Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-06

Mai William w. Harts, Corps of En-
gineers, has been selected by the Presi-
dent for detail, about September /, as
SUPERINTENDENT of public buildings and
grounds. to succeed Col. Spencer Cosby.
Corps of Engineers, who is to be detailed
as military attache of the United states
embassy at Paris.
Mai Harts is from Illinois and was
graduated from the United States Mill
tary Academy in June, 1889. lie also
took a short course of study at princeton
University. and recently was awarded a
degree of bachelor of science by that IN
stitution
His entire military service has been in
the Corps of Engineers. and he has been
identified with several important engi-
neering works. After service with troops
a; Willetts Point, y. Y. he was stationed
at Newport. r. L., for two years. and
assisted Gen. Bixby cthen major) in the
construction of fortifications at Dutch
Island and Fort Adams. After that he
aided in the construction of river and
harbor improvements in the vicinity OF
Cincinnati and Louisville.
Injured in Mine Explosion.
At the outbreak of the Spanish war he
was attached to the Engineer Battalion
at Willetts Point, y. v, and was ap-
pointed a major of engineers in the VOL
unteer establishment for duty in Cuba.
He was detached from that duty tenn
porarily and placed in charge of the con-
struction of batteries near st. Augustine.
Fla. and the planting of submarines al
the st. Johns river entrance and Tampa.
June 10, 1898, he was severely injured
by the explosion of one of the submarine
mines and was on sick leave until the
following December, when he was placed
in charge of river and harbor works at
Portland. Ore. After three years service
on that station he was attached to the
I'd Battalion of Engineers at Fort Totten,
" Y and accompanied that battalion to
the Philippines, where he remained for
two years. He then was stationed at San
Francisco for four years as member of
the California debris commission. and for
four years after that was stationed at
Nashville, Tenn, engaged IN the Improve
ment of the Mississippi.
In August. 1911, he came to this city
under orders, and was attached TO the
Army War College. first as a student and
later as an instructor. In June last he
was detached from the War College and
assigned to duty under the chief of staff
at the War Department. He has held
the rank of major since September, 1906.
and is now the senior officer of that grade
in the corps. He will soon reach the
regular grade of lieutenant colonel. BY
virtue of his detail to the Office Of su-
perintendent of public buildings and
grounds he will have the rank and pay
OF a colonel and will serve one of the
military aids on the staff OF Presiden,
Wilson.
Col. Cosby's Record.
Col. Cosby is now at Deer Park, Md.
recuperating from a recent attack OF
appendicitis, the treatment of which in
volved operation. He has been sta
toned In this city since December 10
1905. first in charge of the District water
supply system and Of the improvements
in progress on the Potomac and Anacostis
rivers, then as Engineer Commissioner oi
the district from December -, 1908 unit
March 10. 1909. when he was placed In
charge of public buildings and ground.
by President Taft.
During that period he went to st
Petersburg as a dele"ate to the interna
tional congress of naviga ton: to Rrussel.
as delegate to the international road
congress, and to San Francisco as 2
member of the Hetch Hetchy valley com
mission. He has always taken a dee,
personal interest i'm District affairs anc
was prominently identified with the de
velopment of the public park system
and the Improvement of Potomac Park II
particular