Frederick C. Finkle

He could speak, write and read eight languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian.

[3] He was considered an expert in hydraulic engineering and historical and structural geology, and one of the highest authorities on the market value of water rights for power and irrigation in the Western States.

He held the world’s record for expert testimony on hydraulics and geology, having testified for 121 days in court during 1927-28 in the trial of the water rights case of Rancho Santa Margarita vs. Vail Co., et al., in San Diego County, California.

He also reported on the defects of Mulholland Dam in Hollywood, which was reconstructed to make it safe by strengthening the down slope, and lowering the spillway.

In 1927-28, when the "Forks Dam" project was proposed on San Gabriel River by Los Angeles County, but condemned by him as impracticable, which was later demonstrated as so after wasting $5,000,000 on the project, he was employed as expert in a suit whereby most of the money was recovered for the taxpayers, and was presented with an engraved resolution of commendation by the Harbor District Chambers of Commerce.

Politicians in Orange County, California, published a libelous attack on him when he reported against the location they proposed for the Prado Dam on Santa Ana River.

Because his testimony showed that the government appraiser was not qualified and his figures were erroneous, this agent secured a secret indictment from the Grand Jury charging perjury.

He was a vigorous and vocal opponent of Prohibition who wrote to President Hoover urging him to support modifying the restrictive liquor laws that he believed were adversely affecting the vitality and economic life of the nation.