New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-22
SCHOOLS FOR THE NAVY.
CHIEF ENGINEER MELVILLES Address DE-
FORE THE HARVARD ENGINEER
ING SOCIETY.

Boston Feb l-Engineer-n-Che George w
Melville United States Navy. lectured this af'er-
noon on The Relation Of Engineering Scnooss 70
the State and the Duty Of the State 10 ihe
schools" before the Engineering Society al Ha'-
yard Mr. Melville set forth a plan. which, II car
rled out. Will revolu;lonize the mission OF the
scientific schools and make our Navy the mos'
Efficient ir the world. He sad that Annapolis
could not begin 70 furnish competent engineers for
the Navy. ana proposed that The scientific SCHOOLS
OF America be- used az training schools for the
Navy TIE speaker spoke in par; as follows;
The educational responsibility which rests rests upon
such institutions as h,tor.c HE rreSt uni
verslty The great work which IS being CARED on
dents mro nprl5sd with the y1stnes Of posi-
bilities ana tho immensely OF the field when l.
II may surprise many to have the fact recalled
that your duty to the Nation brings pfom aar
You have a work to perform In arousins PATRIOTISM
upon tie part OF the students ana IN p2in,ians oJ
10 them the right OF the Nation 10 oerla. ~. uS =,
best services in time OF emergency; In me ia a.
year The quon 81 pToyens f hem S
in the minds OF those whose Official duties navs
carefully have looked into this question: 'nT i''o
convinced am that in this industrial axe the IN
sseer WI HI be ihe FTf bq sgd by End Or by sea-
The rapidly with which IN arm. cOrP pr 'i" Tbe
skill Of tn. mechanical engineer IN mounting 49,, a su
may determine the value o.; our eoigs ~ our
great lndnstrlai plants IN furnishing munitions OF
may BE- OF greater nen,h tnan ,"o ~ ,bo nod
ern batt--shp depends upon the ski o. me NJ IT,
men behind ne Tam h brany t' engineer who has
the directing of the hundreds OF n'"chines "''"'''
To formulate a great plan whereby, the sclent.h;
Institutions Of United states could supp.eie
the wcrk Of West Point and Annapons ousmj; -
scientific educators ana Of military and ma t1l
oticers In educating reserve %. a an here
o-uina ~ =
il work FOR the lOl scientific colleges OF the coGh-
trv 4 grave DANCE hangs over the naval service
M ~, p@aco Of the country by reason Of TIE In
sufic.ency OF numbers IN our corps VI ne non
s!ncers TIE great work o. poer 81 the Naval
Academy nut - OF severa. institutions. IL inu -
D. re- Iand working under the direction OF some
mas."r mind who ia acquainted with our ell,
iTri,r naeds and who has knowledge OF
h 80, and influence of university work inier
shguiI Inc eeicient ana thorough supervision o.
,hts raval and engineering instruction Inc
mantcnance OF all suca courses should ne cLrs,e ,
6V havng caparle men visit the colleges such an
irsDector would note the cnarAct1r vi "ei.. , - A
ton and tho interest manieSted ey iaca Ken nI in
the direction Of co-ordinatins Nh.li'an rard ~
~ inenic,eni institutions by stimulating emuauon
and encouraging comparative Stuuy 0. I'M III ~
imcijnNI man OF the institutions would he TO en-
gage in this work but ,ne <oysp' ard there "a a
,me when the general welfare demands sen
sarri,lre on the part Of the few. .,..,-,.
To m seiou II the graduates CT sucn hsil
in,o ,hr Naval service would not on.y pro'iGe an
Ii ,iono ned OF employment FOR the best OF suc.i
,n, I'M would Immediately awaken spirit OF
.c',i,fIon among All those whose work was 10 De
iic,si 10 tho Iracticil test OF an eNaniEa Ton an
i,ytolv uniform for all parts Of the nlted Stdtrs
~, r.,cticn Of such competition upon the NaVal
tc,l.nv ifself could nos fail TO be hlShy pehe-
TciaI. bu, the immsi iatc and practical cons.ietl-
,,n, il mat the Naval SERVICE. under the operauon
~ snrh a policy. would be supplied more properly
ami more ericlenty than would ht otheiWlsc poss'-
Ne bv any Other method suggested. -,
I, seem, obvious too. that IN" presence N the
Eavv Of a considerable number Of officers drawii
i,~scth from civilian life. after they have received
,boi~ training in other tnan GoVernment scnoolS.
o,,id no, ONLY be OF advantage TO the wAoie Naval
onginesrirg profession. hut would serve to dW AIKEN
nI maintain amOrg the people or the country a
hn,l,hv Interest in the Naval service "a one or the
-, branches of TIE National G3vcrnment.
- ,barcfnre auDenl - the young men ~ America,
30 ore strong i'm their s@if-respect and manhood.
VIZ ora intense I'm their love Of county. who are
imam 70 the principles Of their forefai Tiers and
,hosa = m science viii impel them 10 make se.f-sac-
Lac for the honor Of the Nation TO Tx themselves
~ mis- work Under the inspiration OF even a
ra,ta- Harvard than exists now, ana with this in
s,t,ut,on working in connection with one hundred
other etncent technical schools. our young engineers
.,msi nrepare themselves for that day when they
nay be called uD)n to give their skill and engineer
Ing talents and even their lives. for the defence
OF home AMI Of country.