Hermann Schussler
Encyclopedia
Hermann Schüssler or Schussler (August 4, 1842 - April 27, 1919) was a German
water-systems engineer
and architect
of dam
s famous for designing the Comstock water system
.
, Germany. From 1859 to 1862 he visited the Prussian Military Academy of Oldenburg (state)
. After his graduation he studied civil engineering in Zürich
and Karlsruhe
.
, and started working for the Spring Valley Water Works of San Francisco. He worked on several projects in the Bay Area. Remarkable projects are the dams at Crystal Springs Reservoir
and San Andreas Lake
which survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
. Schussler became chief engineer
of Marin County, and later of Virginia City
. In Virginia City, Schussler worked for Virginia City and Gold Hill Water Company and build the Comstock water system. He also worked for the Sutro Tunnel Company
and designed the water system for Tuscarora
and Pioche. In 1878 Schussler worked on several water projects in Hawaii
. He retired in 1914.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
water-systems engineer
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...
and architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
of dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
s famous for designing the Comstock water system
Comstock Lode
The Comstock Lode was the first major U.S. discovery of silver ore, located under what is now Virginia City, Nevada, on the eastern slope of Mount Davidson, a peak in the Virginia Range. After the discovery was made public in 1859, prospectors rushed to the area and scrambled to stake their claims...
.
Early years
Hermann Schussler was born in what is today RastedeRastede
Rastede is a municipality in the Ammerland district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 12 km north of Oldenburg. It is the site of the Schloss Rastede.-References:...
, Germany. From 1859 to 1862 he visited the Prussian Military Academy of Oldenburg (state)
Oldenburg (state)
Oldenburg — named after its capital, the town of Oldenburg — was a state in the north of present-day Germany. Oldenburg survived from 1180 until 1918 as a county, duchy and grand duchy, and from 1918 until 1946 as a free state. It was located near the mouth of the River Weser...
. After his graduation he studied civil engineering in Zürich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
and Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is a German academic research and education institution with university status resulting from a merger of the university and the research center of the city of Karlsruhe. The university, also known as Fridericiana, was founded in 1825...
.
Engineer in USA
In 1864 Hermann Schussler immigrated to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and started working for the Spring Valley Water Works of San Francisco. He worked on several projects in the Bay Area. Remarkable projects are the dams at Crystal Springs Reservoir
Crystal Springs Reservoir
Crystal Springs Reservoir is a pair of artificial lakes located in the northern Santa Cruz Mountains of San Mateo County, California situated in the rift valley created by the San Andreas Fault just to the west of the cities of San Mateo and Hillsborough, and I-280...
and San Andreas Lake
San Andreas Lake
San Andreas Lake is a reservoir adjacent to the San Francisco Peninsula cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in San Mateo County, California. It is situated directly on the San Andreas Fault, which is named after the lake.- History :...
which survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
. Schussler became chief engineer
Chief Engineer
In marine transportation, the chief engineer is a licensed mariner in charge of the engineering department on a merchant vessel. "Chief engineer" is the official title of someone qualified to oversee the entire engine department; the qualification is colloquially called a "chief's...
of Marin County, and later of Virginia City
Virginia City
Virginia City is a city located in Storey County, Nevada.Virginia City may also refer to:* Virginia City, Montana* Virginia City, Nevada* Virginia City, Virginia* Virginia City , a 1940 film starring Errol Flynn...
. In Virginia City, Schussler worked for Virginia City and Gold Hill Water Company and build the Comstock water system. He also worked for the Sutro Tunnel Company
Sutro Tunnel
The Sutro Tunnel is a drainage tunnel connected to the Comstock Lode in Northern Nevada. It begins at Virginia City, Nevada and empties approximately 6 miles southeast the town of Dayton, Nevada....
and designed the water system for Tuscarora
Tuscarora, Nevada
Tuscarora is an unincorporated community in Elko County, Nevada. It is home to two small schools provided by the Elko County School District. Tuscarora is part of the Elko Micropolitan Statistical Area....
and Pioche. In 1878 Schussler worked on several water projects in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. He retired in 1914.
External links
- Herman Schussler and the Comstock Water System http://www.onlinenevada.org/Herman_Schussler_and_the_Comstock_Water_System
- Hermann Schussler: No Ordinary Man http://www.flickr.com/photos/93984873@N00/2955351788
- The Daily Journal: A water-systems engineer and architect of dams, June 8, 2009. http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=111436