Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-24
SURVEY SCIENTIST
CLAIMED BY DEATH
Capt. Philip A. WeIker, Re-
tired, Expires at Age of
SO at Home.

Capt. Philip A. Welker, prominent
retired Washington scientist, VINO for
| AZ years was on the staff OF the
| United States Coast and Geodettc
Survey, died early today at his
residence at Somerset House, on
Sixteenth street. Funeral services
have not yet been arranged. He has
been retired since 1921.
Capt. Welker was in his seventeen
year, being born in Toledo. Ohio, on
June l.. 1857. He is survived by his
trude M. Lanahan of Baltimor" and
their son, Philip Lanahan Welker.
His daughter. Mrs. Howard f. Lewis,
resides In Cleveland.
Capt. Welker was graduated from
Cornell University as civil engineer
in 1878. He was appointed to the
United States Coast and Geodetic Sur
vey In 1879, and was engaged In the
work of the survey throughout nearly
every section of the United States.
Alaska, Uorto Rica, the Isthmus of
Panama. and the Philippine Islands.
This service included all branches of
activity Of the bureau from triangula-
ton and astronomical observations In
his earlier days through the arduous
duties of photographer in the ocean
positions in Washington.
Skipper Of Bache.
AS early az 1880 he was engaged on
a hydrogra phic survey in Baltimore
Harbor and at various times on sur
veys in Chesapeake Bay. From 1898
to 1910. as commanding officer of the
Coast and Geodetic Survey ship
Bache, he executed surveys along the
coasts of the Atlantic and Gulf of
Mexico and in the Caribbean Sea. His
surveys of the coasts of Porto Rico
and off the Isthmus of Panama formed
the basis for some of the first com
piete navigating charts of these wa
ters prepared by the United States
Government. His other surveys of
the coastal waters were also necessary
additions to the charts required by
navigators.
His work in astronomy included OBJ
selvations for the transit of Venus
over the sun In California in 1882 and
observations of the annular eclipse
of the sun at San Francisco in 1885. In
triangulation his field work was per
formed in the Territory of Washington,
in British Columbia, California and
other Western States. He represented
the survey in the field obserya tons
connected with the survey of the boun.
dairy between Alaska and Canada and
as member of geodetic conferences
held at Washington.
Duty In Philippines.
In 1911. he was assigned to duty In
the Philippine Islands and served as
director of the coast surveys there ur.
til 1914. In this position he had direct
charge of the execution of original
surveys carried out by the Federal
Government tor the purpose of map
ping and charting the islands.
He also served as a member and
secretary Of the Philippine Committee
on Geographical Names and as a
member Of the Harbor Lines Commits.
sion Of the Philippine Islands. Upon
his return to the United States he
was appointed assistant In charge of
the survey Office at Washington, d. G.
He was a member of the American
Society Of Civil Engineers. Washing
ton Society Of Engineers, Beta Theta
Pi, Cosmos and Federal Clubs of
Washington, University Club MA
nila) and Philippine Club CNew York;.
He was a prominent member Of ST.
Johns Episcopal Church, a thirty.
second degree Mason and a Knight
Templar.