Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-08-21

The following news article in The
Star Of August 10. 1882, regarding the
Maj. Hams Reports work on the
Fer Potomac Work. e clamation
of the Poto-
mas flats, presented for the first time
to the attention Of Washingtonians an
officer Of the Army who was later to
have much to do with that improvement
and whose name has been given to the
SouthernmCst point Of Potomac Park.
"A star reporter this morning met
Maj. Peter C. Hams, the officer OF the
Engineer Corps who is to have charge
Of the important work of retaining the
Potomac fats. He Is apparently not
over IS years of age, of medium height,
has bright blue eyes, well kept blond
beard, and wears his hair cut close. He
bears quite 6 striking likeness to the
late Mai. Twining His general appear
ance is very pleasing, and although one
would think that the important work
before him would be rather heavy Tor
such a young man. yet inquiries among
officers of the Engineer Corps developed
the fact that he is regarded by those
well acquainted with his abilities and
the important works he has ALREADY
performed as one Of the most compe-
tent officers of the service and that he
was selected for this duty solely on &C
count of his qualifications.
Being asked by The Star man what
preliminary steps he would take before
entering actively upon the work, Maj.
Hams -eplied: I can't know any more
about e than that I am here, and that
I am assigned to the work, and that
will push It vigorously. In fact, have
rot yet been down to look at the mats,
nor have examined the river and har-
Dor bill. The first thing to be decided
is whether the work can be COM
menced without taking further steps 70
secure title to the Kidwel Meadows
That matter. you know, Is in the hands
of the Attorney General, In week OF
two hope to be able to say just what
I am going to do and how Will go
about 1t, but as yet 1t would be i'm
possible to make any statements about
it, so I really don't know what have
to do
Being asked as to what assistance
would be given him, and whether one
or more officers Of the Engineer Corps
would be detailed as his assistants, he
replied that he could not say, as the
officers of that corps are well supplied
with work and it Is question whether
any can be spared for this additional
duty. The same inquiry made OF Gen.
Wright, chief of engineers, was met
with a similar reply.
Mai. Hams said further that no
doubt assistance from civilians would
be needed and that a number Of appi-
cations for duty on the work had al
ready been made to him. 1t has been
generally supposed that Col s. T.
Albert, who has had charge Of the work
Of improvement Of the harbors OF wash
ington and Georgetown, will also nave
work assigned him on this new i'm
provement and there Is no reason now
to suppose otherwise, unless the other
works that Col. Albert is still engaged
upon to preclude his being detailed Tor
this duty.
Maj. Hams relieves Col. Albert only
of the work on the washington ana
GEORGETOWN harbors and leaves MIN In
charge of the following work: The i'm
provement of the harbor OF Breton Bay.
Leonardtown; the improvement at tee
entrance of st. Jerome Creek, Nd; tie
improvements of the rivers Rappahan-
mock, Chickahominy, Mattapony, To-
tusky. Yorke, Pomusky, Stanton, Va,
Roanoke and French Broad, N. c., and
Dan River, Virginia and North Caro-
lima; the channel Of the Potomac River
through the flats at the landing in
front of Mount Vernon and of Neabsco,
Nomini and Nebana Creeks, Va.
Maj Hams fully realizes the vast
importance of the work to which he is .
assigned and intends to bring it 10 a
grand success. He spent the greater
part of today in looking for a house.
His wife and three children accom-
panied him from Fort Monroe, and
they VIII make their home here. Mai.
Hams Is Wen known here, having been
sIstoned here as . member OF the