BIXBY F.L.

BIXBY F.L. 01.07. 1880 Moorehead MN/USA 13.11. 1955 Reno NV/USA Frederick Louis Bixby received the BSc degree in civil engineering in 1905 from the University of California, Berkeley CA, and the degree of civil engineer from the University of Nevada, Reno NV. He was employed after graduation by the Oregon Short Line Railway in Idaho. He made surveys and investigations for hydro-electric developments in the Salt Lake City UT area in 1907, joining in 1908 the US Department of Agriculture, later serving as office engineer at its headquarters at Washington DC. In 1910 Bixby directed investigations on water resources and water uses in New Mexico, continuing later in this capacity in Nevada. During this period he became a part-time member of the Engineering Faculty, New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Las Cruces NM, and also served in a similar capacity in the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Nevada, Reno NV, becoming in 1922 a full-time member of the latter department, and chairman of the Department in 1939 until his retirement in 1948. Bixby was an expert in irrigation engineering. He has written with Samuel Fortier (18551933) a book on irrigation techniques. Part 1 includes the then current knowledge on earth-fill and hydraulic-fill dams, whereas Part 2 deals with timber and rock-fill dams. This work is richly illustrated with photos to show successful designs, and to explain the main aspects of a design. Bixby thereby refers to the two fundamental books in dam design, namely these of Edward Wegmann (1850-1935) and of James D. Schuyler (18481912). The 1915 paper deals with the hydraulic aspects of submerged orifices, as often encountered in irrigation problems if the tailwater level is above a certain elevation so that the orifice becomes submerged. Bixby was an ASCE member from 1919. Anonymous (1933). Bixby, Frederick L. American men of science 5: 98. Science Press: NY. Anonymous (1957). Frederick L. Bixby. Trans. ASCE 122: 1234-1235. Bixby, F.L. (1915). Tests of submerged-orifice head-gates for the measurement of irrigation water. Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 97. University of Nevada: Reno. Bixby, F.L., Hardman, G. (1928). The development of water supplies for irrigation in Nevada by pumping from underground sources. Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 112. University of Nevada: Reno. Fortier, S., Bixby, F.L. (1912). The storage of water for irrigation purposes 2: Timber dams and rock-fill dams. Government Printing Office: Washington DC. (P)

BIXBY W.H. 27.12. 1849 Charlestown MA/USA 29.09. 1928 Washington DC/USA William Herbert Bixby entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT in 1866, but the sudden death of his father forced him to leave. He took then a position in a mercantile house, and received after 2 years an appointment as cadet at the US Military Academy, West Point NY, from where he graduated in 1873. He was for two years on duty at New York Harbour. From 1875 to 1879, he was teacher at his Alma Mater, then left for France, taking instruction courses at Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris F. After graduation in 1880 he was assigned to special duty studying fortifications in Europe. He returned in 1882 to the USA, on duty at Willets Point NY, preparing a Report on fortifications. From 1884 to 1891 Captain Bixby was in charge of the US Engineer Office, Wilmington NC, conducting river and harbor improvements in this District. He was then transferred to Newport RI, having charge of the Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut Districts. After his stay at the Fourth Lighthouse District, he was transferred in 1897 to the Cincinnati District, having charge of the entire Ohio River improvement work from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh PA. In 1901 he was transferred to Detroit MI, where his work included the Great Lakes from Buffalo NY to Duluth MN, with plans for the third lock at the Sault, including canal improvements. From 1904 to 1907 he was in charge of the Chicago IL District, thereby supervising all work in the Western Great Lakes and Northern Mississippi River Districts, with special works for the deep waterway between Chicago and St. Louis MO. He was transferred in 1907 to St. Louis, having charge as division engineer of the Western Division. He was appointed president of the Mississippi River Commission in 1908, and in 1910 took over the office of Chief of Engineers, so that he acted as head of the Army Corps of Engineers, thereby succeeding William L. Marshall (1846-1920). He retired in 1913. During his long service in the Corps, he was responsible for a large number of tasks requiring research and engineering knowledge. Anonymous (1910). New chief of Engineers, Col. W.H. Bixby. Engineering News 63(18): 524. P Bixby, W.H. (1906). West fork of south branch of Chicago River. GPO: Washington DC. Bixby, W.H. (1910). Regarding practicability of storage reservoirs to prevent floods and to benefit navigation on the Ohio and other rivers of the United States. Washington DC. Bixby, W.H. (1911). Drainage areas and surface levels of the Great Lakes. Washington DC. Bixby, W.H. (1912). River and harbor improvements. US Government Printing: Washington DC. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Herbert_Bixby P