John Cresson Trautwine (March 30, 1810, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – September 14, 1883, Philadelphia) was an American engineer, architect, and author.
He was a consultant on numerous canal project in North and South America. His most remembered statement was that he reported in 1852 that a canal through Panama would be impossible.
Contents |
Between 1831 and 1836 he was an engineer on several railways and in 1836-42 was chief engineer of the Hiawassee Railway, connecting Georgia and Tennessee.[1] He executed surveys (1850) for the Panama Railway, for the Lackawanna and Lanesborough Railway (1856) in Susquehanna County, Pa., and for a railway route across Honduras (1857).
The "Pocketbook" was long known as the "engineer's bible" and under the editorship of John C. Trautwine 2nd and 3rd passed through many editions.[2]