The Opelousas courier., 1907-08-10
THE DEMAND FOR TEcHNIcIANs.
Young Men Scientifically Trained
Much Needed Now.

In view of the general impression
that the professions are greatly over.
crowded, it is surprising to learn that
some of the leading railroads in the
country are finding much difficulty
In securing properly qualified young
men to fill subordinate positions on
the engineering staff. One road In
particular has recently gone SO far as
to make the fact known in the pub
lie press, and to invite communica-
ton from young men who have passed
through technical schools and possess
the necessary qualifications to enable
them to commence work as rodmen
and chainmen, or do the simpler in
strumental work connected with the
construction and maintenance OF rail
roads. It was further stated that the
remuneration would be sufficient to
enable these men to maintain them
selves at once in decency and COM
fort, and that for those who showed
aptitude and application there was a
reasonable expectation of early pro-
motion. Further evidence of the ex'
cellent opening afforded by the pres
ent industrial activity is found IN
that fact that, in one of the leading
technical colleges of the country, ev-
cry member of the graduating class
of 1906 had secured an appointment
some months before the close of the
college year.. The demand for tech
nically-qualified men in railroad work
has unquestionably been stimulated
by the recognition of the fact that
the increase in the capacity and
weight Of the motive power and roll
ing stock and the demand for more
intelligent supervision due to the in
PRODUCTION Of electric traction on
steam roads, is rendering it desirable
that not only the engineering depart
ment, but also those which have to
do with the maintenance and opera
ton of the road, should be run by men
with sufficient technical knowledge,
with sufficient training in natural
science, to enable them to exercise
a more intelligent oversight of their
departments than is possible in the
case of men whose theoretical knoWl-
edge is bounded by the limits of a
common school education.
In this connection it is gratifying
to note that there is in successful
operation in this State a railway train
ing school under the supervision Of
practical railroad men, in which the
students are put through a course
designed to prepare them specifically
for employment in the various depart.
ments under which the complicated
operation of our railroads is carried
Without casting any d~israrage-
ment upon the many able men who,
from humble positions on our rail-
roads, have risen to stations of great
trust and responsibility, We believe
that the complicated problems involv.
ed in the operation Of a great modern
railroad system have rendered it not
only desirable but imperative that
the heads of those departments which
have to do with the mechanical and
constructive elements of a railroad
be graduates of technical
schools or members of the engineer
ing profession. To make such a pro-
vision a general n would, after all,
be merely to apply broadly a prin-
ciple which. for many decades, has
been followed upon the Pennsylvania
Railroad system, whose late distin-
guished head, President Cassatt, was
a civil engineer who had risen by
gradations from rodman to =
president.-Scientifc American.