New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-07

gineers of the country. and a graduate rom
the institute. In speaking Of his plans for the
institute last evening he said that ne should
endeavor to carry out President NJ tons policy
believing that it could not be improved on IL
anything he should perhaps emphasize strongly
the relationship of theory and practice. thing
that the institute has stood for hitherto
Mr.. Humphreys will not give up his business,
as he has nearly a score of engineers associated
with his firm who will be able to relieve him CT
details. His faith in the efficiency Of Stevens
Institute is shown in the selection OF these en-
gfneers, nearly every Of them being a
graduate from the school. Mr.. Humphreys viii
make a speciality Of the business methods or
engineering in such teaching as he may do IN
connection with his duties as president Several
years ago he was instrumental in having class
in that subject established in the institute It
was his custom to lecture to this class each year
and to get others to address it also Among
those who accepted his invitation TO appear be-
fore this class were William Sherer, manager Of
the Clearing House. and H De B. Parsons Mr.
Humphreys will lay especial stress on the build
ing up of the work of this class He IS especial
ly well equipped to direct it,
Mr.. Humphreys was born in Edinburgh IN
1851, and came to this country when eight years
old. He lived Boston until he was sixteen,
when he moved TO this city and became con-
nected with the Guarantee and indemnity trust
Company. Al the age of eighteen he had risen
to be receiving teller. Two years later when
twenty years old he was made the secretary
of the Bayonne and Greenville Gas Company,
and a year later, without any practical knowl-
edge of the work which would be required or
him in this capacity, appointed superintenc-
ent- This introduced him to the work which was
to become his vocation While still oceEFgy-s ss'
this position, and four years after he had mar
ried Miss Eva GuillaUdeU, sister Of William
L. Guillaudeu, president of the Old Dominion
Steamship Company, he entered Stevens IN
stitute the age of twenty-six and took a full
course. He still in this position when he
was graduated, four years later, at the age OF
thirty.
He now became the chief engineer OF the
Pintsch Gas Company, the first American to
hold this position the previous engineers being
from Europe. Three years later he was ap-
pointed general superintendent of the United
Gas Improvement Company of Philadelphia
In the course of the ten years he held this
position he organized nearly all the enterprises
taken up by this company in the different parts
of the United States. In 1895 he entered into
partnership with A G.. Glasgow, forming the
firm of Humphreys & Glasgow, gas engineers
Their business extends all over the world Out
side of the United States their business is that
of constructing water gas plants, and some OF
those recently erected by it are in New-Zealand,
Australia Shanghai, Belgium and Germany Its
chief foreign work is done in Great Britain
where their main foreign office is in London
In this country the firm is that of consulting
engineers only.
Mr. Humphreys will be the second president
that capacity from the time the institute
established in 1868. until his death. II is I'M
derstood that he will not definitely accept the
office until he has seen his partner in London.
and that he will sail early next week for this
purpose