The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1895-06-13
The Engineering Profession.
= =, 7. NJ. LAVELLE.

KIN owledged but three. learned profess
sions. Since that time civilization
has advanced, and it is but simple JUS.
tite that he who has been so largely
ins trumental in making it's material
advancement possible, should be ac-
col ded d proper share of public recog-
nj ton. WeIrefer to the. professional
engineer of to-day. His energies are
expended in" forwarding that which
pertains to the convenience and COM
fort of the human race; he is among
the foremost of public benefactors,
and is therefore steadily rising in the
interest and admiration of the world.
Increasing public appreciation has
placed already, high on the temple of
ia me, the names of engineers who have
lived amid discouragements and pow
eTty and have died in comparative OBJ
scurity, in order to smooth the rough
pathway Of humanity, Who would
dare say that these men ought not ito
be thus honored? Who, knowing the
historic associations clustering around
the names of Watt, Stephenson, and
Ericsson would intimate that their
names were unjustly written among
those of earth's< immortals? Those
who have spent their lives in fashion
ing, the crtde elements of nature, in
vi Utilizing her unchanged forces, and in
enlisting both in the service of man
kind certainly are entitled to our last,
ipg gratitude. Not only are they thus
entitled: but for some time past they
have received such tokens of public es-
TEEN, as to give to present engineers
assurance for the future.
y Every one remembers with what
persistence the praisesIof the architect
were sung for the magnificence and
beauty of the buildings atthe World, S
Fair. No one remembers having
h card that the engineer had the remot-
est connection with them. Yet, every
building, from basement to dome, was
triumph of engineering. Although
the public, in this instance, did not
show its appreciation, the architect
Ventured to pay a just tribute to a
profession So closely related, and SO
necessary-to his own. 1t is beautiful
~ expressed by writer in the follow
ing Words ''But [ may say that,
while from towering minarets and
massive demes remnants and banners
proudly way ed all the day long, first
to catch the rosy tints of the sun as it
emerged above the blue waves, and
last to show its waning glory as it
sank towards the horizon in the West,
II pleased me most to note with swell
ing pride that it~was upon the top
most pinnacle. of the Palace of Me-
chanic Arts that the architect had
made the angels to rest, and it was
about the columns of the palace the
engineer had filed with his creations
that the wreaths of victory were en-
twined." :-l, ~,'
The engineer lis member of pro-
fession which stands to-day on an
equal footing with those of law, med
icfne, and theology, profession equal
IL devoted tofthe service. of mankind
and the advancement of science. He
is the modern crusader. Not content
with rescuing the western hemisphere,
he has turned his attention to the
east, the cradle of the human race
Armed with transit chain, and level
he landed on the shores of the Medi-
terranean, and guided by western ex-
periences, he has marched nndaunted
and unchecked to the modern Jerusa-
lem. The locomotive, with its train
Of cars carrying travellers from all ma
tions, now threads its way among the
deaes and along the mountain sides
Of Judea.
It is gratifying to know that the en-