ABSTRACT
GOWEN 14.02. 1851 Barnstable NH/USA 19.10. 1909 Ossining NY/USA After engineering education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT, Cambridge MA, until 1869, Charles Sewall Gowen became until 1876 assistant engineer to James B. Francis (1815-1892) of the Locks and Canal Company, Lowell MA, a stay which was of great value to his later work. He was engaged by the Boston water works until 1880, and the Boston Improved Sewerage, having charge of the Sudbury Supply until 1883. He then accepted as assistant engineer in charge of hydrography with the Philadelphia Water Department to study new sources of water supply from Schuylkill River, and was appointed in 1884 assistant engineer of the Aqueduct Commission, New York. Gowen was engaged there on surveys for reservoir sites and on the location of the New Aqueduct from the Croton Lake to Harlem River, and on the construction of this great Aqueduct, normally a rock tunnel from the Old Croton Dam to Manhattan, over a total of 45 km. The Aqueduct drops below the hydraulic gradient near the city continuing for more than 10 km at a maximum depth of 100 m below tide water. It includes also a short inverted siphon. The horseshoe cross-sectional aqueduct shape is 4 m high and 4 m wide, designed for 12.5 m3/s discharge capacity. The accurate measuring of the line was made by a personally developed method. As division engineer from 1885, his work included a complicated gate-house at Old Croton Dam, and deep shafts. Alphonse Fteley (1837-1903), chief engineer of the works, stated of problems encountered by Gowen during the tunnel lining, which were however resolved. Once the Aqueduct was completed in 1890, Gowen was placed in charge of Reservoir M on Titicus River, near Purdy Station NY. Titicus Dam was completed in 1895, so that he took charge of the construction of the New Croton Dam, one of the largest dams of the early 20th century. Its maximum height is 90 m, including the notable curved stepped spillway. Changes imposed for parts of the dams were not accepted by Gowen, as described in the 1906 paper. The entire design was completed in 1906, marking a special moment for him. He had resigned from the service in 1905, becoming engaged in consulting work but soon became ill, which led to his early death. Anonymous (1923). Charles S. Gowen. Trans. ASCE 86: 1670-1674. Gowen, C.S. (1890). Discussion of Tunnel surveying on Division No. 6. Trans. ASCE 23: 32-33. Gowen, C.S. (1900). The foundations of the New Croton Dam. Trans. ASCE 43: 469-565. (P) Gowen, C.S. (1906). The changes at the New Croton Dam. Trans. ASCE 56: 32-72.
