Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-18
New pegree BAL Enrincering.

d New 1Ofk university mas confer
red on Mr.. Erastus ". Smith the degree
of Doctor in Physical Science, as a recog-
niaion of his abilities as an engineer. This
is a new degree, and Mr.. Smith is the first
to receive it. The University has estab-
lished 1t "to place itself in connection
with mechanical engineering, one of the
most important and growing professional
interests of our city ard country
We regard this movement Of the Unit
versity as one of the good signs of the
times, that encourages the hope of better
success than We nave sometimes had in
engineering matters. 1t has been COM
planned by a high autho ity that " engi-
neering, in all but its mere routine, is a
business for which every tyro, surveyor,
Spectator, or large shareholder deems
himself entirely competent; that there is
no standard of qualification, except doing
the most work for the least money that
engineers have degraded themselves by
obeying thed dictates of ignorant directors,
against their own judgment and that the
condition of our railways is a sufficient
commentary on this notorious abuse; and
that they will not improve until engi-
neering takes higher STANDARD"
The same may be said of much
Of our marine engineering; shareholders
in ocean steamers have lost all their in
vestments, besides what the government
lost, because financial managers would be
boss engineers; and thousands of lives
have been sacrificed because ships were
built without the well known means Of
safety, and boilers were made of thin and
poor iron, with insufficient staying. These
dreadful abuses could not have prevailed
to much extent if engineering had been
regarded as a liberal profession, for which
genius and learning are necessary. And
the sooner tho institutions of learning con-
fer degrees on competent engineers, the
sooner will 1t be generally believed that
engineering is not a subject for the de.
clslon Of men who never studied Il.
In a few cases honorary degrees
have been conferred on distinguished
engineers. FsiTbairn is an LID.
Gen. James, for his engineering abilities.
received the degree Of \. NJ. frem the
Brown University; and several English
engineers have been knighted; and
French engineers have been made mem
eers of the Legion of Honor and other
European Governments have conferred
like honOrs. But this is the first institu-
ton Of a degree to certify strictly pro
fessional engineering merit; and If it be
conferred only after due investigation as
to merit, so that it shall not be distrusted.
it will greatly aid in giving the direction
Of great works 70 the fttest men. The
selection of Nj. Smith as the first to re-
eeiVe II, encourages the hope that these
benefits will result. His mechanical ca
reer commenced under no exceptional
circumstances that could enable
him to obtain ~employments or
hOnors without deserving them. He
served four years as an apprentice at the
Allaire Works; then entered the New
York University, and went through the
full course of physical sciences, and grad
uated in 1874. He then returned to the
Allaire Works, in which ne soon rose to
be foreman, general superintendent, and
principal engineer and ~draughts
man. Afterwards he became resident en-
of the Bremen, the Southampton
and Havre, and the Collins lines of ocean
steamers. Several Of the large steamers |
run on our inland waters were de-
BY him and built Under his super
intendeace; among them the the Metro
potts, which was for many years the larg-
est and fastest on the Sound. He is now
the constructing engineer of the Bristol
line, and is directing the construction CT
two boats, the Bristol and the Proriaence
with cylinders no inches by u feet stroke,
the largest yet made. He is also chief
engineer Of the Stonington line, the Nor
wich and Boston line, and the New Or
leans and Havana line of steamers: and
constructing engineer upon the L. S
lron-elad ram Dlsgderberg and consult
ing engineer upon the Chicago Water
works Tunnel, under Lake Michigan and
,hief-engIneer of the iron bridge now be-
.ng built at Harlem; and OF other works.
In all these works, so far as we are ware /
he has justified the confidence reposed in
him; and the judgment of the Institution
hat has selected him for the first honor
INIT 70 hsr-eoAferred ia its new depsrt-
heht. oHu 10 AOPO sa0 VASE policy or
he University will stimulstemanv youno
mechanics who have genius and ambition
nd need only courage and hope 10 make
hem efficient promoters of the works that
re henceforth indispensable to national
r~eatness.
Doctor Smith, the recipient Of the above
escribed honorable degree, was born in !
MS city. He IS the son of our fellow-cit- {
.en, Erastus Smith, Esq, and brother of
Ir. Elijah Smith. He commenced his !
lgineering career in the saw mill of the !
tie Leonard Case, situated short dis
nee east of Clinton Park. From thence
} went into one of our machine shops.
forwards he went to New York !
" and finished his apprenticeship n
the Allaire Works. Not hav- I
6 received the advantages Of a
ore than a common school education. $,
d it being the height of his ambition to \
in his profession, although having b
arried and commenced raising a family, Il
entered the New York University for el
e purpose Of acquiring s scholastic dis 2;
'linel which he did by finishing a full n
arse and graduating with high honor. is
He afterwards went into partnership
tn the late William B. Leonard, an
Iinent mechanical engineer, formerly q,
/, superintendent Of the Msttewan Ma II
me Works. near West Point. with q
Or. Smith remained il partnership II
several years. y
Dr.. Smith, having by his industry and Is
placed himself at the 81