Evening star., 1901-12-05
ASHFORD APPOINTED
Assistant Building Inspector Becomes
Chief of the Bureau.
SUCCEEDS FHE LATE JOHN B. BRADY
Indorsed by Institute Of Architects
and by Prominent Citizens.
NATIVE OF WASHINGTON

N Al 1 d Of w ASdlN 1ON
The District Commissioners today an
nounced the appointment of Mr.. Snowden
Ashford as inspector of buildings for the
District Of Columbia to succeed the late Mr..
John B. Brady. Mr.. Ashford has been as
sistant building inspector since 1885, and
his elevation to the higher Office has met
with universal commendation. Since the
death of Mr.. Brady 1t has been generally
understood that Mr.. Ashford would be
chosen as his successor and although it is
stated there were several applicants for
the place from outside the Office there has
been no real opposition.
In announcing the appointment this morn
ing, Major John Biddle, the Engineer Com
missioner, under whose supervision the
building department is placed, stated that
the Commissioners had promoted Mr.. Ash
ford not alone because of the fact that they
believed in civil service promotion In worthy
cases, but because they believed Mr.. Ash
ford was pre-eminently the man for the
place, and because he had been so univer-
sally indorsed and commended by archi-
tects, builders and citizens. Being person.
ally acquainted with Mr.. Ashford and his
work, the Commissioners place the greatest
confidence in him. Major Bidd1e further
stated that Mr.. Ashford had been PERSONAL
iy recommended to him by Captain Beach,
who was recently relieved as Engineer Com
was Captain Beach's predecessor in the
office, and by Captain D. D. Gaillard, who
was formerly assistant to the Engineer
Commissioner and who had immediate su-
pervision of the building inspectors office.
IndOrsed by Prominent Citizens.
delegation from the Washington Chap
ter Of the American Institute of Architects
called on the Engineer Commissioner and
indorsed Mr.. Ashford. He was also indors-
ed by Mr.. John Joy Edison, former presi-
dent of the Board of Trade, and Mr.. Thos.
W. Smith. the present president of that
organization. The officers Of the Business
Mems Association also recommended Mr..
Ashford's appointment, as did Messrs.
George Truesdell, A. P. Pardon, Bernard
r. Green, E. J. Stellwagen, John L. Smith
meyer, Marsh & Peter, William Stone
Albert, William Poindexter, ]. C. Hornblow-
er, Glenn Brown, F. B. Pile, Leon E. Des-
seq and others. Delegations of builders
have voluntarily called on the Commission
ers to express the hope that Mr.. Ashford
would be appointed. The spontaneous man
ner In which Mr.. Ashford was SO gener-
popularity. He is a most affable gentle
man, and, it is believed will make an ex-
cellent official. The office carries with It
a salary of $3.50.
fords appointment was made at the Dis
trict building he was at once called upon
and heartily congratulated by the heads of
departments and the employees generally
1t has been understood for several days
past that the appointment was to be made
as soon as Commissioner Ross who has
been absent from the city, should return.
Mr.. Ross arrived in Washington this morn
ing. Major Biddle at once made out the
recommendation for the appointment and 1t
was signed by the other Commissioners,
who expressed the heartiest approval of
the choice.
The elevation of Mr.. Ashford creates a
vacancy in the Office of assistant Inspector
Of buildings. The matter of an appoint
ment to that position will be taken up by
Major Biddle, with Captain Chester Hard
ing assistant to the Engineer Commission
er who supervises the building department.
and Mr.. Ashford. 1t is understood that a
service.
Born I'm This City.
Mr.. Ashford is native Washingtonian,
having oeen born in this city in 1866. he
is a son of the late Mr.. Mahlon Ashford
the well-known attorney, who died recently
Mr. Ashford first attended school at the
famous old Rittenhouse Academy, Of which
o. c. White was principal. While there he
was schoolmate of Mr. Henry B. E. Mac
farland, now president of the board of Dis
trict Commissioners. Leaving the Ritten-
mousse AcdueIny ASnIOTu went the
Lehigh Preparatory School at Bethlehem.
Pa. While there he determined upon a
technical course Of education. He was
afterward graduated from Lafayette Col
lege, Pennsylvania, having made ready for
the architects profession.
Returning from college to Washington
Mr.. Ashford entered the office of A. B.
Mullett, ex-supervising architect of :he
treasury, and later was associated with
John L. Smithmeyer. For two years he
worked as craftsman on the plans for the
Congressional Library. With the compile
tion of that work Mr.. Ashford went to
West Virginia to go into the building busi
ness In 1892 he returned to Washington
and formed a partnership with Howard Sill,
afterward practicing privately his profess
sion of architecture.
Mr.. Ashford entered the District service
In 1895, when he was appointed assistant
inspector of buildings to succeed Mr.. John
B. Brady, who at that time was promoted
to be inspector. During the past two years
Mr.. Ashford has been on many occasions
in entire charge of the Office Of the inspec-
tor because of the continued Ill health OF
Mr.. Brady.