Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-01-07
QUARTER Century Of
DEVELOPMENT IN THE
ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY
Actual Facts and Figures That Show
the Remarkable Advance Made
by the Electrical industry and
the Electrical Profession In
tho Past IS Years.

the Electrical Profession In
tho Past IS Years.
1.-THE past quarter of a century has
witnessed almost revolutionary ad-
vance in the commercial and Industrial
status of the electrical profession.
twenty-five years ago fully quail
fed electrical engineers were CON-
paratively few. There was small de-
mand for them. Electricians with 4
working knowledge of the theoretical
or technical phases OF electricity were
inconsiderable.
Twenty-Five years ago the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers had
less than 500 members. It now has
nearly 10000.
In industrial development, electric
ity quarter of century ago was in
its infancy. The largest electric pow
er plant of that day was an infant
compared with those of the present
time.
Then Very Small.
Long distance high voltage trans
mission was unheard of.
The nationally known electrical in
dustries, the Westinghouse. General
Electric, Commonwealth Edison, Cut
ler-Hammer Mfg. Co., Allis- Chalmers.
etc., were then small, obscure plants.
Men employed in the electrical in
dustries of the country were less than
10 per cent Of their total number to-
day.
The annual report of the American
Telephone & Telegraph Company for
the year ending Dec. 81, 1918, shows a
telephone wire mileage in 1895 of 675,-
AS miles, as opposed to 23,281,150
miles on Jan. :, 1919, and 1927 en-
ployes in 1895, against 1894 in 1918.
Street cars at that time were just
beginning to be operated by electricity.
Such stupendous latter day successes
as the automobile, wireless, X-rays,
electric light and aeroplane existed
only in the dream realm Of invention.
Electrical Engineers Were Few.
Up to Is or 20 years ago, electrical
education was confined to two or three
methods, the trade apprenticeship
and the purely academic or theory
only" method. This condition, operat.
comparatively initial status of indus.
trial development, created a situation
In which electricity as q specialized
profession was underestimated.
1t divided the electrical profession
into two widely apart clases-en
gineers and mechanics.
Each functioned in a separate field
in thought and action. Each worked
for the most part independently of the
other. The electrical engineer was
rated as high-grade man. The cleo
trician as an ordinary, unschooled
mechanic" In the eyes of the out
side world the profession as a whole
took its rating from the electricians
of whom there were many, rather than
from the electrical engineers, of whom
there were few.
Giant Industries.
Today all this is changed. Elec
tricity has become the dominant in
dustrial motive power of the world.
The modest little electrical shops o.
Is years ago have given place to gian1
electrical Industries of the present
century. Practically every city, village
and hamlet throughout the civilized
world has at least one electrical power
station to pump it's water, supply it,
light or operate its: transportation sys
TEN.
Thousand upon thousand of man
ufacturing industrial operations ant
processes, of pleasure and utility de
vices, of instruments and methods IL
the various trades and professions
practically every phase of life, ever.
field of work, every branch of human
activity and endeavor have invaded
the domain OF. modern electrical eff
cheney.
Electrical Workers In Demand.
The electrical workers, who, only .
few years ago, almost entirely lacket
theoretical training and seldom
earned more than from 5000 to 500
yearly, are now Compelled to know
much of the theory and principle O
electricity, and, in proportion will
such knowledge, are able to earn from
$1,000 to $4,000 per year. incidentally
the technically trained electrician il
today holding many industrial posi-
|. lions that in former years were ope1
only to the qualified electrical engi
neer-positions such as power plan
superintendent, chief electrician, gu
pervisor of maintenance, of moto
equipment, etc.
In the same manner, the most sue
cessful electrical nngineer is he who's,
professional qualifications include j:
thorough knowledge Of shop equip
ment and modern shop records as vel
as electrical theory.
Electrical Education.
The college course in Electrical En-
cheering in the early 90's, whel
these experts were first graduated
were scarcely more comprehensiv,
than scientific course in the presen
high school, so great has become tn
demand tor technical ability.
Future Of Electricity.
AS to the future of electricity, littl,
need be said. If the past Is years o
development are to be taken as a cri
terion of the progress to be expecte,
during the next quarter of a century
then we may well join with the cele
brated Edison when he asserted that
I'VE shall. have $50,OOO,O0O,O 900 o
money in electrical service in 1926
"Oead Fruit"