Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-25
COL. b|DDLE IN CITY
Former Engineer Commission
er Here on Business.
0RCERVEC MANY cuANEEc
OBSERVES MANY CHANGES
Regards Growth Of City in Last
Three Years as Remarkable.
WILL REMAIN ABOUT A WEEK
Army Officer Member of Board to
Advise Regarding Water Rights
for San Francisco.

Lieut. Col John Bddle, Corps of Engi-
neers, L. S. A., who was for FIVE and a
half years Engineer Commissioner of the
District, is in Washington on business for
the Interior Department and probably will
remain here for week or ten days. He
was called here from San Francisco to
serve on a board of engineers to advise
the Interior Department regarding the ap-
plication of San Francisco to obtain water
rights in the Hetch- Hetehy valley. Sec
rotary Ballinger desired to have board
of engineers pass upon the engineering
features of the proposition and also as to
the necessity OF the water rights in San
Francisco.
Since his service as Engineer Commits
sioner of the District, WHICH began in
November, 1901, and terminated in May,
1907, Col. Biddle has been stationed at
San Francisco, and has had supervision
of engineering work along the entire
Pacific coast. He is regarded as particu
larly qualified to pass upon the Hetch-
Hetchy valley proposition. The board Of
engineers to consider this subject will
hold sessions at the Interior Department.
A graduate of the Military Academy at
West Point, standing high in his class,
Col. Biddle has served in the Engineer
Corps of the army continuously, except
during the Spanish-American war, when
he was made chief engineer of United
States volunteers. Col. Biddle has been
associated with some OF the most i'm
portant engineering projects Of the gov
ernment
Served in Spanish War.
He was in charge of important river
and harbor work at Nashville, Tenn.
from 1891 until the outbreak of the
Spanish-Amreican war, during which
time he served in Porto Rico, Cuba and
the Philippines. In November. 1901. he
was appointed Engineer Commission of
the District, which is one of the details
most sought after by officers of the En-
gineer Corps of the army. AS Engineer
Commissioner Col. Biddle had charge of
the plans and initial construction of many
important improvements in the District,
including the Municipal building, the Sc
lection of site for the Union station.
improvements in Rock Creek Park and
the extension of 10Th street. He is a
member of the Chevy Chase and the
Metropolitan clubs. and mas many friends
In Washington.
Il have been much impressed with the
SfOWlH VI the ldSe
three years. said Col. Biddle to a report
er for The Star today at the New Will
lard, where he is stopping. Il noticed
great changes on Pennsylvania avenue
and especially on 18th street, which Is
rapidly becoming a great boulevard out
to the park l was pleased to see so
many fine new houses, especially along
Massachusetts, avenue and beyond to the
Connecticut Avenue bridge. l have never
known city to grow as Washington has
in such a short space of time. l also
have noticed many fine new Office build
ings.
Pavements Are Better.
From what riding around l have done
would say that the pavements OF the
city are In better condition than they
ever were. l was much pleased to see
the Municipal building completed. 1t
was all ready for the roof when l left
Washington. / was much gratified by
its appearance both inside and out.
THE plaza in front Of the new station
and the trees there are all new to me.
The House and Senate office buildings
and the new National Museum also have
been completed since l left Washington.
Il understand there have been many
improvements made in Rock Creek Park.
| was in charge of this work and it will
be a great pleasure for me to go out
and see what progress has been made
there. The resurfacing OF Pennsylvania
avenue is another of the improvements
which I noticed, and / am glad to see a
marked tendency to make Pennsylvania
avenue what 1t ought TO be, one Of the
great avenues of the world