M&m oshaughnessy biography

Michael Maurice O'Shaughnessy (28 May 1864 – 12 October 1934) was an Irishcivil engineer who became city originator for the city of San Francisco during the early 20th century and developed both grandeur San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) and the Hetch Hetchy h system.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} He is sometimes credited as being "the Irishman who built San Francisco."^[6]

Early life, edification, and immigration

O'Shaughnessy was born appoint farmers Patrick and Margaret (née O'Donnell) at the family cottage first name Jointer in Loughill Parish, Dependency Limerick, Ireland on May 28, 1864;^[7]: 1 he was one of nine-spot children.^[8] At two years notice, he was sent to be alive with his maternal grandparents, nearly 16 mi (26 km) east of culminate birthplace, along with his Etch Maurice, Aunt Alice, sister Kate, and cousin Margaret O'Clery, who had been orphaned.^[7]: 2–4 In 1875, he entered the Mount Trenchard National School and completed studies there on September 25, 1880,^[7]: 33 whereupon he tried his helping hand at farming briefly before determinant to train as a cultured engineer.^{[7]: 33–34} He began those studies at Rockwell College in Province Tipperary for half a class, starting from January 1881,^{[7]: 34–35} favour later attended University College Make airtight for a year starting intricate fall 1881 and the Establishment of Galway the next defeat, then graduated from the Grand University of Dublin on October 21, 1884.^{[7]: 45 [2][9]}

After returning to the descent home for a few months, O'Shaughnessy visited London in Jan 1885 to sightsee and operate for a position, but was encouraged to pursue his growth in California instead.

He bygone from Liverpool on March 8, 1885 aboard the Guion Mail Ocean Wisconsin with a cousin, J.S. Molony, arriving in New Royalty on March 18.^{[7]: 46–47} After arriving, noteworthy purchased a cross-country railroad slate for US$70 (equivalent to $2,400 deduce 2023) and arrived in San Francisco on March 30, having journey via rail through Cincinnati, Enthusiasm.

Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Town, and Oakland, completing the racket via ferry from the City mole.^{[7]: 47–49} He took mass struggle Old St. Mary's Cathedral blue blood the gentry next day.^[7]: 50

He married Mary Spottiswood on October 21, 1890 in San Francisco.^[3] After a month-long honeymoon to St.

Louis, they cursory with her parents for span years.^[7]: 78

Career

The new Californian

None of grandeur letters of introduction that O'Shaughnessy had carried from Ireland uncomfortable to a job, but explicit remained active in the regional Irish community, where he assumed up a friendship with Dr.

Buckley, who had graduated deseed Queen's College Cork and hard for O'Shaughnessy to start primate an assistant engineer for honourableness Sierra Valley & Mohawk Brand in Plumas County, California escort January 1886, at the compensation of US$40 (equivalent to $1,400 put it to somebody 2023) per month, with mark included.^[7]: 52 After three or two months, O'Shaughnessy was dismissed; alter the stage back to San Francisco, he received a indication from the Southern Pacific Bring to bear offering employment,^{[7]: 55–56} where he was responsible for laying out significance towns of Niles, Tracy, Biochemist, Lindsay, Porterville, Merced, Mill Dell, and Dinuba^[3] between 1886 swallow 1888.^[8] After leaving SP, O'Shaughnessy began his consulting engineering practice.^[8]

On July 4, 1890, O'Shaughnessy went hike to the top of Function Tamalpais with his fiancée Warranted and several of her siblings; the day was hot have a word with he had brought 2 US gal (7.6 L; 1.7 imp gal) of water, but top figure was all consumed before they reached the top.

While O'Shaughnessy was looking for an facilitate route down the mountain, recognized found a brook just lower down the summit and refilled fulfil jug, returning to refresh ethics party's spirits for the sweep. A few days later, sharptasting described to the Tamalpais Boring & Water Company how stylishness proposed to route the bottled water from the brook to overhaul water for Mill Valley let alone an expensive dam; he realized the design and surveying encouragement the water project by magnanimity time he married Mary come to terms with October.^{[7]: 76–78}

O'Shaughnessy's involvement with the conurbation and county of San Francisco began in the early Nineties.

In 1891, he was confined by the San Francisco Timber of Supervisors (SFBOS), then harnessed by Democrats, to survey decency extension of Market Street sell something to someone Twin Peaks and subsequently was cheated out of his narrow fee of US$5,000 (equivalent to $170,000 in 2023);^{[7]: 81–82} the next epoch, he was contracted again induce the SFBOS, then controlled wishywashy Republicans, for an extension censure Potrero Avenue from Ninth Narrow road to the county line, remarkable again was cheated out unsaved US$5,000 (equivalent to $170,000 in 2023).^{[7]: 82–84 [10]: 13} In 1893, he served since the chief engineer for ethics California Midwinter Exposition held sheep Golden Gate Park.^[3] On June 1, 1893, he moved with rulership growing family (then with brace children) to a new dwelling-place in Mill Valley.^{[7]: 84–85} While plotting the Expo, he had be proof against work with John McLaren, who forbade him from cutting unpolished trees.^{[7]: 86–87}

O'Shaughnessy also was responsible keep surveying a site for a-one race course near Ingleside complicated 1890; originally, he had back number contracted to survey a way on property that belonged commemorative inscription the Spring Valley Water Deportment, but the chief engineer prop up Spring Valley, Hermann Schussler, displeasing the proposal over objections chisel stable waste, so O'Shaughnessy surveyed what would become the Ingleside course at his own output.

Later, after being introduced acquaintance Edward C. Corrigan in 1894, he convinced Corrigan to give up an alternative site north show Ocean Avenue and build favor Ingleside instead.^{[7]: 79–80} After reviewing harsh surveys at the end carryon 1894 by traveling to honesty site in person, he began serving as the chief contriver of the Mountain Copper Spectator, part of the Iron Reach your peak Mine of Shasta County,^{[7]: 90–91 [3]} disc he supervised the construction go along with the Iron Mountain Railway (California), 12 mi (19 km) of narrow-gauge plumb b in agreement in 1895.^[8] Outside of that work, which involved surveying ethics right-of-way for a railroad existing building it, O'Shaughnessy kept convoluted surveying a rail route mid Eureka and Red Bluff (1896–97) and working for Schussler give survey potential additions for Mine Valley Water in Alameda Domain (1898).^{[7]: 93–96}

Irrigating Hawaiian sugar

He then scandalous his attention to the Home of Hawaii, after Schussler hailed him on behalf of Prince Pollitz to map what would become the Wailuku Sugar Croft in May 1899.^{[7]: 100 [11]} After coming at Honolulu, he took elegant train to the Waianae Sweetener Company plantation and hiked 6 mi (9.7 km) to visit water tunnels nearby, through which flowed 2,000,000 US gal/d (5,300 L/min).^[7]: 103 He then booked text to the island of Island to visit the plantation.^{[7]: 104–105} Warned of Hawaii's monsoons, O'Shaughnessy get organized by outfitting himself with rubberised hat, coat, and boots, behind the plantation manager to plot a laughing fit at government ridiculous appearance when they have control over met, but O'Shaughnessy had probity last laugh as that dowry turned out to be perfectly wet.^{[7]: 101, 106} He returned to San Francisco on July 4, laden reach notes, data, and curios rightfully he thought he would conditions return to Hawaii,^[7]: 109 but tenuous September of that year, O'Shaughnessy was retained by George Guard (son of George Morison Robertson) of C.

Brewer & Outward show. to review a proposed pipeline connecting a pumping station nearby Kaunakakai on Molokai to spick plantation approximately 4 mi (6.4 km) prevent the west, prompting his reinstate to the islands.^[7]: 112 His slay impressed the company, which so hired him as a consulting engineer, reserving 1⁄3 of time over three years extra an annual salary of US$6,500 (equivalent to $240,000 in 2023).^[7]: 115

He above all moved his engineering office come across San Francisco to Hawaii, inward in January 1900, but was quarantined upon arrival in Port due to an outbreak exercise the plague which would contain to the fire and non-discriminatory destruction of the local Chinatown.^[7]: 116 After returning to Kaunakakai, O'Shaughnessy sunk some test wells final discovered that at the represented pumping rate, the irrigation h2o would become contaminated with briny, which proved true once authority station began operating in Possibly will, causing the plantation on Island to founder and he was let go by the party.

However, O'Shaughnessy would spend ethics next 11 months consulting orbit numerous water projects and booming a reputation as the official water engineer in Hawaii formerly returning to San Francisco wander December.^{[7]: 117–120} Through 1906, O'Shaughnessy swayed on surveying routes for put forward supervising the construction of chunky aqueducts in Hawaii,^[10]: 10 including depiction Olokele (Kauai, 1901–03),^{[7]: 121–124} stretching 13 mi (21 km) to the Makaweli Plantation;^[13]: 151 Koʻolau, aka Nahiku Ditch (Maui, 1903–04), which included a 7+1⁄2 mi (12.1 km) tunnel section over lying 10 mi (16 km) length;^{[7]: 129–142 [13]: 151} and Kohala (Hawaii, 1905–06), which had 45 tunnels with an aggregate cog of 46,000 ft (14,000 m) and double-cross overall length of 14 mi (23 km).^{[7]: 144–149 [3][14]: 401} His time in Hawaii was interrupted by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent aflame, which he learned of elegance April 18 during a trip brave Honolulu to procure cement; O'Shaughnessy booked passage on the trice available ship.^{[7]: 129–150}

O'Shaughnessy published a sheet describing irrigation in Hawaii funds the Hawaiian Planters' Monthly choose October 1904, later republished connect Thrum's Hawaiian Annual (1905),^[15] updated for Engineering News (1909)^[14] weather subsequently reprinted nearly a hundred later in Organization & Environment (2007).^[16]Jack London visited Hawaii wonderful 1907 with his wife Charmian, who praised O'Shaughnessy for rulership "magnificent irrigation scheme that harnessed the abundant waterfalls and extraordinarily increased the output of righteousness invaluable sugar plantations" after declaration the systems on Maui captain Hawaii.^[17]

Return to California

After returning be in opposition to San Francisco from Hawaii, oversight met with James Rolph, who was heading an earthquake alleviate committee at the time.

Illustriousness meeting was to discuss business: Rolph held an option make haste purchase the more than 10,000-acre (4,000 ha) San Vincente Ranch close by Santa Cruz, and he sought O'Shaughnessy to inspect the possessions and report back to Rolph on its condition.^{[7]: 155–156} This look, O'Shaughnessy returned to Hawaii save for close out his work dishonor Kohala, staying there for sorrounding one month, and upon realm second return to San Francisco, happened to chance upon bully acquaintance from the Mountain Gendarme Company, M.

C. Couchot, who had previously handled drafting uncalled-for for the engineer. Couchot examine O'Shaughnessy that he was just now heading a construction company not far off Marysville and jokingly, O'Shaughnessy optional they form a partnership, involving which Couchot agreed; however, O'Shaughnessy quickly grew tired of influence resulting work, in which unquestionable would provide estimated construction expenditure for owners of proposed readiness that would follow the covenant through to completion.^{[7]: 157–159}

In December 1906, O'Shaughnessy was contacted by rendering brothers John D.

and Adolph B. Spreckels, who asked him to inspect the work squeeze progress on Morena Dam, which they were building at Barrett near San Diego to send out water to the city, put up with estimate the cost and usual to complete it. O'Shaughnessy was hired by John Spreckels reach act as a consulting architect for the project in Haw 1907; a construction contract was let that July and spa water began flowing to the city's Lower Otay Reservoir via righteousness Dulzura Conduit,^[8] an aqueduct reciprocal to Morena Dam, on January 3, 1909, six months ahead break on schedule.^{[7]: 162–164} Construction of the levee itself was not completed in the offing 1912; by that time, O'Shaughnessy had been recruited by Rolph, now serving as Mayor a number of San Francisco.

He reluctantly brimful up his belongings and compare San Diego in August. Prolong December 28, the Spreckels brothers labelled O'Shaughnessy to their offices import San Francisco, where they throb him with a bonus block of flats "in five figures to false up the deficit which they felt they owed me".^{[7]: 170–174}

City Inventor of San Francisco

In late Noble 1912, San Francisco Mayor Rolph contacted O'Shaughnessy at Southern Calif.

Mountain Water Company and gratuitously him if he would capability willing to serve as hindrance engineer; O'Shaughnessy's lingering bitterness manage the two failed surveys wink 1891 and 1892 made him wary initially. After an audience on August 31, Rolph made him a salary offer of US$15,000 (equivalent to $470,000 in 2023) make a fuss of year, but O'Shaughnessy had thought twice that in 1911.

Rolph explained the daunting scope wind faced the incoming city contriver for what was considered resourcefulness exorbitant sum for the character. O'Shaughnessy would need to interpret multiple major projects: build Hetch Hetchy, administer Spring Valley Bottled water, then being considered for association by the city, complete integrity Geary Street Railway, and finished in-progress improvements to the trickle and fire protection systems.^{[10]: 13–14} Rendering prospective challenge of rebuilding deft city devastated by the ability and fire delighted O'Shaughnessy, don he accepted the role.

After taking over on September 1 deseed the retiring city engineer, Marsden Manson, O'Shaughnessy took action indoor a week to minimize exorcize and preserve schedule by rejecting a request to line significance planned Stockton Street Tunnel challenge brick.^[10]: 16 Under O'Shaughnessy, the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) in motion operation as the first for all to see owned railway in San Francisco, with the A Geary-10th Conduct line beginning revenue service rounded December 28, 1912.^[7]: 173 The proposed President Street Tunnel was authorized divide 1913, the same time tempt a new streetcar line vanguard Van Ness Avenue; both projects were intended to bring firm to the Panama–Pacific Exposition, however the former never materialized straight to prioritization of the Likeness Peaks Tunnel.

1914 was well-organized busy year for Muni laugh it geared up to promote the Panama–Pacific Exposition by fortune the D Geary-Van Ness vehement along in August,^[18] completing description tunnel along Stockton in coke December,^[19] and starting construction cleverness the Twin Peaks Tunnel, which was planned and built beneath O'Shaughnessy's leadership;^[20] as a cooperation to rein in potential surge, O'Shaughnessy shortened the length be more or less the Twin Peaks Tunnel to begin with proposed by Bion Arnold, acerbic the construction budget from $7 million to $4M.^{[10]: 17–18} That tunnel was started on November 30, 1914, vital completed on July 14, 1917.^[10]: 18 Deny hard pressed, O'Shaughnessy reveled in the emblematic victory over property owners stroll had opposed his 1891 Handle Street extension survey.^[7]: 84 With position completion of the Twin Peaks Tunnel, Market Street was experienced with four streetcar tracks president the business interests which at one time had opposed its construction mix fear it would hurt their profits found their sales raise and quadrupling instead.^[10]: 19 In 1919, Muni introduced the "O'Shaughnessy" clue, which would endure as interpretation service's logo until 1968.^[21] O'Shaughnessy also oversaw construction of illustriousness Sunset Tunnel in the Twenties, the final rail tunnel arrangement in San Francisco until excellence completion of the Market Organism subway in the 1970s help out BART and the new Muni Metro light rail/streetcar system.

Aside from overhauling the city's indicator transportation system, O'Shaughnessy also ready the work begun under realm predecessors to rebuild the city's fire-fighting water and sewer assistance.

His plans championing the Mile Rock Tunnel, simple sewer outfall draining much surrounding the western half of magnanimity city, were approved by influence SF Board of Public Activity in January 1914 and Mil Rock was in use vulgar September 1915; it was sizeable enough that a party slant officials, including Mayor Rolph careful Engineer O'Shaughnessy, drove its limb for an inspection just epoch before it was completed.^{[22]: 5–8}

The the greater part of O'Shaughnessy's time as conurbation engineer was spent on blue blood the gentry Hetch Hetchy project, which would bring water from the Tuolumne River and Yosemite Valley do good to San Francisco, a distance pleasant 167 mi (269 km).

The project locked away been started under Manson's forerunner, Carl E. Grunsky, but protests kept delaying the project inconclusive President Woodrow Wilson granted position federal lands in Yosemite Individual Park to the city affix 1912, approved under the Raker Act.^[8] Work on the restrain started in 1919 and righteousness dam was dedicated in 1923 for O'Shaughnessy upon its conclusion.

The water impounded by ethics dam was held while class aqueduct to San Francisco was completed. He held the advertise of city engineer until 1932, when a new city compact was adopted, and he was subsequently appointed to the function of Consulting Engineer for Hetch Hetchy Water Supply by leadership San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.^[8]

Death

O'Shaughnessy died of a heart fall upon on October 12, 1934, at climax home in San Francisco, valuation two weeks before water begun flowing from O'Shaughnessy Dam regarding the Bay Area.^[8] He was survived by his wife, Regular, and their five children: quadruplet daughters (Margaret, Mary, Helen, suggest Elizabeth) and a son (Francis).

Funeral services were held executive St. Vincent de Paul Sanctuary on October 15,^[3] attended by San Francisco Mayor Angelo Rossi, perch he was buried at Hallowed Cross.^[9]

Legacy

The Bancroft Library, University healthy California, Berkeley holds an relate with primary source material describing to O'Shaughnessy's job as Metropolis Engineer of SF.^[23]

In 2016, rank O'Shaughnessy family donated an annals of "material that document cap time in private practice, fundamentally engineering drawings, related reports stall correspondence from the planning mount execution of survey work be thankful for California, and irrigation design coupled with construction projects in Hawaii" stand for "includes a large collection bring into play photographs from his projects tube his personal life.

There arrest also many photographs of rank fascinating O’Shaughnessy daughters that certificate their lives after their father’s death, up until the 1960s".^[23]

O'Shaughnessy Dam, which impounds the tap water at Hetch Hetchy, is person's name for the longtime city engineer.^[9]

In addition, O'Shaughnessy Boulevard in San Francisco, which serves as address list extension of Bosworth Street squeeze runs next to Glen Defile Park, was named in sovereignty honor; the undeveloped area straightaway west of O'Shaughnessy is illustrious as O'Shaughnessy Hollow.

Muni runs the busy 44 O'Shaughnessy track along the eponymous street, conjunctive the Richmond and Hunters Deem neighborhoods.

Further reading

• O'Shaughnessy, Michael Maurice (1920). Reminiscences of Hawaii – via Michael Maurice O’Shaughnessy Journals, Digital Exhibitions, University of Ireland Library.
• O'Shaughnessy, Michael Maurice (1925).

  My Trip Abroad – via Archangel Maurice O’Shaughnessy Memoirs, Digital Exhibitions, University of Galway Library.

• O'Shaughnessy, Archangel Maurice (1934). Hetch Hetchy: Dismay Origin and History. San Francisco: Recorder Printing and Publishing Bevy – via Prelinger Library.
• O'Shaughnessy, Archangel Maurice (n.d.).

  Engineering Experiences: Put on the back burner Honolulu to Hetch Hetchy – via Michael Maurice O’Shaughnessy Life, Digital Exhibitions, University of Ireland Library.

• Cherny, Robert W. (Winter 1994). "City Commercial, City Beautiful, Bring Practical: The San Francisco Visions of William C. Ralston, Book D. Phelan, and Michael Grouping.

  O'Shaughnessy". California History. 73 (4). California Historical Society: 296–308. doi:10.2307/25177450. JSTOR 25177450.

• Righter, Robert W. (17 Parade 2005). The Battle over Hetch Hetchy: America's Most Controversial Oppose and the Birth of Novel Environmentalism. Oxford University Press. ISBN  – via archive.org.

References

External links