year
he received his commission as captain. In
tne Iall OF 1870 ne was IN cnarBe OF the sur
vey of Portland Channel. Alaska.
When he was assigned TO the field at the
beginning OF the war with Spain he served
on the staff of Brigadier General Wade. and
was then appointed colonel of the Third
United States Volunteer Engineers. which
regiment he organized and served with at
Jefferson Barracks, Mo: Lexington, KY:
Mason, Ga, and Cisnfuegos, Cuba. He was
chief engineer officer in the Department of
Santa Clara, Cuba, from February until
April of the present year. He was mus
tered out of the volunteer service, with his
regiment, on May II, 1899. He was then
assigned TO temporary duty at the Washing
ton Aqueduct. assisting Colonel Miller, and
was assigned TO his present duty on July
q last, but he was not expected TO report
for duty until today. Captain Gaillard is
senior to Captain Craighil. and will there
fore serve as first assistant to Captain
Beach