New York State Department of Public Works
Encyclopedia
The office of Superintendent of Public Works was created by an 1876 amendment to the New York State Constitution. It abolished the canal commissioners
and established that the Department of Public Works execute all laws relating to canal maintenance and navigation except for those functions performed by the New York State Engineer and Surveyor
who continued to prepare maps, plans and estimates for canal construction and improvement. The Canal Board (now consisting of the Superintendent of Public Works, the State Engineer and Surveyor, and the Commissioners of the Canal Fund) continued to handle hiring of employees and other personnel matters. The Barge Canal
Law of 1903 (Chapter 147) directed the Canal Board to oversee the enlargement of and improvements to the Erie Canal
, the Champlain Canal
and the Oswego Canal
. In 1967, the Department of Public Works was merged with other departments into the new New York State Department of Transportation
.
Erie Canal Commission
The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission...
and established that the Department of Public Works execute all laws relating to canal maintenance and navigation except for those functions performed by the 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...
who continued to prepare maps, plans and estimates for canal construction and improvement. The Canal Board (now consisting of the Superintendent of Public Works, the State Engineer and Surveyor, and the Commissioners of the Canal Fund) continued to handle hiring of employees and other personnel matters. The Barge Canal
New York State Canal System
The New York State Canal System is a successor to the Erie Canal and other canals within New York...
Law of 1903 (Chapter 147) directed the Canal Board to oversee the enlargement of and improvements to the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
, the Champlain Canal
Champlain Canal
The Champlain Canal is a canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. It was simultaneously constructed with the Erie Canal and is now part of the New York State Canal System and the Lakes to Locks Passage....
and the Oswego Canal
Oswego Canal
The Oswego Canal is a canal in the New York State Canal System located in New York, United States. Opened in 1828, it is 23.7 miles in length, and connects the Erie Canal at Three Rivers to Lake Ontario at Oswego...
. In 1967, the Department of Public Works was merged with other departments into the new New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
.
List of Superintendents of Public Works
- George B. McClellanGeorge B. McClellanGeorge Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
(1826-1885) nominated March 16, 1877 by Gov. Robinson; rejected by the State Senate - Charles S. FairchildCharles S. FairchildCharles Stebbins Fairchild was a New York businessman and politician.-Biography:Born in Cazenovia, New York, to Sidney and Helen Fairchild, he graduated from Harvard College in 1863 and Harvard Law School in 1865. He was married to Helen Lincklaen in 1871...
nominated January 4, 1878 by Gov. Robinson; rejected by the State Senate on January 16, 1878 - Daniel MagoneDaniel MagoneDaniel Magone was Collector of the Port of New York during the first administration of United States President Grover Cleveland.-Biography:He was born in Oswegatchie, New York in January of 1829....
nominated January 18, 1878, by Gov. Robinson; rejected by State Senate January 23, 1878 - Benjamin S. W. ClarkBenjamin S. W. ClarkBenjamin S. W. Clark was an American merchant and politician from New York. He was the first New York State Superintendent of Public Works.-Biography:...
(1829–1912) nominated January 23, confirmed January 30, 1878 - January 15, 1880 - Silas Belden DutcherSilas Belden DutcherSilas Belden Dutcher was the New York State Superintendent of Public Works.-Biography:He was born on July 12, 1829 in Springfield, New York. Dutcher attended the Cazenovia Academy. He served as the New York State Superintendent of Public Works from 1880 to 1883. He died on February 10, 1909 in...
(1829-1889) January 15, 1880 - February 13, 1883 - James H. Shanahan (1828–1897), February 13, 1883 - resigned 1889
- Edward Hannan, December 16, 1889 - Jan 2, 1895
- George W. Aldridge January 2, 1895 - Jan 16, 1899
- John Nelson PartridgeJohn Nelson PartridgeJohn Nelson Partridge was the Police Commissioner for Brooklyn and Fire Commissioner for Brooklyn in the 1880s before the merger into New York City. He was the New York Superintendent of Public Works, and the New York City Police Commissioner from 1902 to 1903.-Biography:He was born in 1838 In...
, January 16, 1899 - Dec 20, 1901 - Charles S. Boyd, December 20, 1901 - January 4, 1905
- Nicholas Van Vranken Franchot, January 4, 1905 - January 14, 1907
- Frederick C. Stevens (New York), January 14, 1907 - January 4, 1911
- Charles E. Treman, January 4, 1911 - January 1, 1913
- Duncan W. Peck, January 1, 1913 - January 6, 1915
- William Wallace WotherspoonWilliam Wallace WotherspoonWilliam Wallace Wotherspoon was a United States Army general who served as Army Chief of Staff in 1914.-Biography:William Wotherspoon was born in Washington, D.C., on November 16, 1850...
January 6, 1915 - February 3, 1919 - Lewis NixonLewis Nixon (naval architect)Lewis Nixon I was a naval architect, shipbuilding executive, public servant, and political activist. He designed the United States' first modern battleships, and supervised the construction of its first modern submarines, all before his 40th birthday. He was briefly the leader of Tammany Hall...
, February 3, 1919 - May 3, 1919 - Edward S. Walsh, May 3, 1919 - January 19, 1921
- Charles L. Cadle, January 19, 1921 - January 9, 1923
- Edward S. Walsh, January 9 - August 30, 1923
- Frederick Stuart GreeneFrederick Stuart GreeneFrederick Stuart Greene , was Superintendent of Public Works of New York State.-References:...
(1870-1939), August 30, 1923 - March 26, 1939 (retired, but died before successor was appointed) - Arthur William BrandtArthur William BrandtArthur William Brandt was the New York State Superintendent of Public Works from March 30, 1939 to May 20, 1943.-Biography:...
(1888-1943), March 30, 1939 - May 20, 1943 - Charles Harvey SellsCharles Harvey SellsCharles Harvey Sells was the New York State Superintendent of Public Works from May 20, 1943 to September 30, 1948.-References:...
(1889–1978) , May 20, 1943 - September 30, 1948 (announced resignation on September 2 ) - Bertram Dalley Tallamy (1901–1989) September 30, 1948 - 1955
- John W. Johnson (New York) 1955 - 1959
- John Burch McMorran (1899–1991) 1959 - September 1, 1967, when he continued in office as the first head of the New York State Department of TransportationNew York State Department of TransportationThe New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
.