Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11
by J. p. GLASS.

by J. r. GLASS.
TINE question Of how the Federal State and
city governments can aid in remedytng
the proper relation Of public 'c construction
that Is, construction paid for from pub
lie treasuries-to economic trends has been in
the forefront for year, now.
Probably 1t Is q question that will not down.
But to date consideration Of 1t has been largely
due to the e1igency Of an unforeseen crisis. What
ever action has resulted has been temporary
We may now ask viii we. when the present
period OF slackened industrial activity, with re-
sulting unemployment. passes resume our former
attitude Of indifference or will we search for
formulas whereby public construction works can an
Stabllizing economic functioning?
- Conditions Held Favorable.
I have just had an interview with Prof. George
Fillmore Swain Of Boston, one Of the countrys
esting and pertinent deductions in relation TO
this matter are allowable:
/. That construction on q vaSter scale than any
we have know faces us in the near future-speak-
ing historically, at least-and that we ought to
do everything in our power to make it contribute
2. Conditions favor this course more than ever
before because public opinion is becoming ever
more enlightened and the engineering mind Is
entering more and more into the counsels OF
public progress.
In this connection, Prof swain said:
The time is near when universal recognition will
be given to the fact that the man who can in
CelngenCly ConCroi ana use the FORCES ana ma
terials of nature for the convenience of the
one who can be depended upon to direct the
largest undertakings.
Engineering Is Basic.
ours is great industrial Nation In which
scientific direction has become essential The best
preparation for business Is an engineering educa-
ton and this is becoming generally recognized.
1T Is significant that from 1880 to 1910 the
growth in the number of engineers in country
was 6l3 per cent compared to 70 per cent
for lawyers and rs per cent for physicians and
surgeons. Since then, If the statistics of educa-
ton correct, the increase in favor of engineers
has been even greater"
The interview with Prof. Swain was sought
for two reasons: First because public construc
ton work is the business Of the civil engineer It
Is he who plans highways streets, pavings, the
utilization of water power, irrigation, water sup
ply, bridges, tunnels, subways, canal, river and
harbor construction, and al the other projects
that relate closely to public comfort and con-
venience. Secondly, no American has had o
longer or more effective connection with such
public service than he.
It has been his lot that in addition to his opera
tons engineer, operations with wide rami-
hcationS in this country and Canada he has
been the guide and mentor Of q great number
Of highly useful Americans. AS professor of civil
engineering in the Harvard Engineering School
from 1909 to 1929, and before that at the Massa-
chuSetts Institute Of Technology his influence
has penetrated the lives of thousands of students.
He possesses that gift-the ability to teach
men to think. Many brilliant minds today oc-
cupied in the building Of greater America got
their first inspiration from him.