Clinton S Burns was a prominent civil engineer and business executive who with Robert E McDonnell, a classmate at Stanford University, formed an engineering company under the firm name of Burns and McDonnell. His work called him to all parts of the country; he was an expert appraiser of public utilities assessing nearly 200 properties and designed over 500 waterworks, sewer systems, electric power plants and lighting works.
In 2010, Burns was inducted into the Greater Kansas City Business Hall of Fame as well as being an Honorary Member of the Sigma Xi, along with his partner Robert E McDonnell . On Feb. 1, 1899, Burns was elected an Associate Member of ASCE, and an ASCE Member on Feb. 9, 1905. Burns was also an Honorary Member of the Sigma Xi having been elected in 1905 from the Stanford University Chapter as well as a Member of the American Institute of Consulting Engineers.
Clinton Sumner Burns was born at Waverly, Iowa on October 26, 1871, the son of Heman Hoit Burns (1842-1917 and Laura Root Burns (1845-1881). His early education was obtained in the public schools at Port Byron, NY where he lived with his grandmother and at Cornell University . During this period , he acted in a part-time capacity as Assistant City Engineer of Niagara Falls, New York and worked on the Erie Canal and on other State canals. Burns went on to finish his education in civil engineering at Stanford University in 1897 . After his graduation, Burns went to Kansas City, Missouri where he entered the employ of the City Park Department under George Kessler.
In April 1898, Burns and Robert E. McDonnell, a classmate at Stanford University, formed an engineering company under the firm name of Burns and McDonnell . Burns gave his personal attention to the appraisal of many water-works plants, the more important being those at Council Bluffs and Des Moines, IA, Everett, WA, and Billings, MT. Mr. Burns was a frequent contributor to the engineering press.
Burns died on April 1, 1924.
The following is a partial bibliography of works authored or co-authored by Burns.
•"Waterworks appraisals", Engineering Record, v. 59, p 616, May 15, 1909.
•"Waterworks appraisements in Missouri and Kansas", Engineering News, v. 62, p. 115, July 29, 1909.
•"Determination of physical values", Engineering Record, v. 52, p 328, Sept.16, 1905.
•"Valuation of public utilities", Municipal Journal and Engineer, v. 29, p. 744, Nov. 30, 1910.
•"The valuation of public utilities", City Hall Midland Municipalities, v. 22 p. 50, Nov 1911
•"The Valuation of Public Service Corporation Property", Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, vol. LXXII, June 1911. Burns was co-author.
•“Final report of the committee on depreciation [with discussion].” Journal (American Water Works Association), vol. 6, no. 1, 1919, pp. 85–135. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41224506.
•"The Valuation of Sewerage Systems"- Engineering and Contracting, Volume 47, no. 7, page 149. Myron C. Clark Publishing Company, 1917.
•"The Relationship between Finance and Depreciation" American Municipalities, Volume 33, no. 3, page 77 (1917).
•"Sultan Water Supply of Everett, Wash". Journal (American Water Works Association), vol. 7, no. 4, 1920, pp. 451–455.
•"The Diary of a Young Engineer", The Stanford Illustrated Review, Volume 25, Issue 8.
References:
“Profile of a Sustaining Member.” The Military Engineer, vol. 76, no. 494, 1984, pp. 318–318. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/44607508 .
"The Cornell Civil Engineer", Volume 32, No. 8, page 118.
Tribute video at Greater Kansas City Business Hall of Fame Laureate Tribute Video http://www.kcbusinesshalloffame.com/clinton-s-burns-and-robert-e-mcdonnell.html
“Transactions, ASCE”, pp. 931-933, 1924, Clinton Sumner Burns, M. ASCE, prepared by Robert E. McDonnell, M. ASCE.
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