Robert Alexander Conrad Smith (February 22, 1857 – July 27, 1933) was the
Commissioner of Docks and Ferries in
New York City and a member of the Port and Terminal Committee of the
New York City Board of Estimate.
Biography
Robert Alexander Conrad Smith was born in Dover, England on February 22, 1857 and then his family moved to Spain, where he spent the next twelve years of his life, until 1869.[
He began work on construction of railroads in Cuba, prior to the Spanish–American War. He also operated the gas and electric lighting system of Havana. He consolidated smaller companies into a single corporation. He also built the waterworks for Havana.][
In 1903, Smith purchased the steamer ''Anstice'' and converted her into a yacht at the ]Harlan and Hollingsworth
Harlan & Hollingsworth was a Wilmington, Delaware, firm that constructed ships and railroad cars during the 19th century and into the 20th century.
Founding
Mahlon Betts, a carpenter, arrived in Wilmington in 1812. After helping construct many ...
Company in Wilmington, Delaware. On April 24, 1907, Smith's ''Anstice'' name was changed to ''Privateer.'' Smith and his friends sailed on the ''Privateer'' for the Jamestown Exposition, commemorating the 300th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in the Virginia Colony. The yacht was renamed the in 1914.
In 1915 he asked the city to cut his salary by $2,500, with the saved money to go to his assistants in his department. He reduced the departmental budget by $184,000 and wanted to trim the head count.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, R. A. C.
1857 births
1933 deaths
Commissioners of Docks and Ferries of the City of New York