The silver star., 1897-04-22
Mining Engineers,

A correspondent writes a letter
which might be described as very bit
ter against those gentlemen who sign
themselves thinning engineers" but
who are not entitled to the name. 1t
is true that there are dozens Of men
who assume that title, who never re-
ceived any degree from any school and
who are ignorant Of engineering Of any
kind. AS rule, too, the men who as
sumo 1t are humbugs and imposters of
the worst kind. OF course, they are
liars and disgrace to the profession,
and they bring discredit upon the title.
One may well ask whether there il
any way for checking the evil, and
where the fault lies. The statement
may not be relIshed, but we believe
that 1t is nevertheless true that the
fault lies with the most noted and dis
tinguished men In the professions; those
who presided over the destinies of the
mining schools. 1t IL they who first
brough dIscredit upon. abused and
cheapened the title of mining engineer.
When they send out bearlless boys
with degrees asserting what every
member of the faculty knows to be
false, they set the example and 1t is no
wonder that 1t was followed.
But there Is n reform growing in the
technical schools in this direction.
though. so far as we know. no mining
school has yet-adOpted 1t. Several fol-
low the practice of simply asserting
that the graduate has spent term of
years in acquiring some knowledge OF
the theory and practice of one or more
branches of engineering. After further
years of study and practice and the ac
uuremcnt of knowledge that cannot
Ias. nj A tD1 tsy IA 1...
graduate has made good use of his
time the school will confer the degree
to which such practice and study may
entitlc him. This is far more honest
that the usual method. because 10
young graduate of II school IL either
civil or mining engineer in the prop
er acceptatiou of the term.
There Is no member of Il decent facul-
ty in the United States who does not
know that four years spent in IL school
cannot make boy into an engineer.
All that time can do. IL 1t IL well used. IL
to lay II foundation upon which the
boy can build up more rapidly, and
with probable better results. than the
average boy or man could build who
had not received the school training
Still that training is not an absolute
necessity. Whether II amount to any
thing or not must In every case. depend
upon the one who receives 1t. Schools
can never make an engineer out of a
blockhead, and the want OF school
training can never prevent the student
and man of ability In the profession
from becoming good engineer.
Most of the Oldest and best known
civil engineers, who have done the
greatest work and who are hOnored for
their accomplishments, are graduates
of no engineering school, save the hard
one Of experience; but they are engi-
neers for all trat. and are recognized
rs such. One of the most hOnOred
presidents Of the American Society Of
Mining Engineers was not n graduate.
And 1t Is not against such men as these
that the objections are made. It ia
against those bundles Of pretense and
fraud, who never handled n breaker,
who don't know transit from tripod,
who know nothing OF sines, cOsines or
lOgarithms, and who. In fact. have new
er done anything like engineering but
who claim to be engineers, that CON-
plants are made.
They are an injury to the mining bus
iness, because they find host Of cred
ulOus people who believe that any man
who processes to be n mining engineer
must have superior judgment about
mining matters. They influence the
investment Of money in places where
1t should not he invested, and In fact
belong to bunco steercrs and thieves.
But what can be done TO check the
evils? Certainly no law can he
passed making the assumption of such
II title nm offense. 30 long ms the min
ing schools confer the title upon boys
who are no better qualified to bear II.
II a reform Is desired In this Geld, II
certainly appears as though 1t should
start in the profession itself.-Aiining
Industrv