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A VETERAN ENGINEER'S DEATH.

JOHN B. JERVIS, WHO HELPED TO CONSTRUCT THE ERIE CANAL.
ROME, N.Y., Jan. 13.- John B. Jervis, the well-known American civil engineer, in whose honor the town of Port Jervis, Orange County, was named, died at his residence here last night. He was in his ninetieth year, having been born at Huntington, Long Island, Dec. 14, 1795. His first important engineering service was rendered in the construction of the Erie Canal, and when that great work was completed he conducted the survey and construction of the Delaware and Hudson Canal. He was afterward chief engineer in charge of the construction of the Albany and Schenectady and Schenectady and Saratoga Railroads, and for the latter road he invented the locomotive truck, the principle of which is now applied to all railroad locomotives. This invention was made in 1832, and the first locomotive with this improvement was constructed to order in England at the works of R. Stephenson.

Mr. Jervis's greatest work was the constfuction of the Croton Aqueduct which supplies New-York City with water, and of which he was the engineer in charge in 1836. The completion of this great work gave him a world-wide reputation, and he was engaged as consulting engineer on the Boston water works from 1846 to 1848. The following year he was made chief engineer of the Hudson River Railroad, a position which he held for two years. After this the Michigan Southern, Northern Indiana, and Chicago and Rock Island Railroads were constructed under his direction, and he was President of the Chicago and Rock Island in 1854. His next work was the building of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne, and Chicago Railroad. Since 1868 he had lived in this city, acting as the Secretary and practical head of the Rome Merchant's Iron Mill. He published a work on "Railway Property," one on "Labor and Capital," and wrote lectures on "Industrial Economy" at the age of 83. He was an earnest Christian and noted for his benevolence and his upright life.
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to 45" St to call on Mrs. Bishop Putnam. We did not see her but saw Bishop. We walked down and I came to my room thinking I would write to Sara but reading Laura's letter to Mary quite upset me and as it was late I went to bed and soon forgot all my anxieties and troubles in a sound sleep. I go to my bed with that feeling that happily there I can rest and forget and now I awake in the morning with a half frightened feeling and wishing I could hide myself and flee from the daily disappointments and troubles.

Thursday Jan. 15" 1885. Snow in the morning turning to rain and dismal weather. I worked much of the day and wrote to Sara. Spent the evening at Mary's. John Olmstead was at dinner and he and Bowyer and Delamates who came in went to the theatre. I went around to the club Just as I was coming away Eastman came in and I went back with him and staid half an hour when we walked over to 6" Av together.

Friday 16" Still raining and dismal. A letter from Sara enclosing one from Tula in which they take sides with their father and assume that they cannot visit us if he does not. I hardly know how to act in this most foolish complication. Worked deliberately on my pictures trying to repair and improve them. Calvert came in and looked at them and thought I had improved them. Eastman sent for me to come up to dinner at 7 which I did. Walked over and told Mary. The rain poured and the wind blew Eastman was at the station to meet Miss Buckley but she did not come. They seem very flourishing and I am sorry to own that even with them, kind and friendly as they are I feel unhappy contrasting always my troubles and lack of money with the ability Eastman has to make so much money That is one of the chief misfortunes of a lack of money. It makes me shy and cowardly. I feel now like keeping only with my own people and avoiding every one else, which is all wrong. I don't suppose even Eastman who knows me so well has the least conception of what straits I am often in.

Saturday 17" Went home by afternoon train. Tom met me with the sleigh. It was pretty cold up there. My father had retired as we were to have some company. Mr & Mrs. Cautina, John and Nannie, Mary and Girard, who came and spent the evening very enjoyably to all I think.

Sunday 18" The snow is glazed and it is as much as ones life is worth to venture out. I talked with Sara about Laura's letter which came to Mary's and which she brought over to me just before I went home yesterday. I feel very sorry for her and Gertrude even though they think it necessary not to come to see us any more. I wrote a reply which I mean to consider carefully before I send it and I mean to do my best to show my pity for her

Transcription Notes:
needs handwritten ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-27 16:56:26 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-30 16:15:28 --------- the word 'constfuction' should be 'construction' ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-02 14:33:28