The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-10
RAILROAD NEWS
Topeka Official Speaks Before
III. s. Engineering Club.
w. III. Haig Tells of OppOrtuni-
ties of Profession.
UNIVERSITY OF HARD KNOCKS
Speaker Says That College
Education Unnecessary.
Other Items of General Interest
UNIVERSITY OF HARD KNOCKS
Other Items Of General Interest
in the Traffic World.

NJ. H. Haig. mechanical engineer Of
the Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe, re-
Gently made an address before the en-
cheering club of Topeka high school.
Mr.. Haig said in part:
I'm speakigg to you 1 understand
that am addressing young men who
are considering and choosing their
life's work. 1 understand further that
you are interested particularly in en-
gfneering work. There are many kinds
of engineering and those who speak to
you are probably selected from the
different fields in order that you may
have at least some insight into the
different occupations. BY listening to
the comments of men of different ex-
perienceS you should obtain broader
view of the general engineering field
than would be possible from the eX-
perience of single Individual My
own experience has been mechanical
engineering and this has been largely
limited to railroad work and even fur
Their concentrated upon the steam To-
connective.
Mechanical engineering as an oc-
cupation offers a number of attractive
opportunities The work is interesting
to one who has a natural aptitude for
mechanics and is practical in his
method of thought. There are ave-
nues for development and promotion
in the various industrial, manufactur-
ing, contracting and engineering con-
Germs. Among these are openings in
shop practice, power plant develop
ment, machine construction, electrical
equipment, design, naval architecture
and industrial management. There
are many subdivisions of these sub
jects and the fields are wide and
varied.
''In whatever branch of engineering
one attempts to develop himself, it is
necessary to begin with a foundation.
This foundation is education. 1t is so
closely allied with experience that
gaining experience is an educa ton in
itself. You young men are building
your foundation in studying for your
education.
Education is in itself varied Some
of you will, no doubt, follow your high
school work by attending college.
Others of you will enter directly into
the army of bread winners. These lat
ter will more quickly be enrolled in
the school of hard knocks. 1 want to
say to you very candidly that every
one of you who attains success will
receive a good share of your education
in that same school of hard knocks
whether you supplement it with coll
lege education or not.
My observation of men who have
worked their way forward with or
without technical training, leads me
to the statement that while college
education is desirable, it is not abso-
lutely necessary to success in engineer
ing work. An education is necessary,
but the term education is a broad one.
To my mind, education means learn
ing the PRINCIPE ana factS by which
the work that we are concerned in is
done. The boy or young man who
works as an apprentice in any of the
different trades, is receiving an educa-
ton If he applies himself to his work.
This is true whether he Is learning the
trade of a machinist, boiler maker,
blacksmith, pattern maker or any
other.
Whether the education is in high
school. college, machine shop. school
of hard knocks or other surroundings.
exactly in proportion to what he puts
into it in energy, perseverance, OBJ
servation and thought.
"One of the most important sub
Jects to understand, if not the most
important, is human nature. One who
understands human nature can get
along with other people and this is
very necessary to success. A man who
can direct others is an executive. One
Of foreman or superintendent. is said
to be capable of handling men, One
who can direct a large organization,
for example a general manager or a
president, is said to possess executive
or administrative ability Whatever
the term by which the power to lead
men Is called, those who possess this
power are in greatest demand and
their remuneration is greatest.
Next to this quality, or I might say
almost parallel with it, is responsible
ity.' The man who can be trusted,
who can win the confidence of those
around him and who is self reliant
will be given an opportunity I re-
member reading several years ago of
a railroad officer who was promoted
I cannot recall his name at this mo-