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The accomplishments of civil engineers in America often go largely unnoticed. They are components of a national infrastructure that many people simply take for granted. Other projects, however-because of their technological innovations, their importance to society, or even their beauty-have attained the status of landmarks in the history of American civil engineering. Forty such projects-chosen by the editors of Civil Engineering, with valuable input from members of ASCE's History and Heritage Committee-are commemorated in these 80 pages. Some have been officially recognized through ASCE's National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark Program; others have not. "ile it would be impossible to recognize every great achievement, the following are, we believe, worthy of special note. BY JEFF L. BROWN
Philadelphia Waterworks
1822
Benjamin Henry Latrobe's arrival in Philadelphia in 1798 was propitious. The English-born architect and engineer had come for the purpose of designing a building for the Bank of Pennsylvania, but he found the city in a turmoil regarding its water supply.
The 1790s had been a trying time for the residents of Philadelphia. In 1793 an epidemic of yellow fever ravaged the city, lasting three months and claiming the lives of 4,000 people, or roughly 10 percent of the population. Four more outbreaks occurred before the decade was over. While the causes of the disease were unknown, many blamed the lack of clean water.
By the time Latrobe arrived, the attitude of some residents had turned from dissatisfaction to outrage. The water drawn from local wells often had an offensive taste and odor, and the quantity available for such public uses as firefighting was insufficient. Meanwhile, a private scheme to convey drinking water via a canal from Norristown, Pennsylvania, 16 mi (26 km) away, had foundered.
Latrobe reasoned that the city could secure water from the much closer Schuylkill River. Shortly after his arrival, he began to formulate a plan, which ultimately the city government accepted in 1799.
As built, Latrobe's system began with a 300 ft (91 m) tunnel to convey water into a well from an 84 ft (26 m) wide, 200 ft (61 m) long settling basin next to the Schuylkill River. A large steam engine would pump water from the well into another tunnel, 6 ft (2 m) in diameter and...