At the age of eighteen he entered the machine shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and later was employed as Draftsman by that Company, which position he held until 1880.
In 1880 he accepted a position with the Southern Pacific Railroad in New Orleans, La., and designed and supervised the construction of the Algiers shops.
In 1883 Mr. Brown severed his connection with the Southern Pacific Company and engaged in general engineering practice, principally in the line of sugar-house installations.
In 1885 he was elected Assistant City Engineer of New Orleans, which position he held for four years.
In 1890 he became Chief Engineer for the Caffrey Central Sugar Refinery, designing and supervising the erection of the buildings, which represented an expenditure of about $600,000. In the same year Mr. Brown was appointed Chief Engineer of the Franklin and Abbeville Railroad and built that road. At the same time he designed and built the Des Lignes sugar-house. In fact, he designed and built many of the large sugar mills and refineries erected in Louisiana about that time.
From 1892 to 1896 Mr. Brown held the office of City Engineer of New Orleans, and it was during this term that some of the most important works of his career were accomplished.
Under the direction of the City Council, and in consultation with B.M. Harrod, Past-President, Am. Soc. C.E., the late H.B. Richardson, M. Am. Soc. C.E., and Rudolph Hering, M. Am. Soc. C.E., Mr. Brown made a topographical survey of New Orleans, a study of precipitation and run-off, and prepared plans and specifications for a drainage system.
At the expiration of his term of office as City Engineer, he engaged in private practice, assuming charge, as Chief Engineer for the contractors, of the first construction work of the drainage system.
Prior to and during his term of office as City Engineer, Mr. Brown was Architect of the McDonogh School Fund in New Orleans, during which time he designed and built several new schools and remodeled a number of old buildings.