The New International Encyclopædia/Graff, Frederick

GRAFF, Frederick (1775-1847). An American engineer, born in Philadelphia. He learned the trade of a carpenter, and later became a skillful draughtsman. He was an assistant to H. B. Latrobe in the construction of the first Philadelphia water-works, becoming chief engineer and superintendent of the system in 1805. Subsequently he planned and constructed the new city water-works at Fairmount Park, introducing iron pipes and fire-plugs and stop-cocks of his own invention. The success of this system won for him a wide reputation, and he was a consulting engineer in the execution and expansion of similar works at New York, Boston, and numerous other cities. He remained in the service of the city of Philadelphia for forty-two years.