Evening star., 1909-06-14
HEALY CHIEF ASSISTANT
Thomas Francis, Jr., Becomes Second
Assistant, Displacing E. J. Curtis.
ALL TAKE OFFICE ON JULY l
New Appointee Was Formerly SUI
Now Engineer of Ohio Trolley.

buildings. He is to succeed Snowden
Ashford. who has. Peen named to be
architect. They will take Of
flee in July.
Mr.. Hacker was formerly superintend-
ent of county roads Of the District. He
is now chief engineer of the Ohio Elec-
tric Railway Company, with headquar-
terS at Lima.
The appointment was made today by
the District Commissioners. Other
changes in the building department have
been recommended by the Engineer Com
missioner and approved by his colleagues,
to take effect at the time Mr.. Hacker
takes up his new duties.
John p Healy, computer in the build
ing department, will become principal as
sistant inspector of buildings.
Thomas Francis, jr.. who has been the
assistant. will become assistant
inspector at $1,000 per year. vice Z. j.
Curtis.
Mr.. Curtis will be assistant inspector
of buildings at $1,000 per year.
The post of computer, made vacant by
been filed. The position pays 81 go per
year.
Changes Effective July /.
ALL these changes will become effective
July L, when Snowden Ashford, now in
spector of buildings, becomes municipal
architect.
Mr.. Hacker the new inspector of build
ings. is not unknown in this city. He
has lived in Washington for several
years both as District employe and as
an engineer for private concerns. He
is a native of Philadelphia and Is about
forty years old.
After attending the schools of the
Quaker city, he prepared for college in
Switzerland. Later he received the de-
gree of civil engineer from the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania. After his gradua-
tion he was employed as engineer by
the Drum Point railroad on the western
shore of Maryland.
From there he came to Washington
and was employed by Senator Newlands
and others here in the development OF
Chevy Chase and the laying out of the
electric railroad to that suburb. He left
Washington after few years to take
up work in the west.
Employment in the District.
Returning to Washington after an abb
sence of two or three years, he was
appointed assistant engineer in the Dis
trict government, July II, 1898. About
three years later he was promoted to the
position Of superintendent of county
roads and assistant engineer in charge
of Rock Greek Park, and he performed
the duties of those offices until March
-, 1907, when he resigned to accept a
lucrative position in Ohio.
For about two years he has been chief
engineer Of the Ohio Electric Railway
Company, with headquarters at Lima.
Engineer Commissioner Judson said
this morning that Mr.. Hacker was high
ly recommended He expected that ex-
cellent results Will follow Mr. Hacker $
assumption of his duties in the building
department.
Mr. Healy, who will become principal
assistant inspector of buildings. is a ma
tive of Washington and is well known
as builder and structural engineer. He
received his early education in the Wash
inSton schools and the Spenceran Busi-
ness College and later received instruc-
tion in mathematics and engineering from
private tutor.
lie was engaged in business for him
self as a builder and structural engineer
for about twenty years, both in Wash
ington and New York city.
Mr.. Healy's Service.
Mr.. Healy first began his service for the
District government in 1900, when he was
appointed superintendent of construction.
After working about a year in that ca
pacity he was made an assistant inspect
or of buildings In the field.
For the last five years he has been civil
engineer and computer in the building de-
partment. His promotion is regarded as
well earned, and his standing in the de-
partment is shown by the announcement
of the Engineer Commissioner Saturday
that he had not made up his mind
whether to appoint Mr. Healy or Mr..
Hacker as inspector of buildings.
The selection of man for inspector OF
building today ends one OF the warmeSt
campaigns ever waged for a District
office. 1t began with the passage of the
District appropriation act. providing for
a municipal architect for the District
Mr.. Ashford. then inspector of buildings
at once began his efforts to secure the
new position. Other employees of the Dis
trict. thinking Mr.. Ashford would be pro-
noted, started out after the building in
Spe ctorShip. All the SubordlnateS in
the offices ofs the men who We're out
for that position began working for pro-
motion.
Practically every person who has deal
ings with the building department was
canyassed. Organizations were urged to
take concerted action in favor Of one o.
the candidates. Letters of Endorsement
began to flood the District Commission
erS-
The Engineer Commissioner thinks that
the action today will ultimately meet
with general approval.
SPANISH LINER FInATEn