Evening star., 1934-01-28

AndvesO Euicott of Vest Point. N. Y.
At the age Of IS.
up by ice until January 81, 1877 Arriving q
Natchez on February "a, the party went into
camp on hin at the upper end of the town
and quarter mile from the Spanish fort
Then began tedious correspondence with the
Spanish governor, Gayoso, and Governor Gen.
eral Baron de Corondelet, the latter having
been appointed principal commissioner by hi
Catholic majesty.
1t was evident from the first that Spain
was In no hurry to carry out the terms of
the treaty, and the negotiations dragged
along for over year, during which our COM
missioner, conducting with admirable patience
and courtesy, proved himself an able Diplomat
At last, in May, 1898, field work began with
Capt Minor representing the Spanish govern
ment. The survey, owing to the nature of the
terrain and constant exposure to hostile In
dian attack and malarial fever proved q most
arduous undertaking. and it was not until
April ., 1900, that the work was brought to .
conclusion
Ellicott's jownel, covering this period Il a
remarkable document. 1t shows wide
knowledge Of nora and fauna, of geology and
soils, and . keen insight into humanics The
appendix to this volume covers the astronomical
work OF the survey and concludes with these
words:
ut is presumed, that no apology soiu
be necessary, for any small inaccuracies
Dhscn may be discovered In the astro-
nonl'coI o0se5rottons, Uhen it is consid-
eTed th01 they DeTe made at temporary
St0nons, and the apparatus frequently
exposed TO the ioedther, for pant of tents
and other copering and almost as ire.
qxently % injured By the transportation
from one place to another, THROUGH the
naLdeTness, that IT had not been in the
hdo't OF constructing and making in.
s"unents JT my oDn use, our business
must hope been seperal times suspended
TIL the repairs could haue been made h
Europe"
IN JULY. 1901, President Jefferson Offered
Andrew Elicott the post of surveyor general
OF the United States. an honor which. After
thoughtful consideration, he declined. In
october OF this year, however, he accepted
from Gov. Mexican Of Pennsylvania the secre.
taryship of the land Office of that State, which
impoktant post he held until 1903
In April, 1911, he was appointed commits
sioner to represent Georgia In locating the
Georgia-North Carolina boundary, which work
took UP year Of his time
On January A. 1875 President Madison
"reposing special trust in the patriotism and
abilities Of Andrew Ellicott" appointed him
professor Of mathematics at West Point. with
the rank Of major. Only once was the quiet
routine Of his life at the Academy interr,,pted
In 1917 the Government again had need a
his services, this time as astronomer to locate
a portion Of the United States s-Canadian
boundary. in accord with the fifth article of the
treaty Of Ghent. He was given leave of ab.
sence and Joined the commission then sitting
at Montreal. This work finished he returned
to West Point, where he remained in quiet
contentment until his death August 25 1920.
Andrew Ellicott was q member Of the Ameri-
can Philosophical Society, for which he wrote
many papers; the Society for the Promotion of
Useful Arts of Albany and the National In.
stitute Of France. With his lofty ideals, broad
learning and genial personality it is no won-
der he had the friendship and confidence a
such men as Washington, Jefferson, Madison,
Franklin. Rittenhouse, Robert Morris and
many other great and good men Of that era,
Truly the Nation owes much to the many.
sided Andrew Ellicott. Yet in its Capital Citx.
which he did so much to beautify, one seeks in
vain for q monument to his memory or q
tablet attesting his great service to the State.
Just few old battered instruments reposing
in glass case That's all. Verify:
"The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft inferred with their boneas
Profitable Play
We're going out to play" announced tts
oldest boy.
Don't 60 climbing trees over in Bensons
orchard" said the practical housewife. It's
time enough to tear your trousers When the
apples are ripe" s.a'f .r,@