The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-04-28
The New State Enrinsar

Wewere surprised to hear a day or two ago that
the Kev.A d. Woodbridge, who has been for some
time connected with the Posofice in this city, had
received from Governor johnson the appointment
of State Engineer.
We presume it is known to every white adult
male in Louisiana, unless it be our present worthy
Governor, that the State Engineer should be man
not only theoretically but practically skilled in all
departments of the very extensive and complicated
science of Civil Engineering. And we presume
every one of any intelligence is aware, that in
order to acquire this skill, not only time and study
but also practice and experience, are absolutely
necessary. man is not born an Engineer, nor
can he become one by simple volition. We do not
know OF any example in which such knowledge
and experience have been diviney inspired; for it
cannot be pretended that the instructions to Solo
mon in regard to the building of the Temple at all
enlarged his previous ideas of architecture or me-
chanical science. There are many in the present
day, who assert that they have been divinely COM
missoned to preach the gospel and spread the doc
trines of religion to the uttermost parts of the
earth; but we have never yet heard of the sect or
even OF the individual visionary, who pretended to
receive divine communications subjects of natu-
raj science, or who professed to have been indoc-
trinated with the general truths as we'll as the
detailed facts of mathematics, by the Great Origi
nator and Architect of the Universe. We have
yet to hear Of the first instance in which know-
edge of the laws of nature and of the application
of those laws to Practice has been acquired by any
individual or individuals without long study and
large experience.
Now we do not know whether the Rev. Mr..
Woodbridge has ever, for the sake of amusement,
turned his attention, during his leisure moments, to
the studies connected with and bearing on Civil
Engineering. But we are certain, from all we
have heard of his life and pursuits, that he can
have little or no practical acquaintance with the
duties of his new office. If, we are assured by
competent authority, Mr.. Woodbridge has been the
chief director and manager in the New Orleans
Postoffice for the last four or five years, have
some facts by which to judge of his capacity for
business. We are sure, however, that his friends
ought to be very averse to bringing such testimony
before the public, in order TO prove his admnistra
tive talent. Every body knows how the postoffice
has been managed for few years past. In addi-
ton to his experience in the postoffice, Mr.. Wool
bridge has had other advantages for becoming a
Engineer-he has been for several years
a college professor, and has pursued theological
gyman. But we do not know that he will under
stand the management of rivers and swamp-lands
any the better for having ruled over parcel of
college boys; and do not think that the DEGREES
of the Council of Trent, or the creed of Athana-
sius or the Imitation" of Thomas a. Kempis, or
even the Book of Common Prayer furnish much
on the subjects of Hydrostatics, Hy-
draullcs, Draining, or any other of the thousand
and one sciences and arts connected with Civil
Engineering There is one qualification, however,
which the Rev. Mr.. Woodbridge possesses, and
which, no doubt, IL great influence over our
worthy Governor-he is Individually citizen of
the Third Congressional District Of Louisiana.
We have been long aware of Governor Johnson's
nimiable tact in selecting for office those appli-
cants who wer east acquainted with the duties of
the position they were ambitious of acquiring. But
this last appointment caps the climax, and COM
etes the proof-if any further were wanting-of
The Governors eminent ability in the choice of
incompetent officers. Col. HILBERT was DESTROYS
of again obtaining the place which he SO ably
filled before the Mexican war but ah the Colo
mel, although thoroughly acquainted with the theory
and practice of Engineering, was so unfortunate
as not to live in the Third Congressional District
He carries no votes in the Pineywoods; he does
not understand, if he understands, disdains to
practice the arts of nominating caucuses