Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-14
Workers,
PastAgeLinnit, 10
Retire JuIy31
Group Had Continued
Service in War Due
To Replacement Lack

Termination of the services of 81
District employees, including Nathan
G. Wyeth, municipal architect;
Maurice o. Eldridge, assistant d.
rector of traffic, and Ira Clifford
Lanham, superintendent of trees
and parking, was ordered by the
Commissioners today, effective July
81.
The employees involved have passed
the compulsory retirement age OF
70, but worked through the war be-
cause of special qualifications and
public need"
After July 81, no extensions be-
yond the retirement age will be ap-
proved unless suitable requirements
are unavailable, the Commissioners
said. In that case the average en-
ployes may continue until such re-
placements are obtained.
Librarian Near Age.
In addition, it was pointed out
Public Librarian Clara w. Herbert
will reach the compulsory retire
ment age November 1, and Kenney
P. Wright, deputy disbursing officer,
December /.
Other employees now serving be-
yond the age of compulsory retire.
ment are Assistant Assessor Ben
janlin F. Adams, Harry F. Almond
a field man in the assessors office;
Ralph v. Frankhouser, a building
Inspector; Stuart j. Gass, a Highway
Department engineer; Richard B.
Gott, Police Court warrant clerk:
Joseph H. Holland, an inspector in
the municipal architects office; Ber-
nard r. Holmes, inspector for the
repair shop; Walter L. Hoover
Highway Department inspector:
Walter H. Merrill of the Tubercu-
losis Sanatorium. Hugh M. Miller,
skilled laborer, of the Health De-
partment; Phillip Bailey, Gallinger
Hospital cook; Thomas j. Shumate,
Health Department food inspector:
Walter A. Williams, assistant en-
slneer in the surveyors office; James
j. O'Connor, repair shop mechanic
and Fred A. Sager, Public Utilities
Commission engineer.
William G. Suter, Health Depart
ment medical inspector; John G,
Weigel. supervisor of plumbing in
spectors, and Anne G. Fugitt, a clerk
IN the assessors Office.
Among the other employees who
Will reach retirement age this wear
are Assistant Assessor Arthur B.
Evans, June /; Frank Edgington,
chief inspector in the City Refuse
Department, July /. Mr.. Lanham
reaches the retirement age April l.
Prominent Architect.
Mr.. Wyeth, associated with the
design OF many outstanding struc-
lures here, was named municipal
architect in January, 1894. He filled
the vacancy created by the death of
Albert L. Harris.
A resident of Washington for
more than As years, Mr.. Wyeth lives
at 2915 Forty-fourth street NV.
Included among the buildings in
which he had part are the NUM-
cipal Center, Woodrow Wilson High
School, the House and Senate Office
Buildings and the new wing of the
Senate Office Building, as well as
Key Bridge, remodeling the execu-
tive offices of the White House, Emer-
gency and Columbia Hospitals, a
number of legations and embassies
and private residences here.
First Traffic Director Here.
In 1925, Mr.. Eldridge, who was
an official of the American Auto
mobile Association, was appointed
Washington's first director of traffic
He became familiar with traffic
problems and regulations through
out the United States with the AAA
and applied his knowledge to the
situation here.
Early in his career, he joined the
Bureau of Public Roads and had q
first-hand acquaintance with the
early automobiles. He aided the
States in highway construction and
has spoken widely on traffic problems
and written numerous articles on
them. He served rs years in the
Bureau of Public Roads.
Mr.. Eldridge lives at 1889 Laniel
place NV.
Mr.. Lanham has been with the
Department of Trees and Parking
for more than half a century. He
has been it's superintendent since
1916, succeeding his father, the late
Trueman Lanham, who was appoint
ed in 1885 and served in the depart
ment for IS years.
Mr.. Lanham came to Washington
and obtained his first job as water
boy for the District Government al
the age of Is at a salary of so cents
a day. He was made assistant tc
his father in the Department oil
Trees and Parking and devoted him.
self to caring for Washington's IA
NOUS trees and planting many thou
sands in the newer areas of the
city as well as carrying on a pro-
gram of reinforcement