New-York tribune., 1908-02-05
OBITUARY.
OTHNlEl FOSTER NICHOLS.


the Department of Bridges. died suddenly early
yesterday morning from heart disease at his home.
No. ~ Gates avenue, Brooklyn. His death
tirely unexpected. AS late Sunday afternoon he
paid several visits to his friends. Mr.. Nichols
the principal assistant engineer, under Lefert l..
Buck, chief engineer. in constructing the Will
iamsburg Bridge. He was continuously in the enl-
ployment of the Department of Bridges for many
years with the exception of the latter part of the
Seth Low administration.
At that time Mr.. Nichols had difference with
Gustave Lindenthal Commissioner of Bridges. In
the preceding administration the plans for the Man
haitian Bridge had all been prepared 1t was to be
suspension bridge. Mr. Lindenthal ordered the
plans redrawn and determined to substitute eye
bar cables in place of wire cables, which are used
in the ordinary suspension bridges. This resulted
in L. L. Buck being appointed consulting engineer.
Richard S. Buck. who had planned the Manhattan
Bridge resigned his place, and Mr.. Lindenthal
made application for additional money. AT hear
ing given by the Board of Aldermen. Mr. Nichols.
although he engineer in the Department of
Bridges, appeared before the aldermen and attacked
the plan as suggested by Mr.. Lindenthal. and as a
result Mr. Nichols retired from the department.
When Mayor Mcclellan appointed George Best as
Bridge Commissioner Mr.. Nichols was offered, and
accepted. the post of chief engineer of the De-
partment of Bridges.
Mr. Nichols was born in Newport, r. l., in 1885,
son of Thomas Pitmaa and Lydia (Toster} Nichols.
and went to Brooklyn when he was four years old
When sixteen years old, after having obtained his
early education in the Brooklyn public schools. Mr.
Nichols began to learn the machinsts trade in
this city. entering the Troy Polytechnic Institute
three wears later whence he graduated
civil engineer in 1868. He became assistant engi-
neer in Prospect Park. then being planned under
the direction of c. C. Martin. the chief engineer
and superintendent of the Brooklyn Bridge. Mr.
Nichols had charge of bridge foundation affairs in
the mark and also of the surveying OF the old
Conev island road He was appointed junior as
slstant of the Greenwich Street Elevated road of
New York City in 1859. and placed the first foun-
dation for that line north of Cortlandt street He
became the engineering secretary of ex-Mayor Ed
ward Cooper of New York City in 1871. In the
Same wear he went to Peru to perform duties an
assistant engineer in work the Meigs's govern
ment railways
While there he was associated with Leffert L.
r2,,ck tho engineer of the new East River bridge.
o,d later his chief. After doing two years work
on the location and construction of sixteen tun-
neIs he was put in charge OF work on the noun
tain division the Chimbote Railroad. in Northern
Peru In 1876 on his return from Peru. Mt. Mich
OILS became the engineer of the Edgemoor Iron
Works near Wilmington. Del, then working on
the contract for the construction OF the Metropo-
tan Elevated Railroad in New York City. His
next lob was with New York City which employed
him to build several large above Harlem.
In 1873 he became resident engineer of the Madeira
& Namora Railroad. in Brazil From 1879 to 1881
Mr.. Nichols chief engineer in the bridge shops
Of the New Jersey Iron Company, OF Trenton.
Later he was the assistant superintendent of the
Peter Cooper Glue Works. Newtovu Creek.
From 1852 1886 he resident engineer in charge
OF Louisville and Nashville bridge the
Ohio River, where he was soon made chief eng-
neer In 1856 he made chief engineer of water
works Westerly. r. l.. and LEFT that work to
become chief assistant engineer of the Suburba n
Rapid Transit Company of New York City. After
ward he became chief engineer of the Brooklyn
Elevated road. and had acted such for the
Railway Construction Company and the Union and
the Sea side Elevated Railroad companies. In 1892
and 1880 he was general manager Of the Brooklyn
Elevated Railroad. which office abolished in
13a4
Nfr Nichols married. 1876. Miss Jennie Svasov
Sterne daughter of Samuel Sterne. long Judge of
probate Of Newport, r. l, who with two daughters.
Miss Nichols and Mrs. Arthur Perry. and two
grandchildren. survive him.
Society of Civil Engineers, the British Institution.
of Civil Engineers, the Engineers Club, president
of the engineering department of the Brooklyn In
stitute and 4 trustee of the Brooklyn Collegiate
and Polytechnic Institute.
The funeral will take place tomorrow evening at
) o'clock, and the Rev. DR.. Swenzel rector of ST
Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church, will conduct
the services The burial Will be in Newport r. l.