New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-06-05
AN orERsTocKED PROFESSION.

In its latest issue Engineering News In
dulges in timely comment on the patronage
bestowed upon the engineering colleges OF TINS
country At these institutions the students
who were enrolled in 1901-'02 numbered almost
exactly 1900, and year later there were
1859, an increase of nearly 1000. Whether
or not the gain has been maintained at the
same rate is point which is not made alto
gether clear but the situation which existed
three years ago is in itself highly suggestive.
According TO the federal census there were
about $4,000 engineers and surveyors in the
United States In 1900 Our contemporary esti-
mates that not more than 10000 persons were
entitled TO be regarded such. STILL without
making any discount whatever, it appears that
only year or two later fully one-third as many
young men were studying with the intention OF
engaging in the same pursuits. The actual adj
dition TO the various branches of the engineer
ing profession is TO be computed, or course
from the number of graduates and it is not
an extrayagant estimate which puts the aver
age for the last three or four years at 1000
or 5000 or from to 10 per cent of the total
number of those who are actively employed
as engineers and surveyors. Among other
classes of wage earners an annual increase
of per cent. due TO the growth OF popuia-
tion is TO be anticipated, and per cent might
be required to make good the losses by death.
The normal demand could not well exceed
per cent therefore and the recent supply has
apparently been almost or quite double that
amount The remarkable popularity which the
occupation of engineer has enjoyed of late be-
comes more conspicuous when a comparison
is made with other professions In instituting
ono .Eneineering News has found it neces-
sary to use figures for 1900 for men and women
already engaged in practice and data FOR 1888
in reference to graduates; but nferences drawn
from statistics for periods so slightly different
from each other cannot be seriously mislead-
ing. 1t thus appears that the number OF per
sons to whom medical diplomas were granted
(5,725) was less than AZ per cent of the num-
Der of practising physicians Q32,225). Again.
there were 114,To3 old lawyers and 3,110 new
ones in those same years, the gain being trifie
| under 8 per cent. In these two professions,
| then the ratio Of recruits to veterans was only
one-haf or one-third as great as it has recently
been among engineers.
From such situation three consequences
might be expected to ensue, and. in the 1udS-
ment of Engineering News" have ensued. a
| large proportion of graduates have been unaoie
| to secure the kind of employment for which
| they had prepared themselves and hence nave
been forced to go Into other lines of business
to avoid starvation. Second, where applicants
for positions have secured footing in their
| own profession, they have often displaced men
| Of greater age and experience. Finally, the
| "cutthroat competition" which has arisen has
led to a lowering Of pay. 1t is not limited that
the quality of work done has suffered as a
result of the last of these evils but such an
| effect might be expected 10 follow underbid-
ding a rival for the sake of making a start
in life.
| The overstocking of the engineering profess
sion is easy to understand. Much of the recent
| industrial development of this country has been
| effected by electricians experts in mechanics
and invention, masters of the art Of mining
and men who were competent to design and
build bridges and railways. The value Of the