Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-05-12


| We copy the following Order from the pro-
ccedings OF the State Beard Of Intc1nal Improve
ment, at It's meeting ia February. |; will be
seen that they have adopted the most economi-
cal organization Of the Ensinecr Department, pms
sible. BY way OF comparison We will just stale
that in Illinois. state that has not embarked III
| as extensive a system OF improvement lndi-
ana, four principal Engineers are employed at n
salary of $4,000 each. A number OF assistants
or residents employed under each principal
a great deal has been said about the expensive
manner in which the operations public
works are conducted but on examination it will
be found that the contingent expenses Of the puh-
Tic works in-Indiana less. "a proportion TO thc
amount of work donc than in any other state.
OrFIcE OF STATE Bosrp INTERNAL INrRovEmsxTp
indianapolis, Feb II. ISIS. !
1t is ordered, That the organization and duties of
the Engineer department for the future shall be
the following:
There shall! be principal Engineer Of the
State, whose general duties will be. to carry oui
the orders of the Board Of Internal Improve
mcnt in relation 10 the public works; to exercise
a control over the Engineer Department, and IS
officers, subject to the general arrangements Of
the Board: to examine and direct the general
prime pes of the locations each portion Of the
several Improvements before tho is put
under contract: to prepare and furnish to the Res
ident Engineers, general specifications, as TO the
manner of locating and constructing the public
works; TO prepare and furnish TO the different
lines. as far rs may be practicable, plans and
drawings Of the various Locks, Dams, and other
mechanical structures; to attend the various let
tings the several lines, So far may be in his
power, and give such advice may DO necessary
in relation to the plans Of the work, and also in
respect to the estimates Of cost, with a view TO
preserve uniformity IN the contract prices on the
several lines, III proportion 10 the value of the
work; TO direct and cause 10 he made such sur
veys any and all the lines in advance Of the
contracts, and preparatory to a final location Of
tine work, he may think necessary to an econ
omcal, safe and judicious location thereof; to
keep an Office at the seat of government for the
purpose OF Office business connected with the va
lines. in which the maps of the several lines,
and plans of the mechanical structures, so far as
they not needed ON the lines, shall be pre-
served: to collect by correspondence and personal
inspection, and preserve in his office for the use
of the State, important and valuable information
and facts in relation to the subject OF Internal
Improvement generally: and to make report TO
this Board annually, cmbodving such facts as
may be most important in respect TO the progress
of the work the severa! lines. and IN relation
to the surveys and final locations on portions OF
the improvcm not under contract.
TO preserve that system and uniformity, SO cs-
sential IN any extended service. and to ensure
the most faithful and proper construction OF the
work, it !, deemed necessary to require OF the
Resident Engineers, that they carry out most
rigidly the general directions and specifications,
furnished by the Chief Engineer, and that i'm
portant changes be made in the plans OF mecl,an-
ical structure recommended by the Principal En-
gincer without consultation with him.
The subordinate stations, such Rodman, or ;
Junior Assistant, in an Engineer corps engaged
in constructing or locating the public works, be-
ing the best possible school for acquiring practi-
cal knowledge in relation to the profession Of
Civil Engineering; and as it is believed TO be
due the State, and to the whole country, with a
view to future operations, in the construction of
the public works, that such advantages should
not be lost, by suffering these to be filled by those
who, either from Incidence, Indication, or want
Of capacity, will not be likely to improve them,
therefore, whenever a young man after four or
six months trial fails to give evidence, satisfacto
~ to the acting commissioner ard Resident En-
gineer, Of that degree Of untriog industry in the
acquisition Of knowledge and devotion to his
business, combined with such native capasiy e.
arc requisite 10 make good and
useful Engineer, il shall be the duty Of said act I
ing commissioner, soon as an opportunity offers
to ill ,uch station, with some other young man,
when they may deem moro promising, and
more likely to make the best use Of these advan-
lagos, and become useful to the State and the
country.
Adopted by the State Board Of Internal In
18th Feb, 1888.
J. MORRISON, Secretary.