Arthur S. Tuttle

Arthur Smith Tuttle (March 26, 1865 – May 19, 1949) was an American civil engineer primarily known for his public service on projects in New York City. He was associated with the New York City Board of Estimate for a period of 31 years, rising to the level of chief engineer. Tuttle also became involved with federal agencies later in his career, directing projects in New York State for the Public Works Administration and serving as a consultant to the Works Progress Administration.

Early life and education Arthur Smith Tuttle was born on March 26, 1865 in Burlington, Connecticut to Theron Tuttle and Jennie E. Tuttle . His father was a medical practitioner. He attended New York University (NYU), where received bachelor of science and civil engineer degrees in June 1885 from NYU's Department of Arts and Science.

Career Tuttle had worked on the construction of the Weehawken Reservoir in New Jersey during his summer vacations while he was an undergraduate student at NYU. where was primarily involved with the development of new sources of groundwater and surface water for the water supply system. Tuttle traveled to Hawaii in 1901, where he spent a year working on an investigation for the trusts of the Bishop Estate and Bishop Museum to develop the water resources of the Waipio Valley.

In 1902, Tuttle returned to New York City and began working for Board of Estimate, becoming the agency's chief engineer in 1921. He resigned from his position in 1928, but was retained by the Board of Estimate as a consulting engineer until 1933. During his association with the agency, Tuttle was involved with projects including Cross Bay Boulevard across Jamaica Bay, grade crossing eliminations along the Long Island Rail Road's Atlantic Branch in Brooklyn and New York Central's West Side Line in Manhattan, the Manhattan approach to the George Washington Bridge, the Wards Island Water Pollution Control Plant, and the West Side Highway. In 1926, when New Jersey claimed that garbage being dumped offshore by New York City was polluting its beaches, Tuttle dropped 7,443 bottles with return post cards at the same ocean dumping grounds (located about southeast of Scotland Lightship)—and only 491 of them washed up on the Jersey Shore.

In 1933, Tuttle became the New York state engineer of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works (PWA), and from 1936 to 1937, he served as the New York State director of the PWA. Major projects launched during this period where Tuttle served as a project engineer included the Lincoln Tunnel, Queens–Midtown Tunnel, and Triborough Bridge. Tuttle then became chairman of the board of the Haller Testing Laboratories, remaining in the role until his death;

Professional societies Tuttle served as president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Municipal Club of Brooklyn, and Municipal Engineers of the City of New York. The couple had three children—one daughter and two sons.