The Hawaiian gazette., 1884-09-24
An Engineer. Views.

EDrruR GAzErTE:-In your issue Of Sept. 10th
you have an article on Hawaiian Sugar the
subject is in reference to the economy on Planta-
tious and Mills.
In this article there are many good suggestions
that no doubt might be practiced with profit and
much advice that Is worth considering. While
there are some things, TO which make exception
For instance, why are the engineers called ordi-
nary engineers, the proper definition of this word
is, usual; common of little merit; this Is not
very fattering description of them and II true u
Is time for them, to bestir themselves. While ad-
mitting that the standard of engineering might be
raised with profit to all parties, they are hardly
on so low plane as here represented. there are
a few perhaps deserving this sarcasm. There are
q great many more who have qualified themselves
for their calling by years of STUDY. and practical
experience, who by acquiring correct rules, and
that real knowledge, are enabled to profit by all
the recorded experience of others-men who be
lieve that Theory and practice make perfect =
and they devote most of their leisure time and
not little of their money to this end. They are
progressive too, and their mind is always on the
alert. devisinc means of economy and improve
ment and their object Is to get the maximum OF
mower, with minimum of cost. They are sober.
industrious and intelligent and are held in higher
estimation than the writer seems to be aware Of,
excepting by few of the managers, whose bigotry
and cOnceit blind their eyes 10 every ones merits.
but their own.
Those Of more experience, and better Judgement,
know that the successful running OF mill de-
pends, TO no small extent, on the capabilities OF
the engineer, and they value him accordingly.
Again, you say there are few aCriculturist that
understand the mechanism of mill, and are CON-
petent to run it. This may be true and for this rea
son they employ good engineer who does under
stand it; and IL he is worthy Of the name he Will
take more real interest in the mill than all the
managers put together. Mechanism as under
stand IL, is the structure parts of n machine
therefor is the engineers business to understand
il and he is the better qualified 10 do so, having
studied this particular subject most Of his life.
But il the manager lacks this particular know
ledge he Is the less, of necessity alive TO the
subject of economy. This seems TO be the first
thought in the morning and last Mt night, and 1t is
practiced as we'll as thought Of. Managers do look
after those more important points where waste
can be prevented, where iudicious can be
ercised, and where opportunity for experiment and
improvements are afforded. They not only take
this interest themselves, but they expect the engi
neer and sugar-bOiler to 10 s:e same and it is my
opinion that bob manager and engineer, fill their
particular vocation with as much credit as any
other class Of men. ENGINEER.
The article Engineer" is reviewing was a re
print from the SaH F,aacisc0 Merchant, as he will
find By looking at the bottom of clip" Our views
were expressed in a lending article which specially
dwelt on the fact that economy practisedl