The Washington times., 1906-06-24
Commerce aLabor
tag4gasssl1sl tag ~ -. .. tES - :

moment George Johannes. Of the office
| OF the disbursing clerk. accepted the ap-
pointment as committee OF one on ar
rangement of trips. 1t may not be out
of place to remark that all employees Of
/ the department and their friends are
! welcome. This Sunday the party will
begin with n short spin on their bicycles.
which will terminate at the wharf In the
| southwestern section OF the city, where
they viii embark on a launch for a ride
down the Potomac.
The Department Of Commerce and La
Dor. the child OF the Administration" :"
is certainly well represented at the many
educational institutions OF this city.
Quite a few graduated with the close Of
this years wei-k. A few who are well
known come 10 mind. Julius l.. Arnt-
zen, of the Office of the chief clerk, grad
uated with the degree OF Doctor Of Medi-
cine; John s Biggs. Victor G. Crois-
sant, and Giles r. Taggart. of the Bu-
reau of Corporations, secured the degree
of Bachelor of Laws. as did Arthur II.
/ CodingtOn and Therrett Towles. of the
Office Of the Light House Board. and
| Wilbur w. Fowler and Daniel J. Rich
ardson. of the office of the Secretary.
Planning for Vacations
School is now over. all have passed Cd.
and a good time, topped of with vaca-
tion. is the next thing on the program.
| Just now we keep the ticket offices
working ovef time giving out circulars of
/ summer resorts. each setting forth why
that particular resort Is the best, we
/ fill the malls with letters inquiring as
! TO hotel rates al the various resorts,
| eventually We secure time table and
| thea. at last. We examine the contents
Of our pockets. figure how much more
OF the necessary shekels viii materialize
/ in time. decide that the trip we have in
mind is too expensive and look over our
/ batch OF circulars again. There are
many ways of getting better acquainted
with our country.
There are few. services Of the Govern
rnent that hold more interest than the
Light House Service. The writer has
enjoyed many visits 10 light houses, and
has been fortunate enough on several
occasions 10 launch an old keeper on a
story. Practically all OF the keepers are
men who have at one time followed the
/ sea. which possesses a peculiar charm
! for them that they are unable TO resist.
! They are all brave men, at times beset
| by many dangers. but have il drilled
into them that. no matter what be the
circumstances, their light must burn at
night.
Stll, the average keeper is not an old
/ man, although the Oldest person in the
employ OF the Department Of Commerce
and Labor is a lighthouse keeper. He
| Is Capt William Welch. and was born
on May 6, 1917. On June %, 1858. just
| forty-eight years ago yesterday Cap
/ tain WeIch was appointed keeper OF the
| Van Wies Point Beacon Light. New
WI he ha1A
since This station IS prettily situated
on the western shore OF the Hudson
river. about thirty miles below Albany,
y. Y. and has been seen by all OF US
who have enjoyed a trip down that
river on the Day line.
Heroic Work of Lighthouse Men.
Unusual circumstances occur at times
when keeper can bring upon himself
considerable credit by prompt and ef-
hcient action. Such a case occurred
during the earthquake and fire of April
| is at San Francisco. John c. Lime.
keeper Of the Yerba Buena Lighthouse
depot. went 10 the city Of San Francisco
before travel in that direction was pro-
hibited and saved the cash book and
vouchers, for the current quarter from
the oficf At that time II was not
thought that the city would burn,
though earthquake shocks were fire.
Quent Mr.. Lime visited Berkeley on
April 19, and, learning that the lenses
Of the light stations at Mare Island
and East Brother Island were damaged.
! shipped lens lanterns 20 each of these
stations. The depot gasolene launch.
which is under his direction, was run
ming until midnight carrying refugees
from Meiggs wharf and Fort Mason to
landings near the ferry. thereby aiding
some three hundred people. The light
house tender Madrono and light-vessel
No. 20 assisted i'm carrying refugees to
various points in the bay, and at night
the officers and crew gave UP their beds
10 women and children and the galley
was kept going while provisions were
freely issued 10 all on board Eventu-
ally. all provisions gave out, but on
secure more from the relief stores. On
several occasions lght-VeSSel No. 20 was
in danger and Mr.. Lime took her in
and out of reach of the area Of the
conflagration. which by then had become
enormous.
Charles Earl Resigns.
Charles Earl. of Maryland. special at
torney at 50 800 per annum in the Bu-
reau of Corporations. has resigned to
| accept more lucrative position in the
Department OF Justice Mr.. Earl en-
tered on duty in this department on
April IL. 1903. as assistant attorney at
| 81, 500 per annum. since which time he
has had two promotions
Walter Pumphrey, of the Office of the
chief clerk. is on leave for the remainder
! of the month.
William w. Houseknecht, of the dis
J bursting Office. left last week for his
home, Conyngham. Pa, where he will
| spend his vacation.
DIR. w. F. GatcheH. chief clerk In the
Office of the supervising inspector gen
eraI of the Steamboat Inspection Service,
Is away on leave until after July 4.
William ]. Peters. of the Bureau OF
! Immigration, has been granted leave for
! twentythree days commencing July 2,
and will visit Groveport, Franklin coun-
] ~, Ohio
! Morris Jackson, of the Bureau of Sta
/ tistics, has left for two months trip
abroad to regain his health.
| Henry T. Dysland, of the Office OF the