George William Catt (1860-1905)

CATT, CHAPMAN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/14/2012 at 22:57:14

From Institution of Civil Engineers

GEORGE WILLIAM CATT, died at his home in New York City the 8th of October, 1905, aged 45. Born at Davenport, Iowa the 9th March, 1860, he received his preliminary education at the public schools and susequently passed through the Iowa State College, graduating in 1882. On leaving college he joined the staff of the King Bridge Company, of Cleveland, whom he represented as contracting engineer for several years in the Mississippi Valley and on the Pacific Coast. In 1887 he became Chief Engineer to the San Francisco Bridge Company, in which capacity he designed and erected a large number of bridges for railroads and municipalities. Whilst at Seattle, Washington, he rebuilt most of the piers and water-front structures destroyed in the fire that occurred in 1889. In 1891 he obtained the contract for extensive hydraulic dredging operations in Boston harbour, being successfully completed led to the foundation in the following year of the New York Dredging Company, of which Mr. Catt became President and Chief Engineer, his services being retained by the San Francisco Bridge Company as Consulting Engineer. During this period he designed and erected four large dredging-plants and executed a large amount of river-and harbour-improvement work, chiefly on the Pacific Coast. He also built the first modern drainage-station for New Orleans and a ship canal, 7 miles in length, for Port Arthur Channel and Dock Company, Texas, the construction of which necessitated the removal of 5 million cubic yards of material. In 1899 the New York Dredging Company was incorporated with the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Company, of which Mr. Catt became President and Chief Engineer, retaining this position until his death. Besides actively directing the extensive operations of his company in all parts of the United States, he acted as Consulting Engineer to the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company, the San Francisco Bridge Company, and the British Columbia General Contract Company. In 1891 he succeeded in getting the contract for the improvement of Manila harbour, involving the rebuilding and extension of the Spanish jetties, the dredging of a large anchorage-basin to the depth of 30 feet, the construction of an additional breakwater, and the building of a rock bulkhead behind wich the spoil of the dredging was deposited. Whilst the work was in progress Mr. Catt also built a large coaling-station, with full equipment, at Sangley Point, near Manila. One of the last important contract which he undertook was the reclamation of salt marshes contiguous to Cape May, New Jersey, to allow the extension of that town and district, work involving the dredging and depositing of 10 million cubic yards of material.

Mr. Catt was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Academy of Political and Social Science, and the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia. By virtue of his rare abilities and high personal character he attained a prominent place in the ranks of the profession in America, and won the respect and esteem of all who came into contact with him.

Mr. Catt was elected a Member of this Institution on the 6th March, 1900.

From Story County Watchman October 20, 1905

Des Moines, Ia., Oct. 14--Geo. William Catt, one of the most famous graduates of the Iowa State College at Ames by his will has given this institution over $175,000. The clause of the will which sets out magnificent gift to his alma mater was read at his funeral of the late engineer.

In another portion of the will was the surprising and sensational request that his body be given to a medical institution for the purpose of scientific research.

From Story County Watchman October 27, 1905

AMES

The Agricultural College is assured of a considerable immediate bequest and a still larger later acquisition in consequences of the recent death in New York of Mr. George W. Catt. Mr. Catt was a highly successful engineer, childless and the accumulator of a considerable fortune. His engineering library goes at once to the college; and half of his fortune, estimated at $350,000, will also pass to the college at the death of his wife, Mrs. Carrie Lane Chapman Catt.--Representative.

From Story County Watchman November 3, 1905 (front page)

To Aid Young Men.

Five hundred and fifty scholarships for the purpose of sending that number of Iowa boys to Iowa State College to receive an education and prepare them to make a success of life, will be the result of the bequests made by the late Geo. W. Catt, of New York, to his alma mater. Official announcement came from New York yesterday to the trustees of the college as to just what provision had been made for the school in this will.

According to the terms of the will which has been opened at New York and filed for probate, the money will be available for the use of the school after the death of the widow, Carrie Chapman Catt, the famous woman sufferagist.

Not only does the great engineer leave to Ames his fine library on engineering subjects, but after his wife's death his library on economics will be left to the college.

The bequest of Geo. W. Catt to Ames College is said by the trustees to be especially fitting. As a student at the agricultural and mechanical arts school, George Catt was a poor man. He worked his way through the institution, tending his stock of the college, in doing janitor work around the buildings and even was not loath to saw wood for the professors in order that his college career might remain unbroken.

To supply a fund for the loaning of money to just 550 students was the plan outlined just before his death. The entire bequest amounts to $55,000 and is divided into scholarships of $100 each. The money thus derived is to aid students and to be used in the aggregate to allay expenses and tide the poor but ambitious youths over financial breakers.

The sum which is not as large as first reported, is to be derived fro the sale of securities held by the estate. Mr. Catt left comfortable fortune, which will keep his wife in good circumstances up to the time of her death without touching the principal of breaking into the estate.

An official announcement of the actual plan formulated by the great engineer will be made at Ames sometime during the coming week. This outline of Mr. Catt's wishes will be forwarded by mail to President Storms soon.