Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-08
. NOMINATION WILL BE MADE
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING.
a New Profession Which Women
IS Well as Men May Enter.

The new profession which promises to be
one demanded by the progress of the age,
and one whose scope renders 1t peculiarly
satisfactory to men and women of a
scholarly turn of mind is that OF electrical
engineering. 1t is not, of course, entirely uu-
known to the general public, and It's re-
Quirements are more or less familiar In he
world of scientists; but the few who
have hitherto represented the profession
have been rather its founders, and the
discoveries OF the laws of nature on which
It is based, than students who have been at
tracted to opportunities already provided.
With these, too, the work has been one of
constant experiment aud growth, and II is
only at the most recent date that the series
OF experimental methods have crystalliZed
into sufficient relative sequence TO
be properly termed one of the protes-
siOns Of the age. Among the eminent cleo
tricisns are Sir William Thomson and
DR.. Siemens, both fellows OF the ROYAL
Society of Great Britain; Mr.. Ellison and
Professor Alexander Graham Bell, of our
own country, and limited number of others
representing France and Germany. The
late electrical exhibition in Paris has re-
vealed the marvellous results already at
tanned by science, and its practical spplica-
lions are already established in the systems
OF cables, electrical railways, telephones and
other recent inventions.
Mr.. W. H. Greer, of New York city, a
gentleman who is largely interested in these
new Inventions, has been In Boston for a
few days, and, being asked by a representa-
tive OF the Traveller for some information
on a subject OF such absorbing interest,
kindly acceded to the request. Mr.. Greer
is a man of cosmopolitan travel, spending
much of his time In Europe, and he has long
given close personal attention to the ad-
vaRcing results of electrical appliances.
''Will you give the Traveller few of the
practical points regarding what you term
the new profession, Mr.. Greer?"
Certainly" he replied. "The general
public is not perhaps aware Of the enormous
extent Of the means of electric communica-
tion at the present. There are eight cables
underlying the ocean, cables traverse the
Persian Gulf. The Mediterranean is crossed
and reeTossed by cables. There are at this
moment thousands of millions of dollars in
vested in cables alone. Now, the conditions
of these cables is a matter determined only
by the electrician. In localizing the faults
of weak places IA the cable a current of
cleo richly is the means employed, the posi-
tive current operating in certain way and
the negative in the opposite, so that by the
proper adjustment or alienation Of those
two the faulty place is either repaired or so
located that a ship can be sent to the pre-
else spot to repair IT,"
'Is the apparatus a complicated one, Mr..
Greer ?"
mot at ALL A fault at midocean in a ca
Bile can be located by an instrument not
larger than mans hat 1t is not a work
requiring physical force, but rather keen
abilities, good mathematical and scientific
training, to which is, Of course, superadded
the special education of the electrician"
care there vet, Mr.. Greer, any regular
colleges established to give this trainingp"
"There are only four places in the world
where it is now taught. These are Paris,
London, Toxic (Japan) and New York,
where this fall a college of electrical engi-
neering will be opened. 1t is situated near
the medical colleges"
what is the prospect for the electric
railways?"
At IS most encouraging. They are already
I'm successful operation in Berlin, in Paris,
one in Ireland ard that of Mr. Edison, on a
small scale, IN MenlO Park. Berlin has the
longest eX ent now in use, and it's results
are e1tir, lY satisfactory. There is no doubt
that 1t viii urOve the motor for the elevated
railways of large cities, aud will soon entire
" supersede the clumsy street car system
The travelling of the future will be by cleo
tricity; so will the communication OF the
future; and it is hardly difficult to imagine
time when steam and horse railways and
postal communication shall be entirely
superseded by electrical appliances for
travelling and for sll manner of correspond
ence.u
81 regard this new profession as one espe-
ctally suited for educated women" con-
tinued Mr.. Greer. CHOW, / should think
this might be a matter of special interest I'm
Massachusetts,, where it is said you have
10000 more women than men. There are,
1t is safe to say, 100000 too many lawyers |
and doctors and teachers IN our country. |
Every profession is overcrowded, and the |
result is mediOcrity, and a constant strug-
gle against the limit OF conditions. new |
profession is an incalculsble public benefit. |
Electrical engineering can be learned In one |
half the time given to the study of law |
or medicine. Great fortunes have already /
been made In its pursuit. The enormous /
extension OF the telegraph, the telephone, |
the electric light, and, as will be, the |
electric railway to all parts of the world,
creates great demand for skilled electri-
clans"
"What is the foundation required, educa-
tionally, to enable one to learn electrical
ga good mathematical and scientific edu-
cation, such as the scientific course OF our
universities confer"
"Another important demand also for cleo
trical power" continued Mr.. Greer, sis the
distribution Of power TO manufactures,
shops, and all kinds of mechanical work.
There is no doubt that In time such vast
extension OF works as those of Sheffield, |
England, will distribute the entire power
required from one central electrical an
Dlisnce. 1t may even be given to the work
men individually at their cottages, and
hus avoid what Ruskin calls the thunder
ng OF machinery and the crowding Of men
ntO these great factOrfes.p