r>s STA'I'E BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



iioss I'Oqnii'i's llial llic Icacliiiiji,' aii<1 ojIkm- i-niilino (luJios of soiiio men 

 in each department .should be adjusted so as to permit them to under- 

 take and direct investigation work in much the same way as is now 

 done in agricultural lines where the state college and the experiment 

 station are in the same institution. It is to be hoped that the McKinley 

 Engineering Experiment Station Bill, no^- pending in Congress, or 

 its equivalent will put us in position to take up investigation work 

 actively and usefully. In the meantime it is imperative that some 

 woi'k of this kind be instituted aud consumated in order to infuse into 

 our work a real spirit of enthusiasm such as numbers and material 

 equipment alone can not give to us. 



To sum up the A\'hole question of engineering teachers we need more 

 luoney for men, enthusiastic men, gifted for teaching and scientific 

 work. With such an endowment the work will produce results of un- 

 told value lo oui' students and the institution. Withoui it there is only 

 discouragement for all concerned. 



In conclusion I desii-<^ to cxjn-ess my ajiprecialion of Ihe liearty co- 

 operation of the college authoi-itics and of (lu' <'nginceiing stall' wiiicli 

 has been given to the Dean of Engineering during the past year. 



Respectfullv submitted, 



G. W. P.ISSELL, 

 Dean of Engineering. 



East Lansing. Mich.. June 30, 1908. " • 



THE EDUCATION OF AN ENGINEER. 



ROLLA C. CARPENTER, LL. D. 



Address at the dedication of Enginpering Hall, June 22, 190S. 



Engineering can be defined as an application of the laws of nature 

 as revealed by a study of the physical sciences to the practical and 

 useful arts. It deals with all branches of industry which are founded 

 on or related to the physical or chemical sciences, and is divided into 

 numerous branches depending upon the field of application. 



In very early days such engineering as was practiced related solely 

 to the art of wai\ Even in the days of the Romans the art was con- 

 siderably advanced and the military engineer was a man of great im- 

 portance. He was depended upon for and pi'oduced plans of fortifica- 

 tions and instruments of warfare, many of which even at the present 

 time would be considered as showing considerable knowledge of the 

 properties of materials and the laws of action of mechanical forces. 



As time progressed the demand for public works and large construc- 

 tions such as light-houses, roads, docks and apparatus for handling 

 heavy machinery led to the development of a class of engineers whose 

 jtroductions were devoted to civil rather than to military purposes. 

 These engineers were distinguished from the military engineers by the 

 term "Civil." 



The term ''Civil p]ngineer'- included practically all members of the 

 profession not carrying on military work until ai>iu'oximately 50 j^ears 



