Elnathan Sweet
Encyclopedia
Elnathan Sweet was an American civil engineer
(C.E.) and politician from New York
. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor
from 1884 to 1887.
in 1842.
He graduated C.E.
from Union College
in 1859, and began work as Deputy Surveyor under Ward B. Burnet, Surveyor General of the Kansas
and Nebraska Territories
. He soon returned to New York and was employed as Assistant Engineer in various railway companies. From 1864 to 1868, he was at Franklin, Pennsylvania engaged in the engineering development of oil wells and coal mines. In 1869, he removed to Chicago, and became Chief Engineer of the Rock Island and Quincy Railroad, later a part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
. In 1871, he became also Consulting Engineer for the Rockford Central Railroad and the Cairo and St. Louis Railroad, and engaged in railway construction with his partner James R. Young.
In 1875, he was a member of the Tilden Commission which investigated alleged canal frauds. He was appointed Division Engineer of the Eastern Division of the New York State Canals in 1876. He resigned in 1880, and resumed his railway construction business with his former partner James R. Young
.
He was State Engineer and Surveyor from 1884 to 1887, elected on the Democratic ticket in 1883
and 1885. Upon retiring from office, he practiced as a Consulting Engineer, and became President of the Canton Bridge Co., and at one time was Receiver of the Lebanon Springs Railroad. In 1900, he was President of the Advisory Commission of Engineers, appointed by State Engineer Edward A. Bond
to advise in the conduct of surveys for a thousand-ton barge canal. Later he was a member of the New York Water Storage Commission.
He died from heart disease at the Fort Orange Club in Albany.
His principal contribution to engineering science consists in the determination of the laws that govern the propulsion of vessels in narrow channels, an account of which he published in 1880 in the Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers
of which organization he was elected a member in 1878.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
(C.E.) and politician from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor
New York State Engineer and Surveyor
The New York State Engineer and Surveyor was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1848 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the Department of Public Works which was...
from 1884 to 1887.
Life
His family removed to Stephentown, New YorkStephentown, New York
Stephentown is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 2,873 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Stephen Van Rensselaer. The town is in the southeast corner of the county...
in 1842.
He graduated C.E.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
from Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
in 1859, and began work as Deputy Surveyor under Ward B. Burnet, Surveyor General of the Kansas
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
and Nebraska Territories
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
. He soon returned to New York and was employed as Assistant Engineer in various railway companies. From 1864 to 1868, he was at Franklin, Pennsylvania engaged in the engineering development of oil wells and coal mines. In 1869, he removed to Chicago, and became Chief Engineer of the Rock Island and Quincy Railroad, later a part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
. In 1871, he became also Consulting Engineer for the Rockford Central Railroad and the Cairo and St. Louis Railroad, and engaged in railway construction with his partner James R. Young.
In 1875, he was a member of the Tilden Commission which investigated alleged canal frauds. He was appointed Division Engineer of the Eastern Division of the New York State Canals in 1876. He resigned in 1880, and resumed his railway construction business with his former partner James R. Young
James R. Young
James Rankin Young was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. He was the younger brother of fellow journalist John Russell Young.-Early life:...
.
He was State Engineer and Surveyor from 1884 to 1887, elected on the Democratic ticket in 1883
New York state election, 1883
The 1883 New York state election was held on November 6, 1883, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer and the State Engineer, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate...
and 1885. Upon retiring from office, he practiced as a Consulting Engineer, and became President of the Canton Bridge Co., and at one time was Receiver of the Lebanon Springs Railroad. In 1900, he was President of the Advisory Commission of Engineers, appointed by State Engineer Edward A. Bond
Edward A. Bond
Edward Austin Bond was an American civil engineer and politician from New York. He was New York State Engineer and Surveyor from 1899 to 1904.-Life:...
to advise in the conduct of surveys for a thousand-ton barge canal. Later he was a member of the New York Water Storage Commission.
He died from heart disease at the Fort Orange Club in Albany.
His principal contribution to engineering science consists in the determination of the laws that govern the propulsion of vessels in narrow channels, an account of which he published in 1880 in the Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
of which organization he was elected a member in 1878.
Sources
- famousamericans.net/elnathansweet/
- Engineers' bios, at Rochester history
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9D07E0D61030E733A2575BC2A9679C946297D6CF Obit in NYT on November 28, 1903