Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-24
NEW COMMISSIONER
Major John Biddle Selected to Succeed
Captain Beach.
CHANGE TAKES EFFECT NOVEMBER |
Appo'ntee Has Had a Distinguished
Career in the Army.
OF HIS LIFE

An important order was approved at the
War Department this afternoon, involving
change in the board Of Commissioners of
the District. The order was recommended
by the chief of engineers and directs Major
John Biddle, Corps Of Engineers, to assume
the duties of Engineer Commissioner Of the
District. relieving Capt. Lansing H. Beach,
Corps Of Engineers, to take effect Novem-
Der 1 next. The order is subject to the
Presidents approval.
Maj. Biddle Is one Of the ablest officers Of
the scientific department of the army, and
has rendered particularly brilliant service
during the Spanish war and the Philippine
insurrection.
He was born in Detroit, Mich, and went
from there to the University Of Michigan
later leaving that institution to enter the
Military Academy, where he graduated
with high honors in the class of 81. Being
one of the star graduates he was assigned
to the corps of engineers.
He served with the battalion of engineers
at Wiletts Point, N. Y, until June !5
1884, when he was made engineer officer of
the department of Dakota, and remained
on that duty until December 10, 1887, when
he vas made assistant instructor of prac
tical military engineering at the Military
Academy. In 1889 he had charge of post
schools and was afterward placed on de-
diately after the great flood at that place
In Cuba and the PhilippXn
At the outbreak of the Spanish war he
was appointed lieutenant colonel and chief
of engineers of volunteers and accompanied
General Miles expedition to Porto Rico
After the evacuation of Cuba by the Span
ish army he served efficiently chief en-
gineer of the department of Matanzas He
went to the Philippines in November, 1899,
and performed valuable service as chief en-
gineer of that military division, remaining
there until June 26 last. Since his arrival
at San Francisco, on that date, he has been
on duty under the direction of the Secre-
tary OF tae Navy as member of the board
Of officers to make survey, plan and esti-
mates for the improvement of the harbor
of the Island of Guam.
He is now at San Francisco. and will
probably remain in that vicinity until he
comes to Washington to assume the duties
of Engineer Commissioner of the District
His present assignment is distinct tribute
to his high ability as well a special
recognition of his particularly arduous and
efficient services in the field during active
hostilities.
Capt. Beach's CreditabIe Service.
Captain Beach has made an excellent rec
ord in the District Of Columbia and he will
take the best wishes of the residents with
him to his new field Of duty. His service
here has been long and creditable and
dates from November 8, 1884, when he was
assigned to duty as assistant to the Engi-
neer Commissioner. While so serving,
June 1, 1898, he was appointed Engineer
Commissioner, succeeding Col. William M.
Black, who was relieved to go into the field
during the Spanish war. Captain Beach
has been ordered to take charge of the
river and harbor works at and in the VI
cinity of Detroit, Mich, of the most
important stations in the engineer service.
Nox~s tho nlsk.aot n,,H.lsm~
When Commissioner Macfarland, presi-
dent of the District board, was informed Of
the order from the War Department ap-
pointing Major Bidde to succeed Captain
Beach as Engineer Commissioner Of the
District, he expressed the greatest surprise.
There had been no intimaton at the Dis
trict building of a proposed change. Mr..
Mcfarland stated that he supposed Capt.
Beach's term Of duty would continue for
some time longer. He remembered, how
ever, that some one stated he had been on
duty In the District government for three
years last May.
He has not been Engineer Commissioner
for that period, however, having been for a
time assistant to Capt. w. NJ. Black, when
the latter held the Office on the District
board.
Captain Beach is out of the city today,
having gone to Philadelphia accompanied
by Dr. Woodward, the health officer, to in
spect the almshouse and municipal hos
pital and morgue in connection with the
proposed new structures of this class in the
District
Capt. Beach IS very popular with his
brother Commissioners. and it is known
that both Mr.. Macfarland and Mr. Ross
will be sincerely grieved at his departure.
Capt. Beach has taken great pride in his
work for the District and is justly proud
Of the record he has made as Engineer
Commissioner
There are many very important District
projects pending in which the engineer de-
partment, and especially Capt. Beach, are
deeply concerned, and to which the captain
| has given much time and study.