Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/274

 SCIENCE.

��rV(H» T., K«. -I

��JOHN BLOOMFIELD JER VIS.

The subject of this sketch, one of the most eminent of Americuii engineers, died .it Rome, X.Y., Jan. 12, 1885. finer a long life, dis- tiaguished for the prominent enterprises with which he had been connected and to which he had given many features they still retain. He was noted for his purity of life, and profes- sionally for his cantion, accuracy, sonnd judg- ment, and integrity- His engineering training was not obtained in any teclinical school, siicli as is offered to Ihe youth of the present day, and his preparatory education was extremely moderate in amount.

John Blooinfield Jervis was born at Hunt- ington, Long Island, Dec, 14, 1795, and was the oldest of seven children. His father was a carpenter, who in 1798 removed to the neigh- borhood of Rome, N.Y., and engaged in saw- ing lumber. The son attended the common school of that data until he was fifteen years old ; and for the following seven years lie worked at the saw-mill, on the farm, and in the woods. In 1817 the construction of the Erie canal through that region brought about his employment as axeman on the work, and flrst turned his attention to engineering. He was soon promoted to rodmao, and in two years was made resident engineer of a section of seventeen miles, from Canaatota to Limestone Creek. He gave such satisfaction that in 1821 he was assigned to a similar position near Am- sterdam, and was retained, after the opening of the canal, to superintend repairs.

A condensed statement of the more impor- tant of his professional engagements, which are described at greater length in the Railroad gazette of Jan. 23, will give an idea of how active and responsible .i position in life he has occupied. In 1825 he became chief engineer of the Delaware and Hudson canal company, and remained until 1830. He constructed the incUnes of the Carbondale railroad, and or- dered from England the ' Stourbridge lion,' the Brst locomotive imported into this country. In 1830 he was made chief engineer of the Albany and Schenectady railroad, the first rail-

��rowl constructed in the state of New Y and, later, of the Schenectady and Sarat railroad. Here he devised the four- swivelling or ' pony ' truck used for the lead*'' ing wheels of a locomotive, aud generally adopted in this country. In 18-33 he was chief engineer of the Chenango canal, ninety-eight miles in length, with a hundreil locks, where he originated the use of artiScial reservoirs for the supply of the summit level. In 1835 he made surveys and estimates for an enlarge- ment of the eastern section of the Erie canal, lie was made chief engineer of the Croton aqueduct in I83(!, — a work i«nsidered, at lime of its completion, as a magnificent exai pie of hydranhc engineering, and in which Croton dam. High bridge, and the 42d-9treet reservoir show his professional skill. From I84G to 1848 he was consulting engineer on the Cochituate aqueduct, Boston water-supply. Water- works at Port Jervis and at Rome, X, Y.. were later constructed under his supervision. Between 1847 and IS^O he was first chief and then consulting engineer of the Hudson-River railroad when it was completed from Xew York to Fougii keeps ie, a portion covering most of the difficult work of that line. After a short trip to Europe, he became chief engineer on the construction of what is now the western put of the Lake shore and Michigan southern rail- road, and was connected with this road until 1858. During 1851 he was made president the Chicago and Rock Island railway lie became general superintendent of the Pil burgh, fort Wayne, aud Chicago railway; ii 1864 was made its chief engineer, and in 1866 its consulting engineer, — a position he held until 1872. In 1868 lie was connected with the organization of the Rome iron-mill companj and was its secretary from 1872 until death.

After retiring from active work in the field in 1866, he wrote a book on ' Railway prop- erty,' and another on ' The question of labor and capital.' In 1868 the American society of civil engineers elected him an honorary member, and in 1878 Hamilton college con- ferred on him the degree of LL.D. Mr. Wit-

�� ��untu

pituH

1866 held

~4

��� �