HOWARD S. REED, STATE ENGINEER

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS JANUARY, 1938 Howard S. Reed STATE HIGHWAY ENGINEER

HOWARD SAWYER REED, veteran Arizona engineer who has been identified with outstanding construction, irrigation and development projects in this state since 1905, is the new exexecutive head of the Arizona State Highway Department, by unanimous vote of the commission, succeeding the late T. S. O'Connell as State Highway Engineer.

He comes to the road department from the United States Public Works Administration, of which he was first State Engineer, then Acting State Director, then State Director, during the period of its operation in this state following its creation by Congress in 1933 to the closing of the Arizona office on October 31, 1937. In these positions he established an enviable record.

Mr. Reed has been a member of the engineering profession for 43 years, having become affiliated with Moore and Company, a Boston firm engaged in the construction of waterworks and other municipal projects in the New England States, in the year 1894.

In November of 1897 he was assigned to a position with the Nicaraguan canal project, subsequently with the Isthmian Canal Commission, or Walker Commission, and was an associate in that work until 1902.

In 1902 and for the three years following, he was engaged in development work, primarily carrying on and concluding hydrographical service on Uinta Indian reservation in Utah, prior to the opening of that project for settlement.

In 1903, after passing examinations in Salt Lake City, he was appointed assistant engineer in the United States Geological Survey and engineer in the United States Reclamation Service.

In 1905 he was detailed by the Reclamation Service to the Salt River Valley project in Arizona, as engineer in charge of operation and maintenance and the Phoenix office. He was also in charge of the construction of various units on the south side system and had general supervision of the entire project, other than the actual construction of Roosevelt Dam, which was carried on by a resident engineer.

Mr. Reed resigned from the Reclamation Service in August of 1913 and established a private engineering practice in Phoenix, being joined in the spring of 1914 by Mr. Sheldon K. Baker, who had been one of the members of the United States Reclamation Service, thus forming the engineering offices of Howard S. Reed and Sheldon K. Baker.

From 1913 to 1917, his work included preparation of an initial report to the city of Phoenix for a water supply from the Verde River, for the development of which the city later spent some $3,500,000. During that period he also was engaged in flood control work, and was associated with the Builders' Iron Foundry, Province, R. I., in the development of the Venturi irrigation meter. Among the rather important work that engaged his attention during the period prior to the War was the representing of financial interests in the east engaged in mining, etc., in the State of Arizona, and other than this was very active in obtaining large sums of money for the development of irrigation and agricultural projects.

In July of 1917, after the declaration of war with Germany, Mr. Reed was commissioned captain in the corps of Engineers in the United States army, his subsequent service being with the Corps of Engineers, the General Staff and the Adjutant General's office. Following his discharge from military service, October 30, 1919, he returned to Phoenix and reopened the engineering offices of Howard S. Reed and Sheldon K. Baker. Since that time he has been connected with many noteworthy Arizona construction and irrigation development undertakings and is known as one of the outstanding members of his profession in the American Southwest.

Mr. Reed is a corporate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a certified member of the American Association of Engineers, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, member of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States, the American Legion and other organizations.

He is a native of the State of Maine, having been born and reared in Boothbay Harbor, where he received his public school education.

Mr. Reed takes great pride in the fact that he was born of a very strong Democratic family in the State of Maine, and although he has never taken any particularly active part in political activities, has maintained his whole-hearted support of the Democratic party in the State of Arizona.