Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-25

Lathrop, VINO is IN Japan. and Miss Anita
Cluss. In February, 1888 he married Rosa,
daughter of Jacob Schmidt, in Baltimore.
Mrs. Cluss died about eight years ago.
Mr.. Cluss death was directly caused by
heat prostration, which occurred about a
week before his death. For several days
he was confined to his chair, and then was
forced to take to his bed, from which he
never arose. During his Illness and since
the announcement of his death many
friends have visited the house and shown
friends Mr.. Cluss numbered President
Grant, Gen. John NJ Wilson and other men
high In official circles at the national cap
ital He asked to submit a design for
the Grant memorial tomb in New York city,
and did SO, winning the first prize for the
structure. But upon the decision of the
management of the enterprise to give the
work to New Yorker, his plans were not
used. He received the prize money, how
ever, and nothing was detracted from the
credit of his work.
Hebron, Wurtemburg Germany. was
the birthplace of Adolph Cluss, who early
began the study of civil engineering and
architecture, as well academic subjects.
He entered the practice of his profession in
Mayence. He came to this country in 1S43
and filed appointments in the technical
branches of the United States coast survey
and the Navy and Treasury Departments
in this city until the outbreak of the civil
war. When the Junior naval officers of the
navy had been absorbed by the sea service
Admiral John A. Dahlgren in the ordnance
yard of the navy, having become a close
friend Of that officer. During this time he
had charge of the ballistic pendulum and
the experimental battery of the navy, test
ing new inventions. etc. His work here
won for him considerable recognition.
Won by Competition.
He was intrusted with work under the
District government while he held this po-
before he was given this latter employ
ment, and he measured up to the require
ments. He worked out many engineering
and architectural problems for the local
government Some of his designs in this
city were awarded gold medals for prog
ress In the school architecture at the
worlds fair In Vienna In 1873 and IN Phila-
delphia in 1876 great many Of the older
school buildings of the city were built from
his drawings. His official reports and per-
sonal efforts brought about the substitution
of covered vaults, subsoil drainage and
sewerage for the offensive nuisance of Tiber
creek, which ran through the heart or the
city.
AS stated he designed the Department of
Agriculture building. He also reconstruct
ed the building of the Smithsonian lnstitu-
ton after il had been burned. The design
ing of the new government printing office
was one of his latest achievements. he
also designed the Masonic Temple in Wash
ington and the Concordia Opera House in
Baltimore.
In 1872 a commission was rendered him
by President u. S. Grant the technical
member of the board of public works OF
the District of Columbia, which inaugurated
comprehensive systems for the grading,
sewerage, paving and ornamentfng of
streets and avenues, laying out of nu-
merous parked reservations and the plant
ing Of about 10 600 shade trees, which have
converted Washington into 1.-The city be-
tween trees" This board expired by limi-
tation in June, 1874.
He designed the building for the National
Museum in association with Paul Schulze
which contract was obtained after a limited
competition among architects in 1877, and
rebuilt the Department of the Interior ana
patent office buildings after the fire of 1879
With the fireproof reconstruction the whole
Interior architecture was independently de-
signed and rearranged In Italian renais-
sance, while harmony with the classic Gre
tanned. An extensive practice In all branch
es of private and corporate, ecclesiastic and
secular work, most of 1t above utilitarian
and tending toward the monumental type,
had been accommodating since the civil war.
In 1890 he became inspector of public
buildings of the United States throughout
the country and continued as such until
1895. Later he assisted on problems in
trusted by Congress to the chief of engi-
neers of the army. Gen ]. NJ Wilson, and
generally on technical consultations. pre-
ferring in general practice to give way to
younger generations.
Mr.. Cluss had been an active member of
the American Institute of Architects since
1867