New-York tribune., 1905-01-23

with respect Tor the many mighty enrtneerinz
works Of their colleagues across the seas Amer
scans are IN the habit OF saying that West
minister Abbey, Shakespeare and all the noble
traditions OF English history and literature be-
long 20 them as much 10 the insular Britors.
These English engineers have learned that the
converse is also true; that their own mechanic
srt has been carried TO the New World and
that they themselves have a rightful share in
the marvels OF invention. enterprise and pro-
eressive spirit which have been accomplished
fhere. Certainly ii is a poor rule that does not
work both ways II Americans are allowed Ito
read their title clear" 20 the storied abbeys.
picturesque castles and literary monuments in
England, they cannot object with reason II Brit
tsh engineers take pride IN the costly works OF
New-Ycrk and Chicago. the waterways of the
Great Lake Basin, the utiizatIon OF the power
wasted 81 Niagara and sault ste. Marie and all
the other wonders OF American and Canadian
engineering science.
sir william White, while not an orator. Is a
auent speaker. with an engineers trained talent
for clearness Of line and n gift OF hts own for
humorous comment and good natured pleas
antry. II his American and Canadian entertain
ers could have listened to his graceful acknowI-
eaC-neuts Of their hospitality and kindness they
would have been well rewarded for the pains
taken TO enable the visiting engineers TO see all
the sights and 10 get adequate idea Of the
stupendous energies OF capital. municipalities
designers and inventors in working out the
problsYns Of e new world and the modern era
Of electric power. New Workers especially
would have been highly gratified IL they could
have heard this running commentary upon the
lantern slide illustrations Of the subway, the
great bridges over the East River. the tunnels
under the North River and the precautions
taken 10 secure abundant water supply for
the American metropolis. All these great WORKS
ne described with unrestrRlned enthusiasm. and
Is he counted their cost IN millions he could
hardly find words in which 10 express his won
derment over the faith OF municipalities and
the enterprise OF greater New York, where the
genius OF the engineers had overcome the OBJ
stacles OF al unfavorab!e environment and en-
srged the area available for truly imperial
centre Of population. The sketches OF the sky
scrapers" were certainly less picturesque than
Mr Pencils charming etchings At the New
Gallery, and in some instances almost wantonly
realistic and while he gave impressive
count OF the rapidity with which these man.
moth structures were constructed, the enormous
masses Of capital invested in them and the num-
bsr OF people earning Z livelihood under q sing.s
Toof-ten thousand. for instance IN one Of the
lsrges; Chicago buildings-he did not attempt 10
conceal his satisfaction that quaint, time worn
London had remained behind the times. He
was even more conservative in his description
Of TIE Brooklyn Navy Yard. for he was not
prepared, as the director Of construction for the
admiralty for q long period. 10 admit that the
Ole country had been SURPASSED in the resources
OF sea power; but his face lighted up with a
fine glow o. plessurable "Reminiscences when he
recalled his visit 10 West Pcint the courtesies
of General Mills and the beauty OF the scenery
on tie Hudson.
There was no lack % enthusiasm when Sir
william White recounted the -narveis OF Cana
dian progress. illustrated the enormous COM
reycs o. the SaUlt, described the new rail-
ways and waterways Of the Dominion, paid a
glowing tribute 70 McGil University as one OF
The best equipped stronghoIds Of modern learn
ne and displayed a fine series OF pictures of
Montreal. ottawa, Quebec and Toronto. He ex-
planned how formidable q force Canadian ener-
g. had become when tic Improvement OF the
waterways north OF the border was forcing the
STATE of New-Fork 10 undertake new enlarge
nent Of the Erie Canal. and he winged a rapid
night among The skyscrapers and storage eIe-
vators cf Chicago, and finally swooped down
upon ST. Louis and the exposition Perhaps the
most interesting passage OF his address was his
account Of the new power generating works at
Niagara illustrated as Il was with fine pictures
on the screen. and containing an effective con-
Aest D@LASei4 me TeQSklD VINO EaZeQ With
Wonderment and awe at the majesty or the
mighty cataract and the modern engineer who,
while more sensitive to the scenic beauty Of
The food in its onrUsh into the chasm is
chiefly concerned with the problem OF wasted
energy and the conversion OF ii into working
power The distance between that aboriginal
ano the electric engineer measured-in Sir WILL
ian whites effective phrase-the entire sweep
OF The progress OF civilization. More eloquent
than any purely literary phrase was the frater-
La spirit IL which this great designer OF the
British navy referred 10 everything that was
progressive in the engineering work OF Ameri-
cans and Canadians. There was not a trace Of
What Emerson once described the habit of
condescension in the compliments and eulogies
shoEered upon transatlantic engineers Sir
william White had risen to the high level of
AngIo-Saxon brotherhood. and with unaffected
s.nplcity and sincerity he could speak without
envy or Jealousy OF the wonderful achievements
II engineering in America and Canada and claim
LIS oan heritage in the glory and renown Of
The English speaking world INF