The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-30

Capt. Harry Taylor, United States corps
of engineers who has been in charge OF
the government Notifications and the
river and harbor work Of the Puget sound
district for the past four years, will not
leave for hts new station at Portsmouth,
". H., for at least month yet He has
received no notice OF the time OF arrival
OF his successor. Mai. John Mills. AMI 1t
Is possible that the change In the Seattle
Offices may not take place before Jnnu-
airy ].
The present whereabouts OF Mai. Mills
are not known at the local offices. He
went to Paris early In the summer as the
representative Of the United States at the
eighth International congress OF navign-
tion, and also at the International con-
eress OF electricity. The October / circu-
lar OF the department shows him assigned
TO examine the regulating works OF the
Lower Nile. IN Egypt. IL Maj Mills Is
At present engaged In this work X viii be
n least two months before he reaches Se-
attic.
Maj Mills In accounted one Of the most
able engineers In the country. He gra1u-
ated from the military academy at the
head OF the class OF 1891. and for over ten
years was assigned to various positions In
the engineering Offices In New York city.
He made speciality OF electricity. the
electric buoys on Gedney channel. leading
into New York harbor. being his best
known work. These buoys line thu chan
mel like street lamps and make II possible
for ships 10 easil.' enter the harbor at eny
hour OF the night.
lie was also an instructor In the ergi-
necring school at wiIlett's Point. ~. r.,
and later had extensive experience with
the lighthouse service, being at one time
IN charge OF lighthouse district en- the
Mississippi and Tor several years secre--
tt1ry q the lighthouse commission at
D.
Tho government evidently appreciates
the importancs Of the work IN this dis
tfict when, y the course Of ne regular
man Of 40 high q standing as MAI. Mills
!. Capt. Tayior's compliment TO his sue
Capt. Harry Taylor. the engineer whose
scene Of work win soon be shifted from
tbs Pacific to the Atlantic. has been in the
Northwest for nine years. and in charge
Ct the Puget sound district for moro than
November IA. 1891. he took charge Of the
construction of the locks ut the Cascades.
on re . Columbia AK liver and rsmansd there ere
attic. Since that time no has had charge
Of the ferliHcation work on Puget sound.
and has directed all river and harbor I'M
proveuenta<north of the Columbia liver.
lie has directed the expenditure Of over
1tn.0o Puget sound he found defense
less, and he leaves Il with some Of tho
greatest forttf1catfons In the world.
Capt. Tayior's chief work has been the
construction Of the fortifications At Port
Townsend. His previous experience made
While ~s ssrvns a. ASSISTANT ssf 70 Col Giles
pie. In charge or the work In New York
harbor, he WAS IN immediate control OF
the construction Of the present style OF
tcrtinoatfons. Up to That time the gov
eminent had built practically no harbor
dcfcnses since the close Of the civil war.
An appropriation was made for expert
been the rapid development of the system
of coast defenses
Capt. Taylor found no fortiications on
eral way. He has rendered the entrance
TO Puget sound almost irnpreguabe by the
construction OF Forts worden. Casey and
Flaglsr ut Port Townsend.
The government engineers are regularly
assigned 70 new stations once In four
years. Capt Taylor was notified about "a
year and . half ago that he would soon
be transferred, but he entered a petition
10 be allowed TO remain until the compile
ton Of the work at Port Townsend. The
Qualifications have now been finished. and
time has been selected for making the
change In engineers The next great
work the Lake Washington canal. u stili
term OF his successor win enable II 20 be
advanced well on toward completion.
In addition 10 hts Port Townsend work
capt. Taylor has started the fartincations
at the entrance TO Port orchard The con
tract for the jetty at Gray's hRrbor has
been let and the work IL now about half
done. The contract hns alsa been let and
work II In progress upon the improvement
IF Everett hafbor IN which approximate
" ta0,ee will be spent. The plans for all
these works are completed and their exc
cntinn VII be Tho Only task passing TO
MAJ Millis
Capt fayior's work At Portsmouth will
be similar Go that which he has done IN
feattie, He will have charge OF all river
barhur and forsincmtton work on the Al
lsntic coast between Portland. Me, and
Hosten, Mass