New-York tribune., 1907-09-17

ron With this command Admiral Walker made
a cruise in the Mediterranean and in the spring
of 1880 went TO Brazil to congratulate that nation
on it's newly established republican form of gov
ernnent. Returning the United States. he
cruised north and south along the coast. conduct
ing drills and evolutiors. Congress stinu-
lated by the excellent records of the and
ships 10 vote appropriations for ard better
vessels and for larger navy.
When the relations with Chill became acute. in
the fall of 1891. Commodore Walker sent TO
AIontevideo to await Developments returning again
to the United States in 1892 and taking command
Of the North Atlantic station. He commanded one
Of the divisions of the Columbian Naval Review
fleet in 1898, and hauled down his flag in May of
that year. Promoted to the full rank of rear ad-
rnral IN January. 1894 he became president Of the
board of inspection and survey. In March, 1894 be-
cause Of the unsettled state Of affairs IN Hawaii
Admiral Walker was ordered TO the command of
the Pacific station and remained at Honolulu four
months, again hauling down his flag at Mare ISL
and. California, in August. While he at Homo
lulu the Constitutional Convention held and
the permanent republican government inaugurated-
His published dispatches form interesting con-
trtbution to that period of Hawaiian history. He
had made keen. close study of the situation. but
his reports clearly If guardedly favoring the an
nexation that followed six years later were di-
rectv opposed to President Clevelands views and
policy Shortly after his relief from command Of
the Pacific station Rear Admiral Walker made
chairman of the Lighthouse Board and held that
post until his retirement for age in 1897.
In the time his knowledge and experience
were IN frequent demand the Navy Department
and elsewhere, He presided over several naval
boatds convened to settle difficult technical ques-
tions affecting the navy and president of the
mixed commission appointed to determine the loca-
ton of deep harbor the coast Of Southern
California
Almost Immediately after his retirement. how
ever. his appointment president of the
Nicaraguan Canal Commission. which sailed for
Central America the gunboat Newport IN De-
cemher 1897, The reports made by the commission
revealed extraordinary amount of exploration
and surveying done by the engineers under Rear
Admiral Walkers supervision: and the results of
their investigation coupled with that officers in
innate acquaintance with Central American af
fairs and conditions. caused him to prefer that
route
When at the close OF the Spanish American War
a new commission was appointed 10 investigate
and report all practicable routes for a canal
across the isthmUs. Rear Admiral Walker was
placed at its head. that the country might have
the benefit of his recently reinforced experience
For q time he inclined 10 favor the Nicara-
guam route but when the French company made
its proposal TO over its concessions. its prop
erty and its partly completed work 10 the United
States on terms that he regarded favorable he
urged Congress TO accept them, and there
after a strong and consistent supporter Of the
canal well under way
lie was appointed chairman Of the Panama Canal
Commission by President Roosevelt in 1so4. and
thus had the honorable and ardueus duty OF or
sanIzing the work and starting the actual
construction.
In March. 1906 the commissioners having COM
peted the important preliminary labors. resigned
a body IN order to permit the President TO ap-
point a more compact board to carry the prac-
ticaI work Of building the great waterway From
that time Rear Admiral Walker was engaged in
public duties.
The official navy register shows that Admiral
Walker has had total service OF seventeen
years and months and total shore and other
duty OF twenty-three years and six months He
was unemployed five years and seven months.
In September. 1856, he married 10 Miss Re
becca White Pickering. daughter OF Henry White
Pickering of Biston, who bore him five children
He was a member OF the Metropolitan Club ot
Washington and OF the University Club. Of this
G