Evening star., 1941-02-28
Riley E. EIgen Dies
Suddenly al Home
On KIingIe Road
Public Utilities Choirmor
Found Dead in Bed
By Member Of Family

Riley E. Elgen. SO. chairman of the
Public Utilities Commission anc
widely known in the engineering anc
utility field, died suddenly this morn
ing at his home. at 2022 Klingle roac
NV, of heart attack.
Members of his family said Mr.
Elgen arose this morning and got
his newspaper and then returned u
his bedroom. When a member o.
his family went to summon him, ht
was found dead in bed.
A member Of the commission since
1882, Mr.. Elgen's death leaves the
Public Utilities Commission with bur
one member, Engineer Commissioner
David McCoach.
Immediately after he had been in
formed of Mr.. Elgen's death. Col
McCoach wrote President Roosevelt
that the commission cannot operate
until second member is appointed
Qualifications for member of the
commission. who is appointed by
the President and confirmed by the
Senate, are the same as those for q
District Commissioner.
Col McCoach said in tribute tc
Mr.. Elgen: Il am deeply grieved tc
learn of Mr.. Elgen's death. He was
not only an excellent public servant
but a true friend. The District has
been fortunate to have had his
services so many years. He will be
sadly missed"
Appointed BY Hoover.
Mr.. Elgen was first appointed t.
the commission by President Hoover
in January, 1882, to fill the unex-
pired term of Harley H. Hartman,
who resigned. He was re-appointed
by President Roosevelt.
Pending now are a number of util-
lty and transit problems affecting
the city's workers, and Mr.. Elgen' S
death may delay their solution. The
third member of the commission
who served with Mr.. Elgen and Col
McCoach was Richmond B. Keech
who was appointed last fall to serve
as corporation counsel.
Mr.. Keech explained that the re.
cent hearings on the crosstown bu!
matter need not be reopened as thu
result of Mr.. Elgen's death. as thu
testimony has been recorded anc
can be studied by a successor.
On his appointment to the COM
mission Mr.. Elgen was chosen vice
chairman, and was named chair
man when Gen. Mason M. Patrick
resigned.
Long With I. c. c.
He was selected originally for tht
District post because of his Ions
experience in utilities work with the
Interstate Commerce Commission
with which he was associated from
1916 to 1882, the last 10 years a:
valuation engineer.
He was born at West Falls. Car
roll County. Md. son of the late Mr.
and Mrs. George F. Elgen, and re-
ceived his early education in the
public schools of Maryland and al
Winfield Academy, Md.
After graduation in 1903 from St
Johns College. Annapolis, with a
bachelor of science degree, Mr.. El-
gen for two years served as an en-
gineer with the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad. Subsequently he was with
the New York Central and the Hud-
son River railroads for about a year
and then with the Atlantic & Bir-
mingham Construction Co. He was
assistant to the vice president of
the Atlanta. Birmingham & Atlantic
Railway for three years until 1912
and then until 1916 was engineer of
maintenance of way and construc-
ton.
Seriously Ill in 1886.
Mr.. Elgen was seriously i'll in 1896,
and underwent major operation
at Garfield Hospital.
He was a member of the WASH
ington Society of Engineers and of
the Society of Military Engineers.
He had contributed articles to
various magazines, among them the
Public Utilities Fortnightly, Atlantic
Monthly, the Catholic World and
the Automotive Industries.
He was married in 1905 to Grace
Donaldson. Mrs. Elgen survives
him. In addition, he is survived
by two sons, Riley E. Elgen, jr., and
Thomas D. Elgen; a daughter, Grace
Louise Elgen; two sisters, Mrs.
Charles GoSnell of Carroll County,
Md, and Mrs. John M. Hood, Mount
Airy, Md, and a brother, Leonard
j. Elgen, Westminster, Md.
Funeral services will be held at
2 pm. Monday at the Hysong chapel.
1900 N street NV. Burial will be
in Cedar Hill Cemetery.