Evening journal., 1915-09-28

Edgar NJ. Hopes; Jr.. chief en-
gineer of the Water Department, to-
day was elected city engineer by the
Street and Sewer Directors, and all
engineering departments OF the city
excepting that Of the park system,
were consolidated Mr.. Hopes will
receive a salary OF $4,000 from the
Street and Sewer Department and it
/ is understood he will receive a like
amount from the Water Department,
making his salary $4,000. The ap-
pointment will date from October 1.
Director Charles A. Rudolph
nominated Mr.. Hopes for the posi-
tion Of municipal engineer, while Di-
rector Matthew D. Murphy named
Harry L. Maier. first assistant city
engineer, for city engineer. Mr..
/ Hopes received the votes of Director
Rudolph and President Sparks, while
Mr.. Maier received the vote of Direc-
tor Murphy.
Mr.. Hopes was declared elected
and one of the first persons to con-
gratulate him was Director Murphy
Captain Alexander J. Taylor. who
has just resigned as city engineer, re-
ceived a salary OF $4,000, while MIR.
| Hopes received a salary OF S2.4OO as
chief engineer Of the Water Depart
ment The consolidation will mean
a saving Of $500 in salaries. in ad-
dition to promoting the efficiency Of
the city engineering departments by
having municipal projects centred in
one department.
President Sparks made the follow
ing statement as to the change made:
Through the cooperation of the
commissioners of the Water DEPART
ment and the directors of the Street
and Sewer Department, the Office Of
the city engineer has been made 20
apply to all city work, with the exclu-
sion Of parks. r NJ. Hopes. Jr.. now
chief engineer of the Water Depart
ment, has been elected to the Office OF
city engineer, to take effect October l.
Action has been taken by the two de-
partments with the idea of consolidat-
ing all the engineering work of the
city under one head at a saving in
cost to the city of the chief engineer
and an attainment of efficiency and
the general good of the city that
could not be had under separate
heads. The salary will be divided be-
tween the two departments and the
Street and Sewer Department will
lpay $4,000 as their share
'oThe idea of the consolidation Is To
make no changes in the corps OF engi-
neers and the old practice Of the
Street and Sewer Department in desig-
mating assistants numerically and style
them as deputies to the chief engineer
in their respective department"
He added that later there might be
an equivalent of salaries of the assis-
tant engineers.
, It is understood that Mr.. Maier
Mr.. Hirzel and Mr.. Carswell, now OF
! the Street and Sewer engineering de-
partment and that NewbOld Van
Trump. assistant engineer of the
Water Department, will be assigned ia
that department Mr.. Hopes Will con
! tinue to supervise the engineering
, projects of the Water Department as
, well as those of the Street and Sewer
Department, and will have the Co
operation of the assistant engineers.
For many years the consolidation
of the city engineering department.
has been advocated, not only from the
lstandpoint of efficiency, but also al
an item of economy.
Such a consolidation was providef
, for in various drafts of proposed new
, charters sent to the Legislature. anC
! seDarate bills also have been before
the LEGISLATURE to merge the engi
= neering departments. Now the Stree
- and Sewer directors and the Watel
commissioners have evolved a plaI
Continued on Page Thirteen.