MEMOIRS OF DECEASED FELLOWS 271 



at the Canandaigua Academy. In 1872 he was an optional student 

 at Cornell University. 



During the years 1889-1900 Mr. Rafter was active in the work 

 of the Academy, being Corresponding Secretary in 1890-1891, and 

 recorder of the Section of Zoology in 1890. He was a pioneer in 

 the appHcation of biological and microscopical analysis to the water 

 suppHes of cities. His paper published in the Academy Proceed- 

 ings, volume 1, pages 34-44, on the Biological Examination of 

 Potable Water marked a notable advance in sanitation, and his 

 method there described, with illustrations, is the one still in use. 

 In conjunction with Dr. M. L. Mallory he also published in volume 

 1 a paper on the Springwater typhoid epidemic. His collection 

 of Algae he presented to the Academy in 1896. 



The city of Rochester is greatly indebted to Rafter for the devo- 

 tion of his knowledge and ability to the city's engineering problems. 

 In 1876, and again in 1883-1887 he was Assistant Engineer of the 

 Rochester Water Works, and was Acting Chief Engineer in 1890. 

 From June, 1888 to October, 1890 he was in charge of the work 

 giving additional water supply to the city from Hemlock lake. He 

 was widely employed in constructional work and as expert adviser, 

 and his most important engineering work was in the employ of 

 New York State, in water-supply investigation, control of river 

 flow and plans for water storage. Of special interest to Roches- 

 ter was his survey for Genesee River storage by a dam at Portage. 

 He was a member of the Water Storage Commission. In 1894 

 he was sent abroad by the State Engineer to investigate bridges and 

 dams. His work on the "Hydrology of the State of New York," 

 forming the State Museum Bulletin No. 85, of 902 pages, is a 

 monument to his ability and industry. Five papers in the Water- 

 Supply Papers of the U. S. Geological Survey were written by 

 him. His comprehensive work on sewage disposal, with Mr. M. N. 

 Baker, has been a standard textbook. He was a prolific writer, 

 but his bibliography has not been compiled. 



An interesting account of Mr. Rafter's work and of his per- 

 sonality, written by Mr. J. Y. McClintock, is published in the Trans- 

 actions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, volume 62, to 

 which the writer is indebted for some items here given. 



H. L. Fairchild. 



