Evening star., 1927-05-06
Signal Engineer of Interstate
Commerce Commission to
Succeed EIdridge.
ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENT
AFTER CAREFUL SURVEY
Commissioners Select Electrical Ex-
pert After Canvass of More Than
so Applicants for Post.

William H. Harland, senior signal
engineer of the Bureau OF Signals and
Train Control Devices of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, Is the
Districts new director of traffic.
The appointment was made today
by the Board of District Commission
ers, after a careful and painstaking
canvass of the names Of more than
80 applicants for the position. Mr..
Harland was one OF those applicants.
Mr.. Harland succeeds NJ. 0. Eldridge,
who was denoted to assistant director
of traffic, April 1, following the ex-
pose Of irregularities in the traffic de.
partment, in connection with the pur-
chase Of automatic traffic signals. He
will assume o.--e May 16.
Praised by Dougherty.
Commissioner Proctor L. Dougherty,
who has administrative supervision
over the traffic department, in an
nouncing the selection of Mr.. Har-
land, pointed out tat the Commission
ers believe that he will make an ex-
cellent traffic director.
Mr.. Harland," said Commissioner
Dougherty, was very highly recon-
mended, and his wide engineering ex.
per1ence with traffic signal devices.
combined with his reputed administra-
tive ability, qualities him particularly
wen for the position"
Mr.. Harland lives at 1902 Perry
place. He is about so years of age.
Ills selection was made following the
withdrawal Of Brig. Gen. Henry Jer-
vey, retired Engineer officer Of the
army, who was offered the position
about three weeks ago.
The new traffic director has been
connected with the Interstate Com
merce Commission since 1914. but the
major part OF his career has been
spent with various railroads OF the
country. While with the commission.
however, his work was concerned
chiefly with the valuation of signal
property Of the common carriers, al
though he devoted considerable time
to inspecting and testing signals and
train-control apparatus in actual
operation on the railroad systems.
Is Electrical Engineer.
A graduate of schools of Newark.
N. j., Mr.. Harland subsequently took
a special course in electrical and me-
chanical engineering In the Klump
School of Engineering, and busi-
ness course in the Coleman Business
School. To obtain practical experience
and shop practice during school va
cations he worked in the electrical
shops OF Newark as helper and
later as a mechanic on general repair
work Of all types of dynamos, motors.
steam engines, and electrical instru-
ments.
Later Mr.. Harland entered the serv-
ice OF the Union Switch and Signal
Co.. as electrician and general me-
chanic on installations of three cleo
tro-pneumatic signal and interlocking
plants at the Jersey City Terminal of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. On compile
tion of this work he entered the serv-
ice of the Pennsylvania Railroad as ap-
prentice in signal construction crew
on the New York division. Promoted
from time to time, he was finally made
engineer in charge of the installation
of electric signals and electro-pneu-
matte switch and signal plants at
Meadows, n. J. In this position he was
required to design the various circuits
for the control of signals, check and
locking circuits and to supervise their
installation and the installation of
the electrical and pneumatic machines
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