Elwood Mead
Encyclopedia
Elwood Mead was a professor, politician
and engineer
, known for heading the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) from 1924 until his death in 1936. During his tenure, he oversaw some of the most complex projects the Bureau of Reclamation has undertaken. These included the Hoover
, Grand Coulee
and Owyhee
dams.
and graduated from Purdue with a Bachelor of Science
in 1882. He then earned his Doctorate
in Civil Engineering
from Iowa State College a year later, in 1883.
From there he started work as a professor by teaching mathematics at Colorado Agriculture College from 1883 until 1884, and again from 1886 to 1888.
In 1888, Mead became the territorial and state engineer of Wyoming
. From 1888 until 1899, he was key in drafting the water laws for Wyoming and Colorado
. He was also a key supporter of the Cody Canal, one of the nation's first Carey Act
projects undertaken by a group of investors, including William F. Cody
.
In 1907, Mead was appointed Chairman of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission in Victoria, Australia. He served there for four years.
In 1911, he returned to the United States to become the professor of Rural Institutions, University of California
, and chairman of the California Land Settlement Board. His ideas about developing efficient rural communities would later influence what would become the Resettlement Administration
communities of the New Deal
.
He continued to serve in California until 1924, when he was appointed Chairman of the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) by President Calvin Coolidge
's administration. In 1923 and again in 1927, he went to Palestine to help the Zionists develop irrigation and development plans. At the BOR, Mead oversaw the planning and execution of construction of major water control and irrigation projects in the West: the Hoover
, Grand Coulee
and Owyhee
dams.
Mead died on January 26, 1936 at the age of 78 in Washington, D.C. from thrombosis
, just four months after the completion of Boulder Dam. He is buried at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Virginia
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, known for heading the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) from 1924 until his death in 1936. During his tenure, he oversaw some of the most complex projects the Bureau of Reclamation has undertaken. These included the Hoover
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President...
, Grand Coulee
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
and Owyhee
Owyhee Dam
Owyhee Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Owyhee River in Eastern Oregon near Adrian, Oregon, United States. Completed in 1932 during the Great Depression, the dam generates electricity and provides irrigation water for several irrigation districts in Oregon and neighboring Idaho...
dams.
Early life and career
Mead was born in Patriot, IndianaPatriot, Indiana
Patriot is a town in Posey Township, Switzerland County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 209 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Patriot is located at ....
and graduated from Purdue with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1882. He then earned his Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
from Iowa State College a year later, in 1883.
From there he started work as a professor by teaching mathematics at Colorado Agriculture College from 1883 until 1884, and again from 1886 to 1888.
Public service
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. From 1888 until 1899, he was key in drafting the water laws for Wyoming and Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. He was also a key supporter of the Cody Canal, one of the nation's first Carey Act
Carey act
The Carey Act of 1894 allowed private companies in the U.S. to erect irrigation systems in the western semi-arid states, and profit from the sales of water. The Carey Act was enacted into law by Congress by the Act of August 18, 1894 , as amended...
projects undertaken by a group of investors, including William F. Cody
Buffalo Bill
William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a United States soldier, bison hunter and showman. He was born in the Iowa Territory , in LeClaire but lived several years in Canada before his family moved to the Kansas Territory. Buffalo Bill received the Medal of Honor in 1872 for service to the US...
.
In 1907, Mead was appointed Chairman of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission in Victoria, Australia. He served there for four years.
In 1911, he returned to the United States to become the professor of Rural Institutions, University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, and chairman of the California Land Settlement Board. His ideas about developing efficient rural communities would later influence what would become the Resettlement Administration
Resettlement Administration
The Resettlement Administration was a U.S. federal agency that, between April 1935 and December 1936, relocated struggling urban and rural families to communities planned by the federal government....
communities of the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
.
He continued to serve in California until 1924, when he was appointed Chairman of the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) by President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
's administration. In 1923 and again in 1927, he went to Palestine to help the Zionists develop irrigation and development plans. At the BOR, Mead oversaw the planning and execution of construction of major water control and irrigation projects in the West: the Hoover
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President...
, Grand Coulee
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
and Owyhee
Owyhee Dam
Owyhee Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Owyhee River in Eastern Oregon near Adrian, Oregon, United States. Completed in 1932 during the Great Depression, the dam generates electricity and provides irrigation water for several irrigation districts in Oregon and neighboring Idaho...
dams.
Mead died on January 26, 1936 at the age of 78 in Washington, D.C. from thrombosis
Thrombosis
Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. When a blood vessel is injured, the body uses platelets and fibrin to form a blood clot to prevent blood loss...
, just four months after the completion of Boulder Dam. He is buried at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Virginia
Falls Church, Virginia
The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within...
.
Legacy and honors
- Lake MeadLake MeadLake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It is located on the Colorado River about southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by the Hoover Dam, it extends behind the dam, holding approximately of water.-History:The lake was...
, formed by the construction of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, was named for him.
External links
- J. M. Powell, "Mead, Elwood (1858-1936)", Australian Dictionary of BiographyAustralian Dictionary of BiographyThe Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....
, Volume 10, Melbourne University Press, 1986, pp 467–468.