The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-15
ELECTRICITY AS A PROFESSION.

Thomas a. Edison lately expressed
views on the subject of electricity as pro-
fession which are worth the attention of
young men. Electricity Is now applied 10
so many uses that young men who quar-
ter OF century ago studied to be lawyers,
or doctors, or merchants, or architects or
what not are in MANY cases preparing 10
earn their living by electrical engineering.
The science is taught at the colleges, and
there are private schools where the ele-
mentary branches are supposed 10 be
studied, though In some cases the teachers
would be the better for little teaching
themselves.
Speaking Of the prospects Of electricity
as a source of breadwinning, Mr.. Edison
says that the ranks of electrical engineers
are full at the bottom and almost empty
al the top. Young men are not mastering
the rudiments, and they are not we'll
enough grounded TO master the higher
branches. Still. Mr. Edison holds that the
chances of success were never so great a
at present, and that young men of fair
knowledge and ability command great
salaries he advises those who wish to
ursue this career to procure a sisua ton
in live concern, to learn the rudiments
thoroughly, and not to mind the clock.
This last axiom may cause them to miss
social engagements, but it is the only road
to success. He does not take much stock
in natural inclination, or procliVity of
temperament He implies that any one
can become practical electrical engineer
II he brings logged perseverance to bear.
But he does not think it worth while for
any one to adopt the profession unless he
proposes to rise to the top. The shops are
full of engineers who have reached GER
tain degree of proficiency. and who lack
the ambition to go further. Of this class
Of men the supply is in excess of the de-
mand, and their remuneration is small.
He sums up his sermon with the text that
it is hard WORK spread over long period
of time and never relaxed which wins the
battle.
Every one who notes the increasing
uses of electricity must realize that cleo
trical engineering is good profession TO
follow. Its dynamic properties are only
just beginning to be developed. For sew
eral years pleasure-boats and launches
have been propelled on the Thames in
England by stored electricity, but it was
supposed to be demonstrated that ten
hours was the limit which the electric
boats could cover. When that time ex-
pired the storage lockers were exhausted.
Now John Jacob Aston is building a big
yacht which is to be propelled by the cleo
tric full. He expects to be able to go to
sea in her, and perhaps to undertake long
voyages. As a generator of caloric the
capacity of electricity is unknown; but
experiments have been made which show
thai on small scale the current may be
made to develop heat. and what can be
done on small scale can always be done
on large one. 1t is quite possible that
before the opening Of the twentieth GEN.
fury rooms in private dwelling-houses
will be not only lighted but also heated by
electricity, and the fuels of the day may he
relegated to the duty of generating steam.
Thus the field of usefulness which is open
ing to HIM who has mastered the practical
branches If electrical engineering is con-
SANITY widening and the demand for his
services increasing.
Young men must never lose sight of the
truth that to be sure OF a living they must
be producers. The professional man, the
lawyer, doctor. architect. painter, musi-
clan must expect long struggle before
recognition comes: but he who can pro-
duce something which the world needs,
whether it is boot, page of type or
dynamo, can command his daily bread.
He adds something to the worlds posses
Sions and he is sure of his reward. OF all
productive callings none promise better at
the present time than that of the electrical
engineer; but the apprentice who under
takes 1t must. as Edison says. put his
whole soul in it, resolve to rise 20 the top
and never mind the clock.