Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-31
DUMoNT's SUCCESSOR
GEORGE uHLER ~ TAKE THE
OATH TOMORROW.
His Career as a Marine Engineer Is a
Long and Honorable
One.

George Uhler of Philadelphia, who viii
succeed James A. Dumont as supervising
inspector general OF the steamboat inspec-
ton service, is in Washington. He will
take the oath Of office and enter upon his
duties tomorrow.
George Uhler. a son Of Richard Johns Uh-
Ter and Mary Duckett. was born near Della
ware City. New Castle county. Delaware,
June 5. 1853. and after few months at
tendance at the primary school of Miss An
ME Biggs entered the Delaware Academy
at Delaware City. where he remained about
two years. His father died in 1858 and in
1865 he removed to Philadelphia with his
mother. where. after a tuition Of less than
two years at the Hancock Public Grammar
School. he entered wholesale notion house,
where he remained about eighteen months,
but his love of the wateraand his mechani-
cal inclination combined made life ashore
simply impossible. and the summer of 1869
found him engaged as fireman on the
steamer Decatur of the Ericsson line, rum
ming between New York and Baltimore.
His Marine Career.
His career was now practically marked
out. and while engaged in minor positions
in the engine department of the steamers
and steamships of the different lines sail
ing out of Philadelphia he was studying
uaTu anu preparing AilASclA lOI SOIlelulIS
better. September 10, 1873, he presented
himself before the board Of local inspectors
at Philadelphia, successfully passed the ex-
animation. and was granted his first license
as marine engineer. and after he had
passed through the various grades Of
license he was granted in November 1877,
at New Orleans. his certificate as an UNI
limited chief engineer of ocean steamers.
At the time that he was first licensed he
was sent to assume charge Of the FL line
Of fnwh0atS the Savannah river nd
Tybee bar. at the same time acting as chief
engineer Of the steamers Constitution, Gla-
diolus and other steamers. and after service
III Savannah. Charleston. New Orleans and
other ports on the Atlantic and gulf ports
he was appointed chief engineer Of the
world-famous America. which at this time
was the largest and most powerful steamer
Of her class in the world. equipped with
engines and boilers more powerful and eff
fective than many Of the transatlantic
steamers OF that time, and practically the
only long distance deep-water towing
steamer in American waters, remaining in
the America until May 80, 1881, when he
entered the service of the Morgan line
Cater the Southern Pacific Company as
first assistant engineer of the steamship
Chalmette, continuing in this steamship un-
til January Is. 1882. when he was appointed
chief engineer Of the steamship Lone Star
Of the same company
President of Beneficial Association.
chief engineer Of the various steamers of
the different types they came into serv-
Ice until January %, 1893. when he was
elected president Of the National Marine
Engineers Beneficial Association Of the
United States. and has since been reelected
ten times by the acclamatory vote Of the
national convention.
His mechanical service while working
upon and experimenting the construction
and repairs Of the different steamers under
his care has given him an experience that
Is peculiarly valuable to him an engineer,
and to his employers. who can appreciate it
as one Of the most important adjuncts Of
the successful marine engineer.
He has a fair knowledge Of navigation in
all its branches. and Of construction in all
Its details and those who are competent to
judge have said that he Is a good sailor, a
careful and painstaking officer and one
whose life and record is as an open book,
highly respected by his employers, honored
and affectionately regarded by his ASSOC
ciates. professional and social, and numbers
among his thousands of friends many who
are high in the councils Of the nation and
hundreds who are leaders In the civil pro-
fessions.