SNOW

SNOW 02.11. 1865 Providence RI/USA 29.10. 1942 Harrisburg PA/USA Frank Herbert Snow started his career as surveyor at Brockton MA, becoming in 1890 city engineer. He designed a sewer system and a treatment plant. From 1896 to 1905 he was engaged in a private practice at Boston MA, and Columbus OH, conducting general engineering projects, including the sewerage system for the Metropolitan Water Board of Clinton MA, and water works at Peabody or Mansfield MA. He then moved to Pennsylvania where he lived until his death. He was appointed in 1905 chief engineer of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. First he was in charge to compile data of all public water works and sewerage systems of the State, realizing that the conditions were poor, and that a vast water supply network had to be designed to reduce waterborne disease. At this time, mainly filtration and chlorination were used. In 1914 then, Snow was appointed chief engineer of the Public Service Commission of Pennsylvania, an office he held for 18 years. He supervised all engineering work; during these years the death rate from typhoid fever in Pennsylvania dropped drastically. After retirement in 1932, Snow organized an engineering firm, specializing in rehabilitation of industrial concerns. He was also elected secretary of the Pennsylvania Water Works Association, rendering a great service to this organization. ‘In recognition of pioneer work and outstanding accomplishments in matters relating to public water supply’, he was elected honorary member in 1940. He was proud as civil engineer, and had the burning passion to bring organization among engineers, for which he spent freely time and money. He was president of the Engineers Society of Pennsylvania, and member of the American Water Works Association AWWA, and of the American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE. The many reports that he wrote evidence his keen analytical mind, and the broad grasp of affairs. He had a wide acquaintanceship and numbered among his friends men prominent in the field of engineering, business, and municipal life. Snow carried on much pioneering in engineering work throughout his career. Anonymous (1942). The late F. Herbert Snow. Water Works Engineering 95(25): 1501. P Anonymous (1943). Frank H. Snow. Trans. ASCE 108: 1634-1638. Snow, F.H. (1901). Discussion of The antecedents of the septic tank. Trans. ASCE 46: 472-476. Snow, F.H. (1907). Discussion of Water supplies. Proc. ASCE 33(6): 688-696. Venable, W.M. (1908). Methods and devices for bacterial treatment of sewage. Wiley: New York.