Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-08-30
$4,000 GRADUATE
ENGINEERS ARE
NEEDED IN u.
YOUTHS ARE URGED TO ENTER
ENGINEERING COURSES TO
MEET DEFENSE NEED

President Francis A. Thomson of
Montana School Of Mines returned
from a conference on engineering de-
tense training held at Spokane under
the auspices Of the United States Of
flee OF education. The conference Is
sued the following statement:
According to the bureau of labor
statistics. this country will need 35 900
additional graduate engineers by April.
1912. "Since the engineering colleges
OF the United States normally grad
uate only 1900 engineers each year,
we face an acute shortage that may
constitute a serious bottleneck which
viii jeopardize the effectiveness Of
the entire defense program unless the
present plan Of engineer training Is
greatly expanded" was the conclusion
Of a conference Of representatives OF
all Pacific northwest engineering coll
leges In Spokane.
Attending the conference we're the
heads OF all engineering colleges in
the four northwest states Chairman
Of the conference was Prof. Howard
H. Langdon, regional adviser on engi-
neering defense training for the Unit
ed States office OF education. In addi-
ton to the chairman. present were
Dean H. V. Carpenter. state College
Of Washington: Dean J. E. Buchanan.
University OF Idaho: Dean Richard H.
Dearborn. Oregon State college; Prof
B. T. McMinn. University Of Wash
ington: Dean J. G.. McGivern. Con
zaga university: Dean w. NJ. Cobleigh,
Montana state college, and President
Francis A. Thomson, Montana School
of Mines
Appropriate IL Millions
AS a means Of alleviating this sit
uation, the congress appropriated ST.
500 900 for engineering defense train
ing to be given by engineering colleges I
and administered through the United
States office OF education. This pro-
gram. however Is supplemental to
the regular engineering curricula. In
line with President RooseVelt's pro-
1t Is the patriotic duty Of |
every qualified high school graduate
who has an aptitude for engineering I
to enter a recognized college OF engi- /
neering to train for this need Similar |
", engineering students who have
part of their work owe 1t
to their country and to themselves to
complete their training as rapidly as
possible better to serve defense indus
Try and the armed forces.
In recognition Of this acute situa-
ton, at the request OF OPM. Selective
Director Hersey has recommended to
ocal selective service boards that re-
quests for deferment be favored for
students on the basis OF
heir status as necessary men in train
ing. This recommendation is being
generally followed.
Need 1000 Engineers
The situation In the Pacific north
west as reported by the bureau OF
abor statistics Is that over 1000 grad
tate engineers and 1900 craftsmen will
De needed in the four northwest states
" April, 1912. Ordinarily only $50 en-
yineers are graduated each year in
his region. In addition TO the larger
md basic problem Of the national
iced for the maintenance Of enroll :
nents in standard four-year engineer I
ng courses, the conference was prin- 1
ipally devoted to the various special
zed short engineering courses Of
License character which are now be- {
ng offered by the colleges represented