Arizona republican., 1905-06-10
PHoENIx, ARIZONA, JUNE 9. 1905.
An overstocked professlon.


 In it's latest issue. Engineering News indulges in timely comment on the patronage bestowed upon the engineer ing colleges of this country. At these institutions the students who were en- rolled in 19O1-O2 numbered almost eX- actly 15,OOO, and a year later there were 1S,S59, an increase of nearly 4,000. Whether or not the gain has been maintained at the same rate is a point which is not made altogether clear, but the situation which existed three years ago is in itself highly suggestive.
 According to the federal census there were about 43,OOO engineers and sur veyors in the United States in 1900. Our contemporary estimates that not more than 10000 persons were entitled to be regarded as such. Still. without making any discount whatever, it ap- pears that only a year or two later fully one-third as many young men were studying with the intention of engaging in the same pursuits. The actual addition to the various branches of the engineering profession is to be computed, of course, from the number of graduates, and it is not an extrava- gant estimate which puts the average for the last three or four years at 4.OOO or 5000. or from. to 10 per cent of the total number of those who are ac- lively employed as engineers and sur veyOrs. Among other classes of wage earners an annual increase of per cent, due to the growth of population. 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 there fore, and the recent supply has appar- ently been almost or quite double that amount The remarkable popularity which the occupation of engineer has enjoyed of late becomes more conspic- uous when a comparison is made with other professions. In instituting one, Engineering News has found it neces- sary to use figures for 1900 for men and women already engaged in prac- tice, and data for 1899 in reference to graduates; but inferences drawn from 
 ent from each other cannot be seriously misleading. It thus appears that the number of persons to whom medical diplomas were granted (5,725) was less than Az per cent of the number of practicing physicians 132, ,225). Again, there were 114,7O3 old lawyers and 3.11O new ones in those same years the gain being trifie under per cent. In these two professions then, the ratio of recruits to veterans was only one-half or onethird as great as it has recently been among engineers.
 From such a situation three conse- qUences might be expected to ensue, and, in the judgment of Engineering News, have ensued. A large propor- tiOn of graduates have been unable to secure the kind of employment for which they had prepared themselves, and hence have been forced to go into other lines of business to avoid star vation. Second, where applicants for positions have secured a footing in their own profession, they have often displaced men of greater age and ex- perience. Finally, the "cut-throat competition" which has arisen has led to a lowering of pay. It has not been hinted that the quality of work done has suffered as a result of these evils, but such an effect might be expected to follow underbidding a rival for the sake of making a start in life. The overstocking of the engineering profession is easy to understand. Much of the recent industrial development of the country has been effected by cleo ! tricians, experts in mechanics and in f ventiOn, masters of the art of mining and men who were competent to de- | sign and build bridges and railways. | The value of the training which will | fit man for any of these pursuits has become obvious somewhat suddenly; | and parents and other friendly advisers 1 of the rising generation have recom- | mended the adoption of such pursuits. | There has been a spontaneous concen- | tration of popular purpose in one gen eral direction, which now proves to | have been excessive, if not unfortunate. | Moreover. it is not likely that the mis- take-if it be a mistake-will be recog- nized quickly enough to induce a re- action for some time to come.
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 Playing the War Game.