Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-30

morning SlSnl1ylnS MS acceptance OF the
office. Mr.. Stevens is now in Chicago, and
will undoubtedly meet Secretary Taft for a
personal consultation over Panama canal
affairs during the short stay of Secretary
Tafts party In that city tomorrow evening.
1t had been arranged that Mr.. Stevens
should accompany Secretary Taft to the
Philippines, but that plan has been aban-
doned. and he will proceed to Panama as
soon he can make his arrangements to
do SO. His salary is to be $4,000.
War Department Statement.
The following statement regarding the ap-
pointment was given out at the War De-
partment this afternoon:
"Mr. John F. Stevens has been appointed
chief engineer of the isthmian canal with
residence on the isthmus, to take effect at
once.
Mr.. Stevens is now in the service of the
Philippine commission as government rail
way expert In the LOCO mics of Philippine
railways about to be constructed under
government aid. Mr.. Stevens was to have
today accompanied Secretary Taft to the
Philippines, but has been transferred to the
Panama canal.
He was until recently vice president and
general manager of the Rock Island sys-
TEN. formerly chief engineer anG general
manager of the Great Northern railway,
and has extended experience in the pro-
lection, construction operation and man
agement OF large enterprises.
THE duties of chief engineer of the 18TH
mian canal especially relate to the pract-
cal work of construction and operation.
The technical plans are to be determined
by the commission as a body with the ad-
v1sory international board of engineers re-
Gently appointed by the President, and
whose plans as decided from stage to
stage, will be executed on the isthmus by
the chief engineer. With the chief engJ-
cOQfinlnQ himself IN he
OF construction and operation and concen-
trating upon the execution of the plans as
adopted by the commission it is believed
that the canal work will be more actively
prosecuted"
Mr.. Stevens principal work which made
for him record with the Great Northern,
was done while he was engineer of con-
struction in 1899. when, with two Indian
guides and pack mule he started from
Assiniboine to lay out the western extern
sion of the Great Northern to the coast
The Indians deserted him, and his pack
mule died. He persevered in his work and
after much hardship completed the task
locating the line as 1t now runs. Stevens
pass. In the Cascade mountains was named
after him.
Mr. Wallace is personally acquainted
with Mr.. Stevens, and when the department
was considering the latters appointment
under the Philippine government he wrote
a strong letter of commentator, In which
he spoke of Mr.. Stevens .'as of the best
constructing engineers In the country"
Career Of New Chief Engineer.
Mr.. Stevens was born in 1853. After be-
ing educated in the public schools and the
State Normal School, he went to Minne-
sofa In 1874 and was employed that year
ana the next assistant in the city en-
gineer's office at Minneapolis. Early in
1916 he went to Texas and for three years
was employed on preliminary ana location
surveys as chief engineer of the proposed
railroad between Denison and Sabine pass.
He spent considerable time during this
period in the service of other roads In oper-
alton.
In the fall of 1879 he went to New Mexico
and entered the service of the Denver and
Rio Grande railway assistant engineer
in charge of heavy mountain location and
construction. He remained at this work
during 1850 and part of 1881. when he went