BIO: F. W. Symons; New York State
surname: Symons

submitted by W. David Samuelsen (no relation)
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An Illustrated Legislative Manual
The New York Red Book
Containing the Portraits and Biographies of the U.S. Senators, Governor, State
Officers and Members of the Legislature; also with the Portraits of Judges and
Court Reporters, the New Constitution of the State, Election and Population
Statistics, and General Facts of Interest.
By Edgar L. Murlin
New Constitution Compiled by R. C. Cumming, O. L. Potter and F. B. Gilbert
Published, Albany, J. B. Lyon Company, Publishers, 1909

Copyright by J. B. Lyon Company, 1909

     Colonel F. W. Symons, of the Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, and member
of the Advisory Board of Consulting Engineers was born in Keeseville, Essex
county, N. Y., February 7, l849. He was appointed to West Point from Michigan
and graduated in 1874 at the head of his class. Since then he has been
continuously on duty of an engineering character, military engineering in all
its phases, surveying and astronomical work in the far west; municipal,
waterworks, river and harbor and lighthouse engineering tovering a wide extent
of territory.

     While stationed in Buffalo Colonel Symons made a report to the general
Government favoring a barge canal from the lakes to the sea in preference to a
ship canal. Governor Roosevelt appointed him a member of the Canal Advisory
Board of 1899, which rereported in favor of the State improving its canals to
1,000-ton capacity. Colonel Symons was Consulting Engineer in the preparation
of plans and estimates for the canal under State Engineer Bond. With Mr. A. E.
Blackmar he drew the bill which with some slight modifications finally passed
the Legislature and was ratified by the people. In 1904 he was designated by 
Governor Odell to be a member of the Ad visorv Board of Consulting Engineers
on the canal improvement. It was found that in order to accept this position a
special Act of Congress would be required. This Act was secured and Colonel
Symons accepted the position which he has held up to the present time.