The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-05-31
RISE Of ENGINEER
viii Leave Work to Accept Uni
versity Professorship.
Rules Established by J. c. Jurgenson
While In Charge Of New York Ho-
tel Plant Attract Attention
of Columbia Officials.


New York-From the engine room
OF a hotel to professorship In uni.
| versity is step few men have taken.
but this IL what has just happened to
J. G. Jurgensen. who has quit his job
at the Hotel St. Regis to take the chair
of engineering at Columbia. He will
begin his duties next fall on his return
| from visit to his native home, Copen.
| hagen.
| For ~ years Mr.. Jurgensen has
| been connected with tho engineering
department of Mr.. Hams hotels. and
for Ave years he has had charge of
the engine. dynamo and boiler rooms
at the St Regis hotel. There Mr.. Jur-
gensen articled apprentices after the
European fashion. compelling embryo
engineers to work two years, and at
the end Of that period to Sign con
| tract for four years moro as machinery
operators. At the end of the fifth year
he gave those who had proved efficient
certificates as operating engineers
and recommended them TO police head.
quarters for licenses Certificates were
based upon two years continuous
service as apprentice engineers. with
good conduct marks for sobriety.
truthful and manly conduct, punctuai-
ty in attendance, industry and faithful
ness in giving employers a full days
work and strict and willing obedience
to orders.
The -ules he established were
brought to the attention of members
of the governingg board of Columbia
and DIR. Nicholas Murray Butler. after
investigating the results obtained by
Mr.. Jurgensen with his half hundred
apprentices at the st. Regis. offered
him the post Of instructor at Colum
bia.
Mr.. Jurgensen, who tills farm at
Tappan when not busy overseeing
fremen, oilers. electricians, mechan
les and licensed engineers, was found
in the hotels plant below Fifth ave
nue.. Quiet. studious. with spectacles
almost obscuring pair OF penetrating
pale blue eyes. he pointed to sign
above the door Visitors not admitted"
as the reporter entered. However. the
visitor had a card which caused the
engineer TO modify the order and re
quest him to be seated.
Il know what you have come for.
said Mr.. Jurgensen. "and do not wish
to be interviewed; in fact, have never
been interviewed, and / am afraid
must deny myself the opportunity
now"
Urged to talk, the chief engineer
said:
Il am going to Columbia at the go
iicitatfon of the trustees to start and
conduct classes IN plant management
IL Is a new branch of practical study |
My students will work In the boiler
room OF the college and get accus
toped to coal dust, oil and the work. |
ing side OF practical engineering. II |
won't be mere book lore. They can
learn from books at their leisure what |
knowledge they desire. II |
VIII be real work with shovel at the |
furnaces and with wrench and oil can !
at the engines. Everything that per.
tains to the proper working of an on |
CINE room or plant will be installed for |
drilling students to become trust |
worthy engineers. II is not easy work. /
this training OF engineers. In six years
| have given certificates 10 only two
men out Of class Of 16 apprentices.
The engineer of the future has 10
be different from the one met with
today" said Mr.. Jurgensen. The need
OF better men in plants in New York |
Is plainly seen every day. There Is
a great deal Of money to be saved. es
pecially in coal bills. When man can
save % per cent. OF coal consumption
that averages In a hotel like this 81
tons a day. he is worth all he earns.
We have come TO the question OF
economical engineering. and It can be
accomplished through apprenticeship.
and cooperation between
engineer and employer. Inefflciency In
he engine room causes loss, and the
1nly remedy is proper education.
nope to obtain the desired results at
Columbia"