Evening star., 1914-12-27
DISTRICT BUILDING.

District government officials for the
most part spent Christmas at their
homes in Washington. This was true
especially of the Commissioners and
heads of departments, WHO selected the
capital as the best place in which to
enjoy the holiday season. Many en-
ployes, however. whose parents live in
nearby towns in Virginia and Mary
land selected the parental roof under
which to celebrate the yuletide.
Christmas for municipal employees
began at 8 o'clock Thursday afternoon
and will end at 9 o'clock tomorrow
morning. Speculation is now rife as
to whether or not the Commissioners
will grant a holiday of equal length
for New Year. which, like Christmas,
falls on Friday. 1t is believed they
will
The only Christmas eve celebration
in the District building was the lunch
con given by Melvin C. Hazen, sur
veyor, to employees in his Office, at
o'clock Thursday afternoon. This is
an annual custom of the surveyor and
the event this year proved as enjoy
able as those that have gone before.
In attendance were heads Of many of
the departments in the municipal
building.
An unusual Christmas present was
received by DR.. William TindalI, Sec
retary to the board of Commissioners.
The doctor received a Strengthening
package, and upon opening it found
that it contained a fresh salmon.
weighing nine pounds. 1t had been
sent from Seattle, Wash, by his son,
NH
in ice and arrived in good condition.
John H. Sherman, superintendent of
weights, measures and markets. and
Mrs. Sherman are spending Christmas
at the home of the formers parents.
in Ash Grove, Va They expect to
enjoy the yuletide outdoors with tar
get-shooting as the main diversion and
bob-sled coasting, should there be suf-
ticient snow for this sport before they
return.
William Forsythe. chairman in the
surveyors Office, bought an overcoat
as Christmas present for himself,
thereby astonishing his associates at
the District building. who have never
seen him wear an overcoat since he
has been a municipal employe. Just
why ForSythe should have been won
over to the overcoat idea no one in
the surveyors Office has been able to
find out.
Thomas H. Claffey, secretary to Com
missioner Newman, is spending the
and New York city. Another District
employe who is enjoying a vacation
at his home in Trenton is Edward J.
Hart. secretary to the excise board.
Jack Armstrong has been appointed
editor for the Christmas number of
the Searchlight, the service bulletin
issued weekly by the surveyors once.
George H. Bailey, assistant engineer
of the surface department, and the
Oldest employe in point of service in
the engineer department Of the Dis
trict, is on Christmas leave until the
of the new year.
E. G. Emack. sidewalk engineer of
the surface division. spent Christmas at
his farm at Beltsville. Md.
w. W. Curtiss, assistant engineer.
highway division. is spending a weeks
leave motoring in Maryland and Vir-
ginia-
cupid" Myers, crack bowler of the
Commissioners tenpin organization, is
in Philadelphia for the holidays with
his 1an1lv
G. v. Rector. assistant engineer.
highways. is enjoying a few days
leave, after a very active season of
outdoor construction work.
Clifford Lanham. assistant superin- |
of trees and parkings. is still
confined to his home by illness. His |
friends in the engineer department |
have sent him as a Christmas remem-
brance a handsome briar pipe and box |
Of cigars.
w. J. Forsythe. junior engineer sur /!
face division, will return to duty after |
Christmas from q vacation spent at |
Norfolk.
A. S. Fennall, assistant engineer, sur.
face department, is on Christmas leave |
Mr. Fennall is the latest addition to /
the benedicts Of the engineer depart
ment, having but recently been mar
ried in Baltimore.
Joseph Leo. transitman, is in New
York combining business with pleas
ure.
Other Departmental News, Page 10,
Part q.