The office of Superintendent of Public Works was created by an 1876 amendment to the

New York State Constitution The Constitution of the State of New York establishes the structure of the government of the State of New York, and enumerates the basic rights of the citizens of New York. Like most state constitutions in the United States, New York's constituti ...

. It abolished the canal commissioners and established that the Department of Public Works execute all laws relating to canal maintenance and navigation except for those functions performed by the

New York State Engineer and Surveyor New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

who continued to prepare maps, plans and estimates for canal construction and improvement. The Canal Board (now consisting of the Superintendent of Public Works, the State Engineer and Surveyor, and the Commissioners of the Canal Fund) continued to handle hiring of employees and other personnel matters. The Barge Canal Law of 1903 (Chapter 147) directed the Canal Board to oversee the enlargement of and improvements to the

Erie Canal The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east-west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, vastly reducing t ...

, the Champlain Canal and the

Oswego Canal The Oswego Canal is a canal in the New York State Canal System located in New York, United States. Opened in 1828, it is 23.7 miles (38.1 km) in length, and connects the Erie Canal at Three Rivers (near Liverpool) to Lake Ontario at Oswe ...

. In 1967, the Department of Public Works was merged with other departments into the new

New York State Department of Transportation The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is the department of the New York state government responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in ...

List of Superintendents of Public Works

George B. McClellan George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 – October 29, 1885) was an American soldier, Civil War Union general, civil engineer, railroad executive, and politician who served as the 24th governor of New Jersey. A graduate of West Point, McCl ...

(1826–1885) nominated March 16, 1877 by Gov. Robinson; rejected by the State Senate * Charles S. Fairchild nominated January 4, 1878 by Gov. Robinson; rejected by the State Senate on January 16, 1878 *

Daniel Magone Daniel Magone (January 12, 1827 – September 4, 1904) was an American lawyer who was Collector of the Port of New York during the first administration of United States President Grover Cleveland. Early life Magone was born in Oswegatchie, Ne ...

nominated January 18, 1878, by Gov. Robinson; rejected by State Senate January 23, 1878 *

Benjamin S. W. Clark Benjamin S. W. Clark (May 27, 1829 – October 19, 1912) was an American merchant and politician from New York (state), New York. He was the first New York State Superintendent of Public Works. Biography He was born in Franklin County, New York, ...

(1829–1912) nominated January 23, confirmed January 30, 1878 - January 15, 1880 *

Silas Belden Dutcher Silas Belden Dutcher (July 12, 1829 – February 10, 1909) was the New York State Superintendent of Public Works. Biography He was born on July 12, 1829, in Springfield, New York. Dutcher attended the Cazenovia Academy. He served as the New Yo ...

(1829–1889) January 15, 1880 - February 13, 1883 *

James H. Shanahan James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

(1828–1897), February 13, 1883 - resigned 1889 *

Edward Hannan Edward Hannan may refer to: * Edward J. Hannan (1921–1994), Australian statistician * Edward Joseph Hannan Canon Edward Joseph Hannan (Irish: ''Éamonn Seosamh Ó hAnnáin'') (1836–1891) was an Irish-born priest, mainly remembered as the fo ...

, December 16, 1889 - Jan 2, 1895 *

George W. Aldridge George Washington Aldridge II (December 28, 1856 – June 13, 1922) was a prominent politician from New York state. After serving as the Mayor of Rochester, New York, he became the boss of the Republican Party in Rochester and was influential in ...

January 2, 1895 - Jan 16, 1899 *

John Nelson Partridge John Nelson Partridge (1838 – April 8, 1920) was the Police Commissioner for Brooklyn and Fire Commissioner for Brooklyn in the 1880s before the merger into New York City. He was the New York Superintendent of Public Works, and the New Yor ...

, January 16, 1899 - Dec 20, 1901 *

Charles S. Boyd Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was "f ...

, December 20, 1901 - January 4, 1905 *

Nicholas Van Vranken Franchot Nicholas Van Vranken Franchot (August 21, 1855 – May 6, 1943) was an American businessman and politician from New York. Life He was born on August 21, 1855, in Morris, Otsego County, New York, the son of Congressman Richard Franchot (1816–18 ...

, January 4, 1905 - January 14, 1907 *

Frederick C. Stevens (New York politician) Frederick Charles Stevens (June 5, 1856 - March 14, 1916) was an American politician from New York who served in the state senate and state legislature as well as Superintendent of Public Works. Early life Born in Attica, Wyoming County, New Y ...

, January 14, 1907 - January 4, 1911 *

Charles E. Treman Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was "f ...

, January 4, 1911 - January 1, 1913 *

Duncan W. Peck Duncan may refer to: People * Duncan (given name), various people * Duncan (surname), various people * Clan Duncan * Justice Duncan (disambiguation) Places * Duncan Creek (disambiguation) * Duncan River (disambiguation) * Duncan Lake (dis ...

, January 1, 1913 - January 6, 1915 *

William Wallace Wotherspoon William Wallace Wotherspoon (November 16, 1850 – October 21, 1921) was a United States Army general who served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army in 1914. Early life Wotherspoon was born in Washington, D.C., on November 16, 1850, th ...

January 6, 1915 - February 3, 1919 * Lewis Nixon, February 3, 1919 - May 3, 1919 *

Edward S. Walsh Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sax ...

, May 3, 1919 - January 19, 1921 *

Charles L. Cadle Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was "f ...

, January 19, 1921 - January 9, 1923 *

, January 9 - August 30, 1923 *

Frederick Stuart Greene Frederick Stuart Greene (1870 - March 26, 1939), was Superintendent of Public Works of New York State. Greene was an outspoken opponent to the scope of the United States Numbered Highways The United States Numbered Highway System (often calle ...

(1870–1939), August 30, 1923 - March 26, 1939 (retired, but died before successor was appointed) *

Arthur William Brandt Arthur William Brandt (March 14, 1888 – June 11, 1943) was the New York State Superintendent of Public Works from March 30, 1939, to May 20, 1943. Biography He was born in Ontario, New York, on March 14, 1888, during the Great Blizzard of 1888 ...

(1888–1943), March 30, 1939 - May 20, 1943 *

Charles Harvey Sells Charles Harvey Sells (September 29, 1889 – January 26, 1978) was the New York State Superintendent of Public Works The office of Superintendent of Public Works was created by an 1876 amendment to the New York State Constitution. It abolished t ...

(1889–1978), May 20, 1943 - September 30, 1948 (announced resignation on September 2 ) *

Bertram Dalley Tallamy Bertram Dalley Tallamy (December 1, 1901 – September 14, 1989) was superintendent of the New York State Department of Public Works from 1948 to 1955. On October 12, 1956, he was named by Dwight D. Eisenhower as the Federal Highway Administrat ...

(1901–1989) September 30, 1948 - 1955 *

John W. Johnson (New York) John W. Johnson (1774June 1, 1854) was an American pioneer, politician, and fur trader. He was the 3rd Mayor of St. Louis, mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, serving from 1833 to 1835. Biography Born in Maryland, Johnson came west in 1808, venturing ...

1955 - 1959 *

John Burch McMorran John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

(1899–1991) 1959 - September 1, 1967, when he continued in office as the first head of the

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:New York State Department Of Public Works

Public Works Public works are a broad category of infrastructure projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community. They include public buildings ( municipal buildings, sc ...

History of New York (state) 1876 establishments in New York (state) Government agencies established in 1876 1967 disestablishments in New York (state) Government agencies disestablished in 1967