Evening star., 1920-11-23
COL. THOMAS w. SYMONS DIES
AFTER ILLNESS OF FIVE YEARS
One of the Leading Engineers
i. of the Army-Authority
on Barge Canals.
Formerly Assistant Engineer Com
missioner of District-Building
and Grounds Superintendent.

Col Thomas William Symons.
United States Engineer Corps. re-
z tired. who was at one time assistant
engineer commissioner of the Dis
tr;ct and superintendent of public
buildings and grounds, died today at
his home. 1906 New HAMPSHIRE ave-
nue. of acute Bright's disease. His
illness extended over period of FIVE
years Mrs Symons and Noel S.
Symons. a son. We're with him when
dhe end came. Arrangements are
being made to hold the funeral from
the New Hampshire avenue residence
next Saturday Burial will be at Ar
lington national cemetery.
Col. SymCnS was looked upon as
one of the leading engineers in the
Army at the time of his retirement.
and was recognized throughout the
country as one of the greatest au-
thor!ties on barge canal engineering
and inland waterways. pres!dsnt
-i:cose VII. with whom Col. SymonS
was intimately associated during tbs
formers admins tration. referted T."
him as the father of barge canals.
During this noted engineer : iolIl-
residence in Washington, and because
of his services rs assistant engineer
commissioner and later as military
aide on the personal staff of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and as superintendent
OF public buildings and grounds, he
Sattained much distinction and made
many friends.
Won Reputation as Engineer.
Col. Symons was born in New York
state in 1850, and was graduated from
the West Point Military Academy at
the head of his class in 1874. His
first assignment was as an engineer
in the United States geological sur
xvh hiph that finn nnday
the supervision of the War Depart
uent. Subsequent to this he. was
placed in charge of the rivers AMI
harbors work in Oregon and Wash
ington states. 1t was while engaged
I'm this engineering work that his
skill and high efficiency attracted
wide attention
He afterward wrote book. about
the Columbia river, which was widely
hailed as an authority on that sub.
ieat. In the early SOS he was delei
gated to the task of making a new
survey of the boundary between the
United States and Mexico. after which
he was ordered to Buffalo, n. Y,
where he planed and supervised the
construction of the worlds largest
breakwater in the harbor of that
lake port.
This engineering feat brought him
considerable fame and the manner in
which he performed this work won
1Or MIN tne puDI1cly expressed aHec-.
ito and appreciation Of the citizens of
Buffalo. - a-E$
Work on Barge Canai.
On finishing this commission Col
Symons was summoned to Washing
ton at President Roosevet's personal
request to become his. military aid
and to serve in the important capacity
Of superintendent, of pubic buildings
and grounds. Two years later Presi-
det Roosevelt, by means of special
sact of Congress. obtained for him spe-
ciaI leave of absence to serve as a
member Of the New York state barge
canal advisors board and consult
ing engineer on canals for that COM
mowealth.
Col. Roosevelt explained at the time
that he did this for Col. Symons be-
cause when he was governor of that
state he had appointed Col. Symons
to make q personal Investigation and
report on the waterways Of New York,
dealing especially with the question
Of the advisability of constructing a
barge canal and he therefore knew