Evening star., 1944-05-09
John Blake Gordon,
Sanitation Engineer,
Dies Of Heart Attack


John Blake Gordon. "a, director
of sanitary engineering for the Dis.
trict, died early today at his home
S24l r street NV, after heart
attack suffered early last week.
Mr.. Gordon had served with the
District government since July, 1900
when he became chairman, rodmar
and leveler with the sewer division
of the Engineer Department. HI
became assistant engineer of the
sewer division in 1904 and later
was resident engineer with group
OF civil and hydraulic engineers fol
a short time.
From 1907 to 1909 Mr.. Gordon
was general manager of the South
ern Hydraulic Construction Co. and
later; was associated with several
other firms, including the Spencer
Water Co, Spencer, N. c., where he
served as manager.
Returned Here i'm 1910.
He returned to the District gov
eminent in April, 1910, as assistant
superintendent of the sewer divi-
sion. From 1921 until 1882, he was
sanitary engineer, and in 1882 as
sunied his present post as director
Of sanitary engineering for the Dis
trict.
As director of Sanitary Engineer
ing, Mr.. Gordon had supervised
over the past decade approximately
$4,000 900 of Improvements on the
District sewer system, about double
the total cost of the sewer system
up to that time.
The improvements included con-
struction of the sewerage treatment
plant, costing approximately $4,000
600 and principally designed to keep
pollution from the Potomac River.
He also supervised construction of
the Rock Creek diversion sewers to
free Rock Greek of pollution, extern
sion of the 22-foot boundary sewer
and the rehabilitation of the sewer
age pumping station which consisted
of converting the. operation from
steam to electricity.
Other Major Projects.
His term in office also saw the con-
struction of the South Capitol street
storm water. sewer cost $500, 900
for protection of the Naval Air Sta
ton and Boiling Field and many
large trunk water main extensions
and construction for Soldiers Home
and Fort Stanton reservoirs.
Mr. Gordon served overseas in
the World War from 1917 to 1919.
Mr.. Gordon was a member of a
number of governmental boards and
committees, as well as private or
ganizations.
He was vice chairman of the Dis
trict Personnel Board, chairman of
the Board of Underground Con-
struction and member of the Dis
trict Wage Board, the Permanent
Project and Engineering Board. the
Committee on the Purchase of Con-
struction Materials, the Co-ordinat-
ing Committee of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, representative for the Dis
trict and member of the Executive
Committee of the Potomac Valley
Pollution Conference, member Of the
Joint State-Federal Drainage Basic
Committee of Chesapeake Bay-Po-
tomac-James Rivers and a member
of the Public Space Committee.
Mr.. Gordon also held member
ships in the American Society of
Civil Engineers, the Washington
Society of Civil Engineers, the So
ciety of American Military Engi-
neers, the Washington Board of
Trade, the Rotary Club, the Cosmos
Club, the Chevy Chase Club and
The American Legion.
Born in Washington, he was a
great-grandson of DIR. James H.
Blake, Mayor of the District during
the British attack on the city. He
was a grandson of Allen T. Caper-
ton, member of the Confederate
State Senate from Virginia, and
later Democratic member of the
Senate from West Virginia. Forty
fourth Congress. His great-grand-
father, Hugh Csperton, was Fed
eralist member of the Thirteenth
United States Congress from Vir-
ginia.
Was Church Vestryman.
He attended Western High School,
and was graduated from Columbian
College NOW George Washington
University with a B. S. degree in
1908 and with c. E. in 1904. A
lifelong resident of Georgetown. he
was member of Christ Episcopal
Church there, and served for a num-
Der of years on the vestry of that
church.
Surviving are his widow, Kath-
crime Du Bose Gordon; two daugh-
ters, Louise Du Bose Gordon and
Mrs. Harriette Gordon Lowman, and
two brothers, Allen T. C. Gordon of
Pittsburgh and Erskine Gordon of
Washington.
Funeral services will be held at 3
pm. Thursday at Christ Church.
Thirty and o streets NV.
Burial will be private, In Oak Hill
Cemetery.