The Washington herald., 1908-07-26

To I'll the vacancy caused by the pro-
motion Of William P Richards TO the
Office Of assessor. the Commissioners yes
terday appointed Melvin c. Hazea sur
veyor Of the District
Mai. Morrow's RECOMMENDATION OF lI-
Hazen met with approval OF the other
Commissioners, and his appointment viii
take effect tomorrow
IN making the recommendation. the
Engineer Commissioner said;
I would state il has been difficult 20
come to a decision in regard 10 the
selection Of q successor 10 Mr. Rich
ards IN the Office Of surveyor, as between
2. II. Tslcott. assistant engineer in
charge Of street extensions. and the as
sistant surveyor. Mr. Hazen. Both are
known 70 be efficient. loyal, hard-work-
ing servants OF the public of the Dis
trict Of Columbia Either is e1ni-entIy
qualified 70 carry forward the work OF
the surveyors Office
The Present Methods.
IT IS believed. however. that ths
present methods and policy OF the sur
veyor's Office. for which 8lr. Richards
is practically solely responsible, but IN
the establishments OF which Mr. Hazea
has been largely concerned, would prob
ably more easily be carried forward IN
der Mr. Hazen than under M Talcott,
and that the best interests of the public
point 70 the appointment herein recon-
mended as the proper action"
The appointment Of 1Ir- Hazen IS gen
orally regarded as being in the nature OF
q weIl-Ulerfted promotion His long and
faithful service n the engineering branch
OF the District government makes him De-
culiarIy well qualified for the position.
and II Is conceded on all sides that the
Commissioners could Tot have made a
wiser or more popular selection.
The new surveyor was born il Faucuier
County. Va, Il 1851 HIS elementary
studies were pursued in the public schools
near his birthplace. Ee was graduated
from the Maryland Agricultural College
n the class OF IS, receiving the degree
OF bachelor OF science. After leaving col
lege he received private instruction II en-
cheering
In 1ss9 he entered the engineer depart
ment OF the District government as
transitTnan. at SO & month and TWO years
later was promoted TO SI,200 q year n
1885 he was made assistant engineer ii
the surface division Of the engineer de-
p2rtL1ent, and served IN that czpaCiry IN
IL lSSS, when he was made assistant 10
the Engineer COmTliss5o1er, az s. g day.
and assigned 70 duty n the preparation
OF the highway plans. n January, 1s05,
be was made assistant surveyor at $50
a year. and held This office until pro
noted 70 the sUrveyorship-
Several days ego Il was announced az
the District Building that fl al pr0babiI-
Ity the Office would go 70 Engineer Tai
colt. IL charge Of the extension OF high
ways, bus 8f-. Hazen's Endorsements were
such that the Commissioners apparently
yielded TO what seemed 10 be 2 decided
desire for his appointment These n
dOrsement5 came from practically every
titte company n Washington. builders.
business men. and citizens generally.
Increase In SALARY.
The once OF surveyor pays 500 e year
which means an Increase IN Nj Eazen's
compensation OF $3.50 a year He Is re-
Quired 10 give bond IN the sum OF s.. COO
The new surveyor IS Al ardent ad-
mi0er OF fine horses and dogs. and fre-
queatly spends days with friends f0x
hunting IN the vicinity of his stock farm
at NokesviIIe. Va Five OF his horses
were awarded premiums at the recsnr
horse show al Manassas Va He is fond
Of outdoor sports, and while a. college
played third base On rhs baseball team
In 1885 Mr. Hazeu married Mss Mary
z Smith, OF this city